These Milk Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars are like Homemade 100 Grand Bars, but even better! Chewy, homemade, salted caramel is covered crispy milk chocolate. They make a great addition to your holiday candy making plans!
Save this recipe for Homemade 100 Grand Bars to Pinterest!
The kids have a blast this time of year each holiday season with all of the treats I make.
We love to make homemade Salted Caramels and Gingerbread Caramels. We make Almond Butter Cookies and Gingersnaps every year. And a new favorite last year was this super tasty recipe for Pumpkin Brittle.
And we still have so many more fun days of candy making and baking ahead!
Creating this Recipe for Homemade 100 Grand Bars
One of my favorite experiments that I wanted to share with you is this recipe for Milk Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars.
They’re kind of like a homemade version of 100 Grand Bars, which happens to be one of my favorite Halloween mini candy bars.
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I first had a 100 Grand Bar about 3 or 4 years ago. I don’t know how I went so long never having tasted one. But I LOVED them. The combination of the chocolate, caramel, and crunch is so good!
I always raid the kids’ Halloween candy for them. But, the problem is, after Halloween I can never seem to find 100 Grand Bars anywhere!
So, I decided I wanted to create a recipe for my own Homemade 100 Grand Bars so that I could make them (and eat them) whenever I wanted!
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Plus, I thought this milk chocolate caramel crunch bars would be amazing as a Christmas Treat plate for friends and neighbors.
Well, as expected, they were AMAZING.
The first batch I cooked just a tad too long and the caramel was slightly less chewy than I would like. Even at that, they were still amazing and barely lasted a couple days in our house.
After some more testing, I was able to get the exact chewy salted caramel center that I was hoping for in my Homemade 100 Grand Bars.
These are 100% family approved.
All of the kids LOVED them.
Kevin and I could hardly stop eating them.
If you’re a fan of milk chocolate, chewy salted caramel, and crunchy rice crispies like I am, you will definitely want to try this recipe. First though, here are a few tips and information about preparing this recipe so you don’t run into any of the same troubleshooting issues that I did.
Homemade 100 Grand Bar Ingredients
You’ll need the following items to make a batch of these tasty Homemade 100 Grand Bars:
- Heavy Cream
- Butter
- Sugar
- Sea Salt
- Corn Syrup
- Water
- Vanilla
- Rice Crispies
- Milk Chocolate
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
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How to Make Homemade 100 Grand Bars
First, you’ll make a nice chewy homemade caramel recipe. That’s the hardest part of the whole thing. If caramel making isn’t new to you, then you probably won’t find this recipe too difficult.
Then, you’ll Temper Chocolate for the outer layers.
After you’ve prepared the caramel and the chocolate, the rest is just about layering. I like to layer my 100 Grand Bars like this:
- chocolate
- rice crispies
- caramel
- rice crispies
- chocolate
Once layered, the entire recipe will need to cool completely before you can cut squares. This takes at least a few hours, so I prefer to make these the night before I plan to cut them.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Does Altitude Affect Candy Making?
Yes, definitely! Most candy recipes are written for sea level elevations, so you’ll want to make adjustments if you live at a higher elevation.
The trick to successful candy making is to know the elevation for where you live. Once you have that information, you’ll factor it into the instructions for the caramel layer in this recipe for Homemade 100 Grand Bars.
I’ll show you how to calculate any adjustments for high altitude candy making below:
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How to Adjust Candy Recipes for High Altitude
With higher altitudes you are going to bring the final cook temperature up lower if you live above sea level.
Doing so will allow you to achieve the same soft, chewy caramel centers in these Homemade 100 Grand Bars.
1. First you will need to find out what your local altitude is.
If you don’t already know this, just google your zipcode and elevation and you’ll easily find an answer.
- We’ll use my location as an example.
- We are just over 5,000 ft. elevation.
2. For every 1,000 feet above sea level you will subtract 2 degrees from the target temperature of this caramel in this recipe for Homemade 100 Grand Bars.
- 5,000 (my elevation) divided by 1,000 is 5.
- I will take 2 degrees off 5 times.
- Final result 5 x 2 = 10.
To calculate the number of degrees to subtract use this simple formula:
(your elevation in feet / 1000) x 2 = YOUR ADJUSTMENT
3. Subtract the number of degrees you calculated previously from the recipe’s original temperature.
- In this recipe, the target temperature is 248 degrees F.
- 248 – 10 degrees for MY altitude adjustment = 238 degrees F.
- 238 degrees F is MY new high altitude adjusted temperature when I make the caramel for this Homemade 100 Grand Bar Recipe.
Formula for Altering Temperatures in Candy Making
To calculate your new temperature for this recipe use this formula:
248 – (your elevation in feet / 1000) x 2 = YOUR NEW TEMPERATURE
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Once you know your target temp, it is super important to not look away from the thermometer as you start to get close to the temperature.
The candy thermometer temperature can change so quickly and even just 1 or 2 degrees over and you’ll end up with a harder, chewy candy.
More than a few degrees over and you’ll end up with hard, toffee-like candy.
Do You Need a Thermometer to Make Homemade 100 Grand Bars?
Yes, I definitely recommend a good, accurate candy thermometer. This will help you be as accurate as possible to avoid too soft or too hard caramel.
This Instant Read Candy Thermometer is great!
I haven’t tried it before, but this Digital Candy Thermometer, Instant Read Kitchen Cooking & Candy Spatula Thermometer Temperature Reader & Stirrer in One looks really cool!
Homemade 100 Grand Bar Reader Reviews
“Excellent recipe. I have made these a half a dozen times now, with excellent results each time.“
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More Christmas Candy Recipes for Homemade Holiday Gifting
‘Tis the season for holiday gifting, and for our family that means homemade candies! Homemade gifts from the kitchen, like these Homemade 100 Grand Bars, make great holiday gifts for friends, teachers, and neighbors.
