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You are here: Home / Recipe / Dessert / Gluten-Free Chocolate Amaranth Bars

Gluten-Free Chocolate Amaranth Bars

110 · Aug 18, 2014 · 4 Comments

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Mexican Chocolate Amaranth Bar recipe using Wilton Candy Melts on theothersideofthetortilla.com

This post is part of a compensated collaboration with Wilton. All experiences, opinions and the recipe here are my own.

In Mexico City’s San Ángel neighborhood, there’s an artisanal candy store I love called Dulcería El Secreto. They make authentic, traditional and artisanal Mexican candies—the kind that were made long before commercial candy production, with recipes that have been passed down through generations. They carry a variety of palanquetas, garapiñados, pepitorias, pulpa de tamarindo con chile, and a lot of traditional Mexican candies that may have fallen somewhat out of favor in recent decades, but are currently having a renaissance.

One of these traditional candies, barras de chocolate con amaranto—known in English as chocolate and amaranth bars—is a very simple but authentic candy that has been enjoyed in Mexico for many decades. You may also know these treats by another name (with a variation of ingredients) — they are similar to alegrías. They’re typically cut into bars or circles and sold everywhere from street vendor stands to high-end artisan candy stores. They’re also a naturally gluten-free treat, and Wilton Candy Melts are also safe for those who follow a gluten-free diet.

 

RELATED RECIPE: How to make pepitorias

On a recent weekend, I headed to a fun event hosted by Ericka Sanchez of Nibbles and Feasts to learn how to dip and drizzle treats using the Wilton Candy Melting Pot. We dipped everything from strawberries to potato chips, pretzels, marshmallows and even cookies, as you can see below. As we practiced our technique for dipping and drizzling, a  lightbulb went off in my head at the party—the Wilton Candy Melting Pot is the perfect tool to make the chocolate amaranth bars I love so much with very minimal cleanup! You can melt the chocolate in the pot, and once it’s ready, add the amaranth, stir, and turn it out onto a wax paper-lined jelly roll pan. All you have to do is wipe out the Candy Melting Pot’s easy-to-clean silicone pot. Host your own Dip and Drizzle Party with #WiltonCandyMelts - #Recipe ideas on theothersideofthetortilla.com

If you want to give this traditional treat a more modern, fun twist, you can either add rainbow nonpareil sprinkles to the chocolate and amaranth, or even try different flavored Wilton Candy Melts, such as chocolate mint or peanut butter, or fun colors such as orange, lavender or yellow! Check out all the different flavors and colors of Wilton Candy Melts to choose your favorite. Some notes about amaranth if you’re not familiar with this ancient grain, which has been used since the time of the Aztecs: Many Mexican markets sell amaranth already popped. It is a naturally protein-packed, gluten-free grain. In Los Angeles, the market where I buy it pre-popped costs $8 per pound (which is a TON of amaranth, by the way, since popped amaranth is very light). If you use amaranth often enough, you may find it more cost-effective to pop your own. About 3-4 tablespoons yields a cup of popped amaranth, and you can typically find amaranth grain sold in the bulk bins at health food stores or packaged and hanging out on shelves in 1-2 pound packages near the quinoa and specialty flours and grains. There are usually directions on the packaging on how to pop it.

You can easily double this recipe by either making it in two (or more) batches, or by melting double the amount of chocolate and then mixing in the amaranth directly on the wax paper before spreading it out and cutting. To make circles instead of bars or squares, use a cookie cutter, a biscuit cutter or a drinking glass.

 

Print
Gluten-free chocolate amaranth bars

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Gluten-free chocolate amaranth bars

A traditional Mexican candy made with popped amaranth and chocolate gets a modern method update with Wilton Candy Melts and the Wilton Candy Melting Pot.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces by weight) Light Cocoa or Dark Cocoa flavored Wilton Candy Melts
  • 1 1/2 cups popped amaranth

Instructions

  1. Heat the Wilton Candy Melts in a Wilton Candy Melting Pot for about 10 minutes. If you don't have a melting pot, you can also heat the Candy Melts chips in a glass bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring between each interval, until completely melted. If using the Melting Pot, turn off heat at this point.
  2. Stir chocolate so it is completely smooth and then pour 1/2 cup of amaranth into the melting pot or bowl at a time, stirring to incorporate. Once all amaranth is fully incorporated and coated with chocolate, set aside.
  3. Line an 8 1/2 x 10 jelly roll pan (or slightly smaller pan) with wax paper and spoon amaranth and chocolate mixture into pan. Using a piece of wax paper, press mixture into pan; it should be about a half-inch deep. It's OK if you don't use up all the space in the pan to ensure the bars are a half-inch deep.
  4. Allow the mixture to set for about 10 minutes, then use a sharp knife to cut the bars into desired portions. Separate the bars so there's a little bit of space between them so they won't stick together.
  5. Allow to set and dry completely, at least an hour.
  6. Store in an airtight container or zip top bag for up to one week.

Notes

The total time for this recipe includes 1 hour of inactive prep/cook time to allow the bars to set.

Both amaranth and Wilton Candy Melts are gluten-free.

3.1
https://theothersideofthetortilla.com/2014/08/chocolate-amaranth-bars-recipe/
©2009-2015 theothersideofthetortilla.com

110

Dessert, Recipe, Sponsored, Vegetarian/Vegetariano Dulcería El Secreto, Mexico City, San Ángel, Wilton, Wilton Candy Melting Pot, Wilton Candy Melts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jodi @ Garlic Girl says

    August 28, 2014 at 9:07 AM

    This look awesome. And I love Wilton Candy Melts because they are so easy to work with. Hope all is well with you Maura!
    Jodi

    Reply
  2. Ana says

    March 6, 2017 at 4:22 AM

    I was in Mexico last week and tried this for the first time – of course they are delicious – they have chocolate. I was sad that I didn’t see them in the airport – I wanted to bring some home. Thanks for the recipe – I will make them. Your suggestion to use Wilton Melts is a great one and different flavours – I can’t handle it – these are so much better than rice krispie squares AND amaranth is more nutritious 😉
    Ana

    Reply
  3. Julia Fernandez says

    July 20, 2020 at 12:53 PM

    This was delicious. I made it less than 10 minutes. really good. Thanks for the reciepe.

    Reply
  4. Armando Vega says

    July 20, 2020 at 1:01 PM

    There’s a company in Mexico where they make this bars sugar-free they still artisanal and of course delicious they sell them in Mexico in Sam’s club a whole package for $53.00 pesos/$2.50 for a whole box of 30 bite size alegrias with Mexican chocolate and its so delicious

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Maura Hernández. Welcome to my kitchen! I'm an award-winning food and travel blogger, recipe developer, and former journalist sharing my passion for all things Mexico. Married to a Chilango, I've traveled Mexico extensively over the last 15 years. Here, you'll find a mix of traditional and modern Mexican cooking, along with my advice on where to eat, stay and play on your visit to Mexico! READ MORE

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