Australian Crunch Bars (with a Gluten Free Version)
Australian Crunch Bars are not an Australian treat, but British. A lightly baked oat, cornflake and chocolate concoction will be welcomed with a cup of tea.
Australian Crunch isn’t Australian at all, but a British teatime treat.
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Not Australian? Who knew?
I learned about Australian crunch bars from my friend Lucinda from The Bee’s Knees British Imports. We found each other online because of our British connections, and Lucinda and her lovely family even came to visit me when they were in LA! It seems that no one knows why this recipe is named after Australia, but it doesn’t really matter. They are fantastic, so who cares what they’re called. 😍
Another recipe named Australian Almond Bread (but it’s not Australian)!
This treat has to be one of the easiest recipes conceived, because all you have to do is melt some butter, stir in some ingredients and then pop them in the oven in a baking tray! A two year old could make these, but everyone seems to enjoy them.
I have made about five batches for this post as I’ve been tweaking the recipe and even discovered that a gluten free version tastes exactly the same as the original! I’ve passed them out to lots of neighbors and the consensus is “two thumbs up”!
It’s crunchy, chocolatey, crispy and not overly sweet, as you might think. I love that I can make it for my celiac friends now, too, since I’ve discovered it passes my “doesn’t-taste-gluten-free test” when I make it with rice flour or gluten-free baking mix.
In addition to introducing me to this recipe, Lucinda and her partner, Donna, have agreed to provide three lovely items for a giveaway on my site along with a discount code (scroll down for the code)!
If you know anyone who is an Anglophile, you’ll love the selection of products and gifts that The Bee’s Knees have available: Emma Bridgewater, Dunoon, Burleigh and many other top quality British companies. They sell tea towels to tea pots, so many mugs, posters, prints, tins, and more! Just check out their site as I bet there’s something you’ll want to put on your Christmas wish list (or give for someone else’s)!
Here are the three whimsical Milly Green items (a tea towel, mug and passport holder) which one lucky reader will have sent to them ($41 value). Too bad I can’t enter! I love these~ CONTEST HAS ENDED.
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Australian Crunch Bars
adapted from a recipe from the Be-Ro Cookbook and a Jamie Oliver forum Makes 18
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- butter
- sugar
- corn flakes (I’ve used rice krispies, too)
- shredded coconut
- flour (use rice flour or GF baking mix for gluten free version)
- good quality cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- chocolate
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
Place the butter in a large pot over low heat.
Roughly crush the cornflakes with the bottom of a glass or ramekin and put into a bowl along with all the other dry ingredients, except for the chocolate. Check the butter in the pot and remove from heat when it has completely melted.
Add the bowl of dry ingredients to the butter in the pot and stir until well mixed.
Place mixture into a 8×8 baking pan and press down with the back of a wooden spoon until completely even.
Bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in tray.
When cool, melt the chocolate and spread over the Australian Crunch while it is still in the pan. Allow chocolate to set (I put mine in the fridge for a little while).
When the chocolate has set, run a knife along the edges, then cut into bars with a heavy knife. When I loosened the edges, the entire dessert came out of the pan easily; alternatively, just cut it while it’s still in the pan.
Serve with a nice hot cup of tea (preferably served in a real British, bone china mug)!
For a 15% discount, enter CUCINA15 when you place your order.
GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED
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Australian Crunch Bars
Ingredients
- 5 oz butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 4 cups corn flakes (I've used rice krispies, too)
- 1 ½ cups shredded coconut (unsweetend, organic coconut)
- 1 ¼ cups flour (use rice flour or GF baking mix for gluten free version)
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened, good quality)
- 1 ¼ cups chocolate (semi-sweet, good quality)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
- Place the butter in a large pot over low heat.
- Roughly crush the cornflakes with the bottom of a glass or ramekin and put into a bowl along with all the other dry ingredients, except for the chocolate.
- Check the butter in the pan and remove from heat when it has completely melted.
- Add the bowl of dry ingredients to the butter in the pot and stir until well mixed. Place mixture into a 9x9 inch baking tray and press down with the back of a wooden spoon until completely even.
- Bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in tray.
- When cool, melt the chocolate and spread over the Australian Crunch while it is still in the pan. Allow chocolate to set (I put it in the fridge for a little while).
- When the chocolate has set, run a knife along the edges, then cut into bars. When I loosened the edges, the entire dessert came out of the pan easily. If it doesn't, just cut it while it's still in the pan.
Notes
- Leave the chocolate coating off the top for a less-sweet option.
Nutrition
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Those yummy bars would make such a nice complement to the Thanksgiving dessert table! :) I love the Bee’s Knees British Imports website and have never heard of it until now. What a charming collection of beautiful items. As soon as my eye caught sight of Emma Bridgewater’s “Rose & Bee” Large Teacup and Saucer (Boxed),” I knew that’s what I would pick! It’s so dainty, pretty and elegant. The English in me would jump for joy for a proper set to sip my home-brewed tea in. Thank you for the chance to win, best wishes to everyone! :)
I know Lauren, the The Bee’s Knees’ site is a fun place to browse! Good luck to you!
I love the Coronation Meadows Tankard Jug. The flowers are beautiful.
Good luck, Jeanne!
I’d like to have Queen’s 90th Birthday Bone China Mug.
That a beauty, Annette! Good luck!
Ah! Scotland mug for sure!! It’s so cute ?
Also, these bars look awesome, and thank you so much for including a GF version! I’ve gotten pretty good at modifying recipes myself, but it’s so nice when I don’t have to. Thanks!!
So glad you like it, Emily!
Australian Crunch Bars look delish!! Must try!
I love the Dunoon large tea & coffee mugs! I drink my PG Tips tea from the fine bone China tea mug every day! Thank you!
I’m a big Dunoon and PG Tips fan, too! Good luck!
These look delicious!! I’ll make them tomorrow ;)
I love the Bute Scotland Galore Mug ❤
Awesome, good luck, ALicia!
I’d love anything in the Emma Bridgewater Starry Skies Collection like the mug, for instance.
Love Emma’s designs! Good luck to you, Laura!
I’ve always wanted the British Love mugs. Someday …. Also, the Crunch bars look good although I’d have to leave out the coconut. Never did like it. Thanks!
Good luck, Christy!