Dark Chocolate Turtle Pretzel Bark is a fun treat for kids to help make for a teacher gift. Classic Pecan Christmas Turtles meet Dark Chocolate Bark with the crunchy, salty addition of mini pretzels for a delicious sweet and salty Christmas candy treat.
Gingerbread Caramels are a fun twist on a classic caramel recipe. Caramel pairs awesomely with hints of molasses and ginger.
Homemade Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane Marshmallows are easy to make! Pair a bag of these goodies with a mug or hot cocoa mix for an inexpensive (and yummy) holiday gift.
Do you like making candied nuts? Cinnamon Vanilla Glazed Walnuts and Sweet and Spicy Rosemary Bar Nutsare both simple to make and nice additions to a candy and nut gift box.
Do you know someone who loves chocolate paired with peppermint? This Triple Chocolate Candy Cane Hot Cocoa Bark would be a hit with them!
Dark chocolate pairs white chocolate, milk chocolate chips, marshmallows, and mini candy canes in this Candy Cane Hot Cocoa Bark for a fun holiday treat. Homemade Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane Marshmallows are a fun holiday treat to make.
Chocolate Raspberry Vanilla Bean Marshmallows a great gift paired with homemade cocoa mix and a fun new mug. They are delicious in a mug of hot cocoa and are great for holiday gifting.
You can never go wrong with another recipe for chocolate bark. Try this Bittersweet Chocolate Swirl Fruit and Nut Bark. Bittersweet chocolate, white chocolate, almonds, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkin and chia seeds combine for a delectable and colorful holiday treat.
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More Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas
Homemade Pancake Mix Jars are a fun way to gift a delicious and healthy breakfast recipe. Pair it with a cute mixing bowl and a wooden spoon or a nice spatula, or a bottle of your favorite maple syrup.
Homemade BBQ Chicken Rubfeatures a mix of brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika for a flavorful homemade spice rub
I love that this BBQ Chicken Rub stores well in a jar so that you can make a large batch ahead of time and use it throughout the year. It makes a great homemade gift for the BBQ lover in your life.
If you’re looking for a fun family Christmas craft that can also serve as a homemade gift, Salt Dough Ornamentsare the sweetest! You can make them with hardly any effort and the kids will have a blast. Your limitations are only set by the cookie cutters you own.
If you want to take it one step further, you can even personalize the ornaments for the recipient! Personalization is super easy – just take some mini ABC cookie cutters and stamp the middle with the recipient’s last name initial.
Still want more ideas?
Check out these 45 Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas if you’re looking for homemade gift ideas this holiday season.
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Homemade 100 Grand Bars
Yield: 36
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Cooling Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
These Milk Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars are like Homemade 100 Grand Bars, but even better! Chewy, homemade, salted caramel is covered crispy milk chocolate. They make a great addition to your holiday candy making plans!
Ingredients
For the Caramel
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 5 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, cut into pieces
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Sea Salt
- 1 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 cup Light Corn Syrup
- 1/4 cup Water
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
For the Chocolate Crunch Layer
- 1 1/2 cups Rice Crispies
- 16 ounces Milk Chocolate
Instructions
For the Caramel
- Line bottom and sides of an 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. (Related:Kitchen Tip: Lining Pans with Parchment)
- Bring cream, butter, and salt to a boil in a small saucepan, then remove from heat and set aside.
- Combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 4-quart heavy saucepan.
- Boil, without stirring but gently swirling pan, until mixture is a light golden caramel and sugar is dissolved.
- Carefully the cream mixture (mixture will bubble up) and simmer, stirring frequently, until caramel registers 248°F on thermometer, 10 to 15 minutes.* (see note below regarding altitude)
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Let cool slightly while you prepare the chocolate. It should still be pourable for assembly. If it has cooled too much that it is no longer pourable, then slightly rewarm over low heat.
For the Chocolate
- Place a medium saucepan filled about half way with water over medium-low heat on your stove. Allow the water to come to a simmer.
- Add thechocolatetoa heat-proof bowl (or the top portion of a double boiler if you have one), and place the bowl on top of the saucepan.
- Turn the heat under the pan off.
- Let the chocolate sit in the bowl over the saucepan of hot water until in begins to melt around the edges.
- Then, stir the chocolate until smooth, while monitoring the temperature using a candy thermometer.
- Tempered chocolate will quickly solidify as it cools, so you'll need to move as quickly as possible.
- You can tell that it has gotten too cool by its appearance, which will become matte and thicker when you stir it.
- If the chocolate gets too cool, just gently rewarm it to the appropriate temperature.
- Make sure to stir and scrap up the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix the chocolate throughout.
- Once rewarmed, remove the chocolate from the heat and keep stirring to evenly distribute the heat.
To Assemble the Homemade 100 Grand Bars
- Pour half of the melted milk chocolate in the prepared parchment lined pan.
- Spread the chocolate into a smooth, even layer.
- Sprinkle 3/4 cup of the rice crispies evenly over the chocolate.
- Pour the caramel evenly over this layer.
- Then, sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup of rice crispies over the caramel layer.
- Pour and spread the remaining milk chocolate on top.
- Allow the mixture to cool until it has completely hardened. This will take several hours, so it is best prepared the day before you plan to cut and serve.
- Once cool, cut into 1.5 inch x 1.5 inch squares.
Notes
Before you start this project you will also need find out what your elevation is and adjust the temperatures accordingly.
- For every 1,000 feet above sea level, you will need to subtract 2 degrees.
- For example, I live at 5,000 ft. above sea level, so I subtract a total of 10 degrees from the temperature indicated in the recipe.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 148Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 108mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 17gProtein: 1g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
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