Description
These Healthy Date Candy Bars are the perfect guilt-free treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. Packed with natural sweetness from dates, creamy nut butter, and a touch of cocoa, these bars are rich, indulgent, and nourishing. They’re the perfect alternative to traditional candy bars, offering a boost of energy and nutrients without the refined sugars or artificial ingredients. Easy to make and incredibly satisfying, these bars are perfect for a quick snack, pre-workout fuel, or a healthy dessert!
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Medjool dates (pitted)
1 cup almonds (or other nuts of choice, such as walnuts or cashews)
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter)
2 tablespoons cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of sea salt
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (optional, for drizzling)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dates: If your dates are not soft, soak them in warm water for about 10-15 minutes to soften them up, then drain well. Place the pitted dates in a food processor and pulse until they form a sticky paste.
- Make the Date Mixture: Add the almonds (or other nuts) to the food processor and pulse until they are chopped into smaller pieces. You want some texture, not a fine powder. Add the rolled oats, nut butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and sea salt to the food processor. Blend until the mixture comes together and starts to form a dough-like consistency. You can add a little more nut butter or a splash of water if the mixture is too dry.
- Press the Mixture into a Pan: Line a small baking dish (8×8-inch or similar size) with parchment paper for easy removal. Transfer the mixture to the dish and press it firmly into an even layer. Use the back of a spoon or your hands to compact it well.
- Chill the Bars: Place the baking dish in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours to let the bars firm up. The longer they chill, the more set they’ll become, so don’t skip this step!
- Optional Chocolate Drizzle: If you’d like to add a chocolate drizzle, melt the dark chocolate chips in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the chilled bars. Return the bars to the fridge for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
- Serve: Once chilled and firm, remove the bars from the pan and cut them into squares or bars. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 1 month.
Notes
For an extra boost of omega-3s and fiber, add chia seeds or flax seeds to the mixture.
Mix in dried fruits like cranberries, raisins, or chopped apricots for a fruity twist.
Using coconut flakes or chopped dark chocolate in the mixture will add texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: undefined
- Category: Snack, Dessert
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: Healthy
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
