This is the best no bake date bars recipe you’ll find! Only 6 ingredients and 5 minutes is all it takes to make them. Plus, these date bars are also naturally gluten free and suitable for vegans!
Healthy no bake date bars are the perfect snack for work, school or anytime you feel like you need an energy boost or simply crave something sweet.
This post contains tips, storing instructions, possible substitutions or add-ons as well as more energy bar recipes.
7 reasons to make these no bake date bars:
- Easy snack recipe
- Perfect before or after workout snack
- Guilt-free dessert
- Refined sugar free
- No bake
- Great no bake project for kids!
- Quick preparation
How to make date bars
You will need a food processor and a square cake pan (brownie pan will work great).
I like making date energy bars in stages:
First, I process dates and apricots. This takes about a minute in my processor, but you might need less/more time, depending on how powerful your machine is. You want the fruits finely shredded. Leaving them too long in your processor may result in a very mushy consistency which is fine to eat, but we don’t want that.
Next, add the nuts and seed and pulse several times. Finally, add melted coconut oil and unsweetened raw cocoa powder and process until well combined (The oil will help these date bars together and cocoa add an extra flavor which I like, and I hope you will too).
The mixture will look more like crumbs, but this is perfectly normal. It will all come together.
Pour the mixture into a brownie pan that is lined with baking parchment and use the back of a spoon or measuring cup to flatten the surface and to press the mix down.
When you are done, throw it into the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes (or overnight if you want to) before slicing these. You should get 10-12 no bake date bars out of this mix.
Storing no bake date bars
While you can keep these in an airtight container in your fridge, I highly recommend storing them in your freezer (again, either in a freezer-friendly container or Ziploc bag) as they taste better that way.
The best thing about these no bake date bars is that you can enjoy them right after you take them out from your freezer. In fact, they taste even better when chilled.
How many calories are in this no bake date bars recipe?
There are 148 calories per each bar.
Possible variations
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of pollen to the mix
- Use sunflower seeds instead of pumpkin seeds
- 1 or 2 tablespoons of chia seeds can also be added to these homemade date bars
Tips for making the best no bake date bars
- Dates – there is no need to buy the expensive Medjool dates, so feel free to opt for the more affordable Deglet Noor (the smaller ones) kind. If they are too hard to touch, you might need to soak them in warm water before using them. For more information of if not sure, this article explains everything about dates.
- Gluten-free date bars – there is no flour nor oats in this recipe, but to make it 100% gluten-free, you should check the labels of all the ingredients before you buy them.
If you like these no bake date bars or if you would like to add some more healthy snacks to your diet, I have some more tasty energy bites recipes for you:
My absolute favorites are Chocolate Covered Dates. There is no baking required and they are so easy to put together. I’ve learned that they taste best directly from the freezer – same as these date energy bars. Plus, they make a great gift!
Other healthy snack ideas from my collection include No Bake Energy Bars and Fruity Energy Bars. Both equally delicious and easy to make!
Or try Energy Bites with figs, oats and a mixture of various seeds.
No Bake Date Bars
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Dried Dates , see note 1
- ½ cup Dried Apricots
- ½ cup Almonds , skinless (70 grams)
- ¼ cup Pumpkin Seeds or Sunflower Seeds (40 grams)
- 3 tablespoons Coconut Oil
- 2 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Instructions
- In a food processor, process dates with apricots until they are shredded to pieces (this should not take long – about a minute). Add almonds and pumpkin seeds and process again until these are crushed to small pieces (not powder).
- Add melted coconut oil and cocoa powder and process until well combined. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.
- Transfer the mixture into a square pan lined with baking parchment. With the back of a measuring cup/spoon, firmly press it down until you get nice smooth surface.
- Place them in the freezer for 15 minutes (or longer) before you cut them into individual energy bars.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If you feel that the dates you bought are very hard, you can soak them in warm water for 15 minutes or longer. When ready, drain the water and pat them dry.
- Optional add-ons: You can add 1 or 2 tablespoons of pollen or chia seeds to the mixture, if you like.
- Storage: You can store these no bake date bars in an airtight container in the fridge, but I highly recommend keeping them in the freezer. You can enjoy them right after you take them out and I find that they taste a tad bit better!
Scott says
These look great!! Is there something I could substitute the coconut oil for?
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Hi Scott. I always use coconut oil so not sure. Perhaps you could try adding a few more dates instead, so the bars hold well together.They will probably be quite soft and might not hold their shape that well. But you could also just roll them into balls.Please do let us know if you give it a go!
Linda says
I use honey!
TED says
You can use melted butter instead of coconut oil.
angies says
Just done with my morning workout, and these are just something what I need now. Yummy, and healthful!
Whitney says
This recipe is a great jumping off point for all kinds of great combinations! I add a few tablespoons of flax seed and chia seeds to mine, as well as a combo of dates, blueberries, cherries, and cranberries! Thanks for the recipe!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome, Whitney. Thank you so much for your feedback!
Loretta says
My bars are way too sticky! Will they dry out a little so they don’t stick to everything (including my hands) ???
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Hi Loretta. This may be due to the different quality of dates as well as apricots. Some are juicier than others. You can add more seeds (or nuts, if you like). However, in general they are on the juicier side so they mights be stickier than any store-bought ones. I recommend keeping them in the freezer. They will be harder and perhaps less stickier. Hope this helps.
Jess says
Really lovely recipe, ideal for my husband who is a fell runner. I usually double the quantities, & sub 2 tbsp organic peanut butter for coconut oil. Delicious!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks so much for your feedback, Jess!
Tony says
I put stem ginger in for a spicy hit and sometimes combine shredded coconut and banana chips. For a real chocolaty hit try raw cacao drops.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Sounds delicious, Tony!