This Mini Chocolate Bar Is So Good, Eating One Has Become My New Favorite Afternoon Ritual (It’s Naturally Sweetened!)

I’m a huge Halloween fan. Besides seeing everyone’s fun costumes and pretending to be someone else for a night (yes, I still dress up), there’s all the candy. While I’m far too old to go trick-or-treating, I still like to indulge in a few of my favorite candy bars to celebrate — and this year, I know exactly what bag of goodies I’ll be dipping into. 

Last year I found out about Harken Sweets, a candy company that prides itself on making delicious chocolates without an ounce of added sugar. It sounded too good to be true — that is, until I tasted one for myself. 

Harken Sweets was founded in 2022 by Katie Lefkowitz, a self-proclaimed candy-lover, who developed the company after a personal health scare. Rather than give up the sweets she loved, she created candy bars that taste like the classics she grew up with — but they are naturally sweetened with the brand’s signature date caramel. There’s also no added sugar, gluten, artificial ingredients, or dairy. Plus, the bars are plant-based and a high source of fiber (21% of the daily value). 

Harken’s full-sized candy bars come in three flavors: The Nutty One, The Crunchy One, and The Gooey One. In April 2025 the company launched miniature snack-size bars, which are perfect for a two-bite snack on the go … and Halloween trick-or-treaters. My personal favorites are The Lil’ Nutty Ones, which have a layer of chewy nougat and gooey date caramel studded with roasted peanuts, all coated in an oat milk chocolate. 

The Lil’ Nutty Ones are sold at retailers nationwide, including Sprouts Farmers Market, Walmart, and HyVee, as well as at Harken’s website and Amazon. A 3-ounce bag is between $8.99 and $9.99, depending on the retailer. 

I tore into one of the individually wrapped bars, took a bite, and was instantly transported to heaven. If I hadn’t taken it out of the package myself, I never would’ve known that it wasn’t made with actual sugar! The date caramel is oh-so-gooey and provides just the right amount of chew, while the roasted peanuts add crunch and a toasty, nutty flavor. The oat milk chocolate is creamy and generously coats the entire bar.