These healthy candy bars have a nougat base, caramel filling, chopped cashews, and are covered in a crunchy chocolate coating. You would never guess these are dairy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free. Best part? They are made with pantry staples you ~hopefully~ already have on hand!
These taste like a mix between Twix cookie bar and Snickers bar. If you are looking for a healthier alternative to store-bought candy/snack bars, this recipe won’t disappoint!
Why you will love this recipe:
Taste – these taste like a LEGIT candy bar! SO GOOD. The gooey caramel and crunchy nuts are a sweet and salty match made in heaven!
Ease – These candy bars are made with simple ingredients, come together easily, and pretty quickly!
They are great for all sorts of dietary requirements. These candy bars are vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.
They are versatile – switch up cashews for peanuts or pecans or try dipping them in white chocolate instead of regular chocolate.
What makes these candy bars a healthier option?
I am all about balance, but ya girl loves her sweets! When I’m indulging in a sweet treat often, I make sure that they are a more whole-food’s based option. It’s not about calories, rather quality of ingredients. Let’s take a peak at the ingredients in a classic caramel peanut candy bar and my version!
Store bought: MILK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, CHOCOLATE, SKIM MILK, LACTOSE, MILKFAT, SOY LECITHIN), PEANUTS, CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, PALM OIL, SKIM MILK, LACTOSE, SALT, EGG WHITES, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
My candy bars: Oats, cashews, dates, cashew butter, chocolate chips, vanilla, sea salt.
As you can see, the ingredients are straight to the point, contain no refined sugar, dairy, gluten, or artificial flavors. I’m super excited to share one of my absolute favorite treats with you: These little bites of goodness are the perfect blend of indulgence and nutrition, and they are so easy to make. Trust me, once you try them, you will be hooked!
Chocolate and caramel is a match made in heaven – there is something about the sweetness and subtle saltiness of the caramel marrying with the richness of the chocolate. This the easiest caramel recipe you will make. Just a handful of ingredients, 5-ish minutes of prep time, and voila! My mouth is watering just thinking about it LOL.
What goes better together than chocolate and caramel? Or sweet and salty? Or chocolate and nuts? This dessert/treat has all of these combos, and it’s also healthy. Bonus!
But sometimes caramel can be too sticky and hard to eat – anyone else ever experience that? Not to mention, caramel is essentially pure sugar. Considering my love for dates and how similar their texture is to caramel, I thought why not use dates to mimic caramel? So, that’s exactly what I did. And let me tell you, these are addicting!
So, instead of using sugar like traditional caramel, this recipe uses dates! Not only is it easier, it’s also much healthier, with all the sweetness coming from the dates. Dates are the super star containing so many health benefits.
I. LOVE. DATES. They are just one of those snack cabinet staples I can’t live without. In my quest to find healthier snacks, I have started buying more dates, to use as a natural sweetener in a cookie or frosting.
Dates are a great snack on their own and they are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants, great for heