From Marathon To Snickers – A Homemade Recipe For Ice Cream Lovers!

Inspired by the old UK Marathon bar, learn about our homemade Snickers ice cream recipe! This easy treat combines caramel, nuts, and chocolate into a creamy homemade ice cream.

If you’re old enough and grew up in the UK, you might remember the Marathon bar—a firm favourite among chocolate lovers.

Nowadays, it’s known as the Snickers bar, but the delicious combination of caramel, nougat, peanuts, and chocolate remains unchanged. These ingredients lend themselves perfectly to a rich, creamy homemade ice cream.

The first time I made this Snickers ice cream, with the aroma and familiar tastes (I’m a huge believer in tasting as I go along, it is a must) I was instantly transported back to childhood memories of eating a marathon but enhanced with a new creamy ice-cold texture and perfect balance of sweet and salty flavours.

In this article, we’ll explain a little about the history of the Marathon bar, its name change to Snickers, and what makes it so special. We’ll also share our easy-to-follow recipe for making Homemade Marathon/Snickers Ice Cream, complete with step-by-step instructions, so you can recreate this classic treat in ice cream form!

If you’d prefer to go straight to the recipe, please click on the following link –

Jump to Homemade Snickers Ice Cream Recipe

The History of the Marathon Bar (Now Snickers)

The Marathon bar was a staple in the UK from its introduction in 1930 until it was renamed Snickers in 1990. The name change was made to align with the global brand identity used in the United States and most other countries, where the bar was always known as Snickers, named after a horse owned by the Mars family, the creators of the bar.

The Marathon bar had a huge following, and many fans still nostalgically remember it by that name. In fact, due to popular demand, the Marathon branding made a temporary return to UK stores in 2019 as part of a retro marketing campaign, much to the delight of longtime fans.

Despite the new name, the recipe for the Snickers bar has remained unchanged: a chewy nougat base topped with roasted peanuts and gooey caramel, all encased in a layer of milk chocolate. The combination of salty peanuts and sweet caramel creates a balance of flavours that has made it one of the best-selling candy bars in the world.

Core Ingredients of a Snickers Bar & Why They Work so Well in Ice Cream

In terms of flavour, the Snickers bar delivers a delicious combination of rich chocolate, buttery caramel, nutty crunch from the peanuts, and a slightly sweet, airy nougat. This balance of textures and flavours makes it an excellent choice for incorporating into desserts like homemade ice cream, where its contrasting elements add both depth and excitement.

A Snickers bar comprises four key elements: nougat, caramel, peanuts, and chocolate. Each component contributes unique flavours and textures that translate beautifully into ice cream form. The nougat adds lightness, caramel brings rich sweetness, peanuts offer a satisfying crunch and saltiness, while chocolate provides a velvety finish.

1. Nougat:
   The soft, chewy nougat adds a light, airy texture to the ice cream. Its subtle sweetness helps balance the more intense flavours of the caramel and chocolate, creating a smooth base that blends well with the creamy consistency of ice cream.
2. Caramel:
   The gooey caramel is essential to the Snickers experience, and in ice cream, it melts into soft, sweet swirls that add bursts of rich flavour. Caramel’s buttery sweetness enhances the creaminess of the ice cream, while its slightly sticky texture contrasts beautifully with the smoothness.
3. Peanuts:
   Roasted peanuts bring a satisfying crunch and a salty contrast to the sweetness of the nougat and caramel. In ice cream, the peanuts hold their texture well, creating a pleasing bite amidst the creaminess. Their natural oil also adds a slight savoury note, balancing out the richness of the chocolate.
4. Chocolate:
   The milk chocolate coating of a Snickers bar melts down and mingles with the ice cream, adding pockets of rich, velvety sweetness. Chocolate’s slight bitterness balances the sweet caramel and nougat, making the overall flavour profile more complex and satisfying.

When combined, these ingredients create a dessert that’s not only rich and indulgent but also balanced with different textures and flavours. The blend of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy, makes Snickers an ideal addition to ice cream.

Homemade Snickers Ice Cream Recipe

Now you’ve got an idea of the flavours and textures for this ice cream, let us now share with you our recipe and method for our homemade Snickers / Marathon Ice Cream.

