An epicurean adventure to: Australia
What happens when you combine one of the world's most popular chocolate bars with one of the world's most popular cereals? Mars bar slice of course!
The combination of the Mars bars' winning chocolate-nougat-caramel trio married up with crunchy, chocolatey Coco Pops, finished off with a layer of milk chocolate, makes for one irresistibly chewy treat! It's retro, evokes childhood memories for many and has just the right amount of chewy vs. crunchy.
This Mars bar tray-bake is SO EASY to make, only takes 10 minutes of prep time and is perfect to get the kids involved with. Really, you can't go wrong with this Mars bar slice recipe and it requires very limited kitchen skills, and, it's no-bake! Great for kids' parties, fairs, school bake sales or just as a treat at home.
Where's it from?
While Mars Bars were born in Scotland, we have Australia to thank for the ingenious creation known as the Mars Bar slice!
Aussies have taken this much-loved treat and made it their own. Mars Bar slices have become a sensation Down Under, popping up in bakeries, dessert shops and even homemade recipe collections all across the country!
For more easy no-bake recipes, try this coconut ice recipe, this impressive Rice Krispie cake or these luxurious date balls.
Jump to:
Fast facts - Australia
| Location | Australia is located in the southern hemisphere and is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and it shares maritime borders with Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Zealand. |
| Language | English is the official language of Australia. However, due to its multicultural society, more than 200 languages are spoken by its diverse population, including Indigenous Australian languages and immigrant languages. |
| Population | Circa 25 million people. |
| Trivia | There are 1 million camels that roam wild Australia's deserts - the largest number of purebred camels in the world. Australia exports it's camels to the Middle East. |
What's to love about this easy Mars Bar slice recipe
- This Mars bar traybake is super simple and quick to make.
- No special skills are required and therefore great to get the kids involved with.
- Only 5 ingredients, one pot and one baking tin are needed.
- No-bake.
Key ingredients and substitutions
*Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full list of ingredients.
Mars bars
Mars bar sizes have changed significantly over the years, and some places now exclusively sell multipacks.
To simplify things, for this recipe, you will need approximately 200g worth of Mars bars, regardless of the size available at your local grocery store. This way, you can ensure consistent results regardless of the individual bar sizes.
While it may seem unconventional since they are called Mars bar slices, you can indeed use the supermarket versions of Mars bars for the same result. It can be a more budget-friendly option. For example, Aldi's version called Titan, available in a multi-pack, can be used as a substitute.
Butter
You can choose to use either salted or unsalted butter based on how much salt you prefer in the recipe. It's up to your personal taste and preference.
Coco Pops
Similar to above, supermarkets also have their own, cheaper versions of Coco Pops that you can use. For something less chocolatey, you can use Rice Krispies.
We only recently learned that Rice Krispies are called Rice Bubbles in Australia and New Zealand - what an adorable name!
Milk chocolate
It's up to you which quality of milk chocolate you want to use, just be aware that it will affect the overall taste.
You can use dark chocolate too if that's your preference. Generally dark chocolate is not as popular with kids though, so bear that in mind. White chocolate might be more to their liking if you're looking for an alternative to milk chocolate.
Oil
Adding vegetable oil to the chocolate aids in achieving a smoother melting process. Alternatively, coconut oil can be used as well.
How to make Mars bar slice - Quick summary
- Prepare a square tin (20cm x 20cm/8" x 8") by greasing and lining it with parchment paper.
A handy trick is to cut a long strip of baking paper and let it hang over two sides of the baking dish.
This way, when you lift the Mars bar slice out later, you'll have something to grab onto, making it much easier to lift it out of the dish.
- Remove the Mars bars from their wrapping and slice them into small chunks.
- Melt the chopped Mars bars together with the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Keep to a gentle, low heat, you don't really want to see any bubbles.
Don't fret about the small nougat chunks that may not completely melt during the process. They actually contribute to the texture of the slices.
- Add the Coco Pops to the melted Mars bar and gently combine the rice cereal with the chocolate mixture. A wooden spoon works well for this part.
- Spoon the Mars bar mixture into the prepared tin and press it down with the back of a metal spoon.
- In a heatproof bowl, melt the milk chocolate together with the oil. Once fully melted, pour the smooth mixture over the top of the Mars bar base, making sure to cover the entire surface.
Smooth the melted chocolate out with the back of a spoon.
- Leave to set in the fridge for 2 hours.
- Once you take the dish out of the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before slicing.
This step prevents the chocolate layer from cracking when you cut it while it's too cold. Allowing it to warm up a bit ensures that you'll have clean and smooth slices.
- Lift the uncut block of Mars bar slice from the tin and place it onto a cutting board. Cut into 16 slices using a sharp knife.
