Table of Contents
Cravings are difficult to resist, especially when you believe you need something salty or sweet. When you’ve got a hankering for something tasty, the finest solution is to make it yourself. Many people reach for chocolate or candy bars when they have a craving for something sweet. What they don’t realize is that you can make your own chocolate or candy bar with healthier ingredients that are much less expensive. Similarly, when they have salty cravings, they usually reach for chips or other unhealthy snacks. These are not the healthiest options so you might want to consider making it yourself to reduce the amount of salt and sugar that you eat. Think about it, when you make your own snacks there are no preservatives or stabilizers. In this article, we share some recipes that will be sure to satisfy your sweet and savory cravings.
1. Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Fudge
This fudge is made with peanuts, which are full of protein so you will stay satisfied longer. It’s also got dark chocolate chips so it’s sweet but not overly sweet. If you have a hankering for something salty, you can add some sea salt to this recipe before you freeze it. If you can’t find dark chocolate chips, you can buy cocoa powder and make your own mixture.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of dark chocolate chips (or use cocoa powder to make your own chocolate mixture)
- ½ cup of whipping cream (also known as heavy cream)
- 5 tablespoons of peanut butter
- Sea salt to taste (optional)
Instructions: Mix the whipping cream and peanut butter in a saucepan. Heat it on low heat until the ingredients are well-combined and melted, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips until they’re all melted. If desired, add sea salt to taste. Pour into a container or pan that has been lined with wax paper or parchment paper (so it’s easy to remove). Put fudge in the freezer until it hardens, about 30 minutes.
2. Crispy Rice Chocolate Crunch Bars
This recipe is great for satisfying your sweet tooth because it’s full of chocolate goodness! You will need some crispy rice cereal, which is found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores. It’s got a nice chocolate flavor and is very addicting! If you’re not sure how to turn on your stove, here are some instructions.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of crispy rice cereal
- ½ cup of unsalted butter (to make it healthier, use unsalted margarine)
- 1 cup of light brown sugar
- 1 cup of light corn syrup or golden syrup
- 12 ounces of dark chocolate chips (if you can’t find them, use cocoa powder to make your own mixture)
Instructions: Grease a 9×13 pan with butter and set aside. Put the rice cereal in a large bowl and set it aside. Melt butter in a saucepan on low heat, stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn. Add the brown sugar and corn syrup (or golden syrup) to the butter and stir until all ingredients are combined together well. Pour mixture over cereal and mix thoroughly with a spoon or spatula. Pour into the greased pan and press into an even layer. Let cool for 15 minutes in the refrigerator or overnight at room temperature. Put chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and melt them in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until all chocolate is melted. Spread evenly over the top of the cooled cereal mixture and let sit for another 15 minutes or overnight to dry (at this point, you can put it in the refrigerator to speed up the process). When ready, cut into bars and serve!
3. Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
If you’re looking for something salty but not too unhealthy, this peanut butter pretzel mixture will be perfect. You can make these if you have extra time on your hands or you can freeze them for a quick snack. They can also last a long time in the fridge so you might want to make a big batch and share them with your friends!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of pretzels
- ½ cup of unsalted butter (or use unsalted margarine if desired)
- 1 cup of crunchy peanut butter (creamy peanut butter will work too, but the mixture won’t be as crunchy)
- 1 cup of sugar
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions: Put pretzels and peanuts in a food processor and pulse until they’re ground into small pieces. Melt the butter in a saucepan on low heat and stir constantly until butter is just melted. Add peanut butter, sugar, and salt to the pan and mix well with a spoon or spatula. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour mixture over pretzels and peanuts in a bowl and stir well. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving (you can put them in the refrigerator to speed up the process).
4. Veggie Patties Hamburger Stacks
If you’re craving something salty and feeling very hungry, this hamburger stack recipe will satisfy your craving! The best part is that it’s easy to make and everyone loves it. This hamburger tastes just as good as the real thing bought from any local hamburger fast food chain but it’s healthier because it’s made with veggie patties. You can even modify the veggies you use or forego them completely if you want to prepare basic burger stacks!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of cooked brown rice
- 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons of chili powder or seasoned salt (optional)
- 4 teaspoons of vegan margarine, melted (or melted butter if you don’t want to use vegan products)
- 4 frozen veggie patties, thawed (you can use any kind of vegetarian patty; if you want, make your own patties at home with this recipe)
- 4 hamburger buns (any kind will work, like whole-wheat or rye buns), toasted (if desired)
Instructions: Mix rice and cheese together in a large bowl. Add chili powder or seasoned salt (optional) and mix again.
Put 1 teaspoon of vegan margarine on each veggie patty, covering both sides completely. Heat up a cast-iron skillet or frying pan over medium heat for 30 seconds before adding the patties into it. Brown patties on both sides until completely cooked (about 5 minutes on each side).
Remove patties from the pan and stack them on top of each other with cheese mixture in between. Garnish with vegetables or condiments of your choice if desired. Serve hot!
5. Caramel Corn Bars
If you’re craving something sweet, caramel corn bars are rich and gooey just the way you want them to be. These bars only require a few ingredients so they’re perfect for last-minute cravings. They can also last a long time in the refrigerator or freezer so make a big batch and share them with your friends!
Ingredients:
- 1 bag of caramel corn (plain, buttered, or kettle corn will work too)
- ½ cup of unsalted butter
- ¼ cup of light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
Instructions: Melt the butter in a saucepan on low heat and stir constantly until the butter is melted. Add brown sugar and salt to the pan and mix well with a spoon or spatula. Pour mixture over caramel corn in a large bowl and stir well. Evenly spread contents of the bowl onto a 9×13-inch baking dish and let cool for 15 minutes. When ready, cut into bars and serve!
Making your own food is a good way to satisfy your cravings without eating unhealthy snacks or meals. The recipes above are great for satisfying your sweet and salty cravings. Salted caramel peanut butter fudge, brown sugar caramel popcorn, and caramel corn bars are all great options for satisfying your sweet cravings while the peanut butter pretzel mixture, crunchy peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, and brown sugar kettle corn will satisfy your salty cravings. You can make these recipes with basic kitchen utensils and ingredients so they’re perfect for last-minute cravings. You can make these if you have extra time on your hands or you can freeze them for a quick snack. They can also last a long time in the fridge so you might want to make a big batch.
