No Bake Date Bars
These healthy no bake date bars are great for breakfast and as a snack! Make with only whole ingredients and all you need is a blender!
Have you ever noticed when you are shopping that prepackaged foods are the ones that cost the most? All of the healthier meal replacements and snack bars are easily three bucks a piece with a tax.
Even though I am a fan of RX bars, I decided that I would test out a recipe that is similar to a Lara bar without the price tag. This recipe also stores really well! Like they stay fresh for up to 3 weeks! Check out more of my favorite healthy bars in this blog post!
Another thing I love about this healthy snack bar recipe is the fact there is hardly any cleanup! You literally make everything in the blender, and I am definitely a fan of fewer dishes. The same goes for my Chocolate Chip Blender Protein Pancakes, dairy free banana muffins, and my healthy gingerbread muffins…all made with minimal dishwashing afterward!
Ingredients Needed
- unsalted creamy almond butter – you can use any natural (drippy) seed or nut butter you would like and they still taste delicious!
- pitted medjool dates – dates are naturally sweet, so this helps us cut back on having to add more sugar
- high quality cocoa powder
- maple syrup – you can use honey instead if you needed too
- vanilla extract
- salt
- chocolate chips
How to Make No Bake Date Bars
Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
In the blender or food processor (I have this one!), add the dates and blend until they are pasty. Then add the nut butter and puree until smooth.
Pour in the cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Blend until all ingredients are combined. The mixture will be thick and may remind you of dip n dots!
Transfer the dough to the pan and press down so you have an even layer.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top, and gently press them into the dough.
Chill for 20 minutes in the refrigerator, slice, and serve!
Tips for Making and Storing No Bake Date Bars
- Keep the leftover bars in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
- Avoid substituting chopped dates. They have added sugar and we don;t need that.
- Don’t skip the chill time. You want them to set up nicely so when you slice, they don’t fall apart.
- Feel free to swap out some of the ingredients to make another version. You could add nuts or dried fruit. Use white chocolate chips on top instead of milk (or dark). The options are endless!
Can you use a different variety of dates?
I’m sure you could, Medjools are in about every grocery store and are always sweet, so that’s why I use those.
More Snack and Breakfast Bars You Will Love:
- Birthday Cake Protein Bars
- Sweet Potato Bars
- Gluten Free Cookie Bars
- Banana Breakfast Bars (Vegan + GF)
- Gluten Free Magic Bars
- Whole Wheat Oatmeal S’mores Cookie Bars || Indoor S’mores
No Bake Date Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted creamy almond butter can sub any nut or seed butter
- 8 oz pitted medjool dates ~1 2/3 cups
- 1/2 cup high quality cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside
- In a food processor or high powered blender, Add in dates and puree to a paste. Next, add your almond butter or nut butter of choice. Puree/blend until smooth and evenly combined.
- Add in cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Pulse until everything is well combined. Mixture will be thick with tiny balls formed- similar to that of dip-n-dots!
- Pour dough into lined loaf pan and press down until the dough forms one even layer.
- Sprinkle Chocolate chips on top and press into dough.
- Refrigerate for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Store in the fridge and enjoy for up to 3 weeks!
These are amazing! I’m always looking for healthier treat recipes, and I’m so glad I gave these a try. Even my pickiest kid loved them!
Amazing!!! Words can not describe!! Yummy!
Yay! Thank you! They are definitely one of my toddler and I’s favorites!
These are awesome! I had just under 8 oz of dates, so I added a little bit of applesauce for moisture to make up for the difference and they were perfect. All four of us – including two school aged kids – loved them.
Aw yay!! This makes me so happy to read. I’m glad the whole family (kiddos included!) enjoyed!
These bars are DELICIOUS! Since coming across your recipe I have made these three times. They are a hit in my house. I look forward to trying your other recipes. Thank you for sharing!
Delicious…. Honey also works as a sweetener.
Very delicious and very easy! Well, my poor blender didn’t think they were easy but I did! I topped with some crushed pecans in addition to the chocolate chips, and spread into an 8×8 pan for more even squares and they turned out just fine.