Homemade 3 Musketeers Bars Recipe: Classic Copycat Candy Bars

With just three simple ingredients you can make incredible copycat 3 Musketeers bars at home. They capture the light, fluffy chocolate nougat and milk chocolate coating so well you might think they’re the real thing.

I decided to recreate my favorite candy bar from childhood: the 3 Musketeers. I’ve loved them since I was a little girl. In high school my friends and I would walk into town after school and stop at the local card and candy shop. Even with all the choices, I always picked a 3 Musketeers bar. We’d head to the park to eat and chat—good memories.

A bit of history: the 3 Musketeers bar has been around since 1932 and is made by Mars, the same company behind M&M’s. Originally sold as three smaller bars—chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry—the chocolate flavor became the most popular and the company eventually produced the single chocolate bar we know today. Despite many variations over the years, the chocolate-covered fluffy nougat remains the classic favorite.

One more fun fact…

The name comes from Alexandre Dumas’s 1844 novel The Three Musketeers. I enjoyed learning these tidbits and wanted to share them before moving on to the recipe.

Rising candy prices and a craving for that familiar texture inspired me to develop this homemade version. After four attempts I found a method that matches the original’s consistency and flavor. Now I usually make a batch at home—though I’ll still buy an original while traveling if I see one. This recipe is quick, uses common ingredients, and yields bars that are dangerously close to the store-bought treat.

A note: the real 3 Musketeers bar has a milk chocolate coating, which I use here. If you prefer dark chocolate, use a good-quality semisweet or dark chocolate for best results.

Scroll down for the simple ingredient list and directions. You’ll have delicious homemade 3 Musketeers bars in no time.

Copycat 3 Musketeers Bars

Yields: 6 large bars or 12 smaller bars

What are the three ingredients…

Here they are..

• 3 to 4 cups milk chocolate chips, divided (I used Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips; for dark chocolate use a good-quality semisweet)
• 8 ounces Cool Whip, thawed
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil (optional; coconut or canola oil works well)

The best copycat recipe!

Let’s get started…

Directions:

1. Line a loaf pan with parchment or wax paper, leaving a long overlap to lift the bars out easily.
2. Place 2 cups of chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and melt at 25-second intervals, stirring between intervals until smooth. Alternatively, melt in a double boiler. Pour the melted chocolate into a medium mixing bowl.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat the melted chocolate on high for about 45 seconds. Add the entire 8 ounces of thawed Cool Whip and beat on medium-high for about 60 seconds, until the mixture is light and fluffy—this recreates the airy nougat center.
4. Spread the mixture into the prepared loaf pan. If the mixture is firm, use clean damp hands to press it evenly into the pan. Freeze for about 30 minutes to set.
5. Remove from the freezer, lift the block out using the parchment overlap, and invert onto a cutting board. Cut into 6 large bars or 12 fun-size bars. Separate slightly and return to the freezer for another 20 minutes.
6. While the bars chill, melt the remaining chocolate chips. For a thin coating use about 1 cup, for a thicker coating use up to 2 cups. Stir in 1 tablespoon of oil as the chocolate melts to make it glossy and easier to dip.
7. Dip each chilled bar into the melted chocolate, placing finished bars on parchment or wax paper to set. Once all bars are dipped, refrigerate until the coating is firm. Store the finished bars in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Enjoy the chocolate deliciousness!

Here are two more copycat recipes to try

Copycat New York’s Levain Bakery’s Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies

Copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino

There are many more copycat recipes on this blog—you’ll love them all!

Maybe these will become your favorite homemade candy bars too!

Thanks for stopping by today. To save this recipe scroll up to print from the recipe card. You can also save recipes to Pinterest to collect favorites for later.

Please stop back again soon—there are many more sweet and savory recipes to explore.

Bye for now…