Vegan Disco Bit Bars

If we told you that Isa recently rummaged through her old lunchbox and found a forgotten Disco Bit bar, would you believe us? No? Good, because that would be a lie. But what isn't a lie: Disco Bit bars were actually a very, very welcome guest in Isa's lunchbox. A crispy biscuit base, sweet caramel, milk chocolate, and candy-coated chocolate lentils. Not exactly what parents would consider a "healthy snack," but my goodness, it's all about balance, right? Whole grain bread, fruit, and vegetables were naturally also part of Isa's snack repertoire.

What exactly are Disco Bit bars and who still remembers them?

Disco Bits are small biscuit bars with a crispy base, sweet caramel, and colorful candy-coated chocolate lentils as topping. Today they're produced by the Dutch company Banketbakkerij Nora B.V. from Maastricht. We honestly thought these bars didn't exist anymore, but our research revealed: you can actually still find them at Kaufland, Action, or Edeka – though obviously not in vegan versions.

But Disco Bits weren't the only bars of this kind! In the early 2000s, there was also the "Bisc" series by Mars, and M&M's once had their own bar called "M&M's & biscuit" – a biscuit with chocolate and M&M's minis on top. Unfortunately, it's no longer available in Germany, but it's actually still sold in France!

Do you need special ingredients? And if so, where can I get them?

Here comes the slightly less pleasant news: you'll find vegan candy-coated chocolate lentils and vegan milk chocolate best online, as they're still not available in most supermarkets. If you still want to search offline, some health food stores or well-stocked reform shops occasionally have vegan alternatives. If necessary, you can also use other chocolate or cacao nibs, nuts, or other sweets as topping – though it won't look quite as colorful.

The biggest pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

The caramel is definitely the trickiest part. Here are our most important learnings: use a non-stick pan, stir constantly, and be patient. The sugar needs time to melt – don't force it with too high heat. If the caramel clumps after you've added the vegan cream: don't give up! Just keep stirring until it becomes smooth again.

With the shortbread dough, the most important thing is that the vegan butter is cold. Otherwise, the dough becomes too soft and difficult to work with. If that happens, just put it back in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Do I absolutely need a silicone bar mold?

For the perfect result, a silicone bar mold is definitely practical – you can get them best online. It ensures even portioning and the typical bar shape. But don't panic if you don't have one: you can simply bake the bars on a baking sheet. They just might not look quite as neat in the end.

If you're now craving more childhood recreations...

...definitely check out our vegan milk slices, Hanuta waffles, or the Kinder Pinguis. And [here(https://www.zuckerjagdwurst.com/en/categories/vegan-homemade-sweets-confectionery) there's much more of that.