Variations
- You can add a handful of raisins into the mix. Quite a few Mars bar recipes require raisons.
We personally find it too sweet, but you may like it! Similarly, you can also add in some chocolate chips or mini marshmallows.
- For a nuttier version, you can swap the Mars bars for Snickers bars. You can also use Milky Ways, but you will be missing out on the gooey caramel you get with Mars bars.
Top tips
- If you find the mixture is too dry once you've added the cereal to the chocolate, add a teaspoon or two of golden syrup, maple syrup or corn syrup.
- If you want a perfect, glossy chocolate surface on your slices, use couverture chocolate like Callebaut and temper it.
- Make sure that the cereal portion in the tin is firmly compacted to avoid it breaking apart when you slice it. Press it down firmly to create a solid and stable base.
This will help maintain the structural integrity of the slices and prevent any crumbling or breaking during the slicing process.
- For cleaner edges when cutting the squares, use a large serrated knife and saw back and forth. This technique helps create neater sides.
Another option is to dip a knife into a jug of hot water, wipe it dry, and then slice. The heated knife should easily glide through the bars, giving you near-perfect slices.
Storage
The Mars bar slices will keep well outside the fridge for 3 days or 7 days in the fridge. Store in an airtight container.
Can you freeze Mars bar slices?
They freeze well for up to 3 months. To defrost, remove from the freezer a few hours ahead of consuming them.
Serving suggestions
- Drizzle with melted chocolate.
- Sprinkle with chocolate curls.
- Add small pieces of Mars bar on top of the chocolate before putting it in the fridge.
- Slice into fingers, squares or triangles.
FAQ
Mars bar is an extremely popular chocolate bar, first manufactured in the UK by Mars, Incorporated in 1932. It's basically nougat and caramel covered in milk chocolate.
Apparently, the bar is named after the planet Mars and was originally designed to resemble the red planet - Not sure how that came about!
Mars bars are popular and sold across the globe. They're often used in recipes for desserts such as cakes, brownies, cookies, cupcakes and even milkshakes. They are similar to the Milky Way bars in the USA but with the addition of a layer of caramel.
Unfortunately, Mars bars in themselves are not gluten-free.
1. You may have overheated the chocolate.
2. It's possible you may not have added enough butter when melting the Mars bars.
It's imperative you really compact the cereal layer as tightly as possible. Also, ensure your ingredients are properly melted with no solid bits (apart from the nougat).
For this recipe, it's 221 calories per slice.
Absolutely! Apparently, it's still being produced in the same factory where they originated from in 1932.
More no-bake recipes
Recipe
Easy Mars bar slices
Ingredients
- 4 full sized Mars bars (51g each) - circa a total of 200g if the bars available to you come in different weights
- 80 grams butter
- 100 grams Coco Pops
- 300 grams milk chocolate
- 1 teaspoon vegetable or coconut oil
Instructions
Grease and line a 20x20cm baking tin with baking paper. A handy trick is to cut a long strip of baking paper and let it hang over two sides of the baking dish.- Remove the Mars bars from their wrapping and slice into small chunks. Add it to a large saucepan together with the butter and turn the heat to low.
- Move the chocolate around with a spatula to help the melting process. Keep to a gentle, low heat, you don't really want to see any bubbles. Don't fret about the small nougat chunks that may not completely melt during the process. They actually contribute to the texture of the slices.
- Once mostly melted, remove the saucepan from the stove and tip in the Coco Pops. Gently fold the cereal into the melted chocolate.
- Spoon the cereal mixture into the prepared baking tin. Work it into the corners.
- Once you have an even spread, start to gently compact the mixture into the tin with the back of a spoon. The bottom of a flat-bottomed glass works well too.
- Break the milk chocolate into small pieces and add this together with the oil to a microwaveable bowl. Heat in 30 second bursts, stirring after each burst until the chocolate has fully melted. Careful not to overheat or burn the chocolate.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the cereal base and smooth it out with the back of a spoon. Place in the fridge for 2 hours to set.
- Once you take the dish out of the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before slicing. This step prevents the chocolate layer from cracking when you cut it while it's too cold. Allowing it to warm up a bit ensures that you'll have clean and smooth slices.
- Lift the uncut block of Mars bar slice from the tin and place it onto a cutting board. Cut into 16 slices using a sharp knife.
**Nutritional data disclaimer**
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is calculated by a third party and we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We try our best to give you the most accurate information, but we do not take responsibility for errors that may be present. Also, the nutritional value of the recipe may change depending on the exact brands and products used. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice on your dietary needs.
Nutrition
For food safety advice, including guidance on food allergies
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