Ingredients:

• 400ml double cream
• 200ml whole milk
• 100g caster sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Snickers bars (or Marathon bars, if you can find them!), chopped
• 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
• 50g caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • See our article – Homemade Salted Caramel Ice Cream Recipe – for a caramel sauce recipe
• A pinch of sea salt (optional)

Method:

• Prepare the Base: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the double cream, whole milk, caster sugar, and vanilla extract until the sugar has fully dissolved.
• Incorporate the Snickers: Gently fold in the chopped Snickers bars, peanut butter, and caramel sauce. Stir until the ingredients are evenly distributed. If you like a slight salty contrast, add a pinch of sea salt at this stage.
• Churn the Ice Cream: Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually around 20-30 minutes).
  • If you do not have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into a lidded, freezer-safe container and freeze. Every 30 minutes, remove from the freezer and stir vigorously with a fork or whisk to break up ice crystals. Repeat this process for 2–3 hours until the ice cream is smooth and creamy. See our article – How to Make Homemade Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker
• Freeze and Serve: Once the ice cream has thickened and churned, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for an additional 4-6 hours, or until firm. When ready to serve, scoop into bowls or cones and enjoy!

Nutritional Guidance:

While super tasty and indulgent, a serving (120 ml) of homemade Snickers ice cream contains approximately 250-300 calories, 15-20g of fat, 25-30g of carbohydrates, and 5-7g of protein.

Remember, moderation is key when enjoying this delicious treat.

Storage and Serving tips:

Store your homemade Snickers ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Troubleshooting section:

Common Issues and Solutions:

Ice cream too hard: Let your ice cream soften at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Ice crystals forming: Ensure your mixture is well-chilled before churning and store it in an airtight container.

Caramel sinking to bottom: Swirl in caramel sauce after churning, just before freezing.

Variation ideas:

Vegan Snickers Ice Cream: If you’re vegan or have any alternative dietary requirements, this recipe is easily adapted. Replace dairy ingredients with coconut cream and almond milk. Use vegan chocolate and caramel sauce to recreate this delicious homemade Snickers Ice Cream.

Nutty Twist: Substitute peanuts with a mix of almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts for a gourmet touch.

Protein-Packed Version: Add a scoop of chocolate protein powder to the base for an extra nutritional boost.

The Perfect Homemade Treat

This homemade Snickers ice cream is the perfect blend of creamy, nutty, and caramel goodness. The rich ice cream base beautifully complements the salty crunch of the peanuts and the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate, giving you a dessert that’s indulgent but easy to make. And with our added variation ideas, you’ll be able to whip up this treat whatever your dietary requirements are.

Whether you remember it as a Marathon bar or have always called it Snickers, this homemade ice cream recipe will let you enjoy those nostalgic flavours in a fresh, frozen form.

Perfect Add-ons for Snickers Ice Cream

While Snickers ice cream is already a flavour-packed treat, there are plenty of creative ways to enhance it with add-ons.

Here are a few ingredients that pair beautifully with Snickers ice cream:

1. Chocolate Chips or Fudge Chunks:
   For extra bursts of chocolate, stir in some dark or milk chocolate chips, or chunks of fudge. These additions melt slightly into the ice cream, adding rich, gooey pockets of chocolatey goodness.
2. Toffee or Honeycomb Pieces:
   Crunchy toffee or honeycomb bits bring a textural crunch with every bite, contrasting the smooth ice cream and complementing the caramel in the Snickers.
3. Salted Caramel Drizzle:
   For those who love the sweet and salty combination, a salted caramel drizzle on top of the ice cream or swirled into the base takes the caramel flavour to the next level.
4. Crushed Digestive Biscuits or Graham Crackers:
   Adding crumbled digestive biscuits or graham crackers introduces a toasty, buttery crunch that pairs perfectly with the chocolate, caramel, and nougat.
5. Peanut Butter Swirls:
   Since peanuts are a core ingredient of Snickers, swirling in some creamy or chunky peanut butter can enhance the nutty flavour and add a smooth, salty contrast to the sweet ice cream.
6. Chopped Nuts (Hazelnuts, Almonds, or Cashews):
   If you want to introduce more variety in textures, adding finely chopped hazelnuts, almonds, or cashews gives the ice cream an extra crunch while maintaining the nutty theme.
7. Mini Marshmallows:
   For a soft, chewy surprise, stir in some mini marshmallows. They blend beautifully with the nougat, creating a lighter, fluffy texture in the ice cream.
8. Banana Slices:
   Fresh or frozen banana slices provide a fruity, tropical note that complements the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate while bringing a refreshing contrast to the richness of the ice cream.

By adding any of these elements, you can customise your homemade Snickers ice cream to suit your taste, making it even more indulgent and unique.

The possibilities are endless, and each add-on brings something different to the table, making this dessert a fun and versatile creation.

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We hope you have enjoyed our article – From Marathon To Snickers – A Homemade Recipe For Ice Cream Lovers! – giving those of you who remember the Marathon Bar a nostalgic reminder, and hopefully inspiring you to give this delicious recipe a go.

If you have any questions, please do drop us a comment below and we’ll happily get back to you.

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