Dark Chocolate Crunch Cups

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I should know by now what to expect out of August. Gradual cooling of the weather in the mornings, later sunrise, exploding garden.

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Those are all good things since fall is my favorite season and I’m always itching for it to get here. But when the garden is going crazy like this, it means one big thing….our meals are built around corn, zucchini, tomatoes, and green beans almost every night.

This is both good and bad.

Good because we have insanely delicious fresh veggies right out of our backyard and meals using them are pretty fast to make.

Bad because I get lazy about trying new things since I know there are 7 zucchini on my porch, 2 bowls of tomatoes on the kitchen counter, and a huge dish of green beans on the table, just waiting to be used. And then because a lot of our meals look the same and I don’t want to show 15 versions of the same thing here. They’re tasty – just not horribly exciting.

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And desserts? They definitely don’t happen as often this time of year.

If we’re not in the garden picking veggies, we’re in the kitchen prepping them for freezing or canning or just finding ways to eat them before they go bad.

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My new summer rule for desserts is pretty simple: No baking is my first choice.

I made granola bars last week and these cups today. I wanted chocolate but I didn’t want to turn on the oven AND part of my lunch break was spent picking more zucchini and raspberries, so I didn’t have much time to cook anyway.

Even better than just being no bake, these dark chocolate crunch cups can be mixed up in minutes and are pretty healthy! Nestle Crunch candy bars were one of my favorites growing up, and I found an easy and quick way to make 3-bite cups that are just as good. Maybe even better since these have chocolate crispy cereal and dark cocoa, my favorite.

I love the mix of cocoa and honey, but you could definitely use agave or regular sugar. If you’re not a fan of crispy rice cereal in your chocolate (I don’t understand you if you don’t), mix in your favorite candy bar filling: caramels, nuts, chunks of your favorite bar, whatever!

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Dark Chocolate Crunch Cups

Makes: 6 cups. Multiply as needed – and it will be needed.

Ingredients:

  • 4 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla
  • 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup cocoa crisp cereal

Directions:

  1. In a microwave safe bowl, heat the coconut oil until it’s melted.
  2. Stir the honey and vanilla into the coconut oil.
  3. Add the cocoa powder to the oil mixture and stir until the all the cocoa is mixed in.
  4. Pour the cereal into the cocoa mix, stir together, and drop the mixture by the spoonful into 6 muffin liners.
  5. Refrigerate the crunch cups until they are set, at least an hour.

17 comments

  1. these are absolutely genius and perfect for a small treat/craving. i LOVE crunch bars so these cups are just great! what a lovely idea :) I’m glad that these take no time to whip up because the serving size will definitely be increased! ;)

  2. It definitely isn’t as inviting to bake when it is the middle of summer but love alternatives like this!

  3. Whoa holy deliciousness!

    I feel your pain on the repetitive meals during the summer. We don’t have a garden this year since we moved to a new house in May and didn’t have time, and I have to say: I’m kinda enjoying the tomato-free summer. I buy a few at the farmer’s market, but not an amount that stresses me out and makes me want to can! :)

  4. Love these.. easy to make, photos terrific, and I’ll be making these soon. Thanks for the recipe!

  5. This is such a bitter sweet recipe – – bitter that it’s so easy to make … sweet .. that it’s SO easy to make. There goes any chance of swim suit season … this is a GREAT recipe!! Yuummmm… can’t wait to give it a try :)

  6. These sound like a Much better plan than buying a extra-large bag of mini crunch bars! :) High-quality chocolate and just the right amount of sugars–perfect.

  7. These sound so freaking delicious! Yum!

  8. These are a perfect summer dessert or snack! :)

  9. What a great idea! I’m a big fan of Nestle Crunch, too, and these look so delicious!

  10. I love this idea! Yummy! Desserts in the summer are usually the same way in my house. I need to try something like this :)

  11. These look adorable and tasty! Plus, I NEED to get my hands on some of that honey. It looks awesome!

  12. oooh, these look awesome :) way to no-bake!

  13. made this a few minutes ago.

  14. Crunch bars were my favorite candy bar as a kid! Love your healthier cup version, Brandi!

  15. These sound amazing. I would have never thought there wasnt melted chocolate in them. Great use of coconut oil and cocoa powder!!!

  16. This recipe looks great! I can hardly wait to make them this weekend. Do you mind sharing which brand of cocoa crisps you use? I don’t know what to look for at the store (I’m not sure I’ve ever seen them…)

    Thanks :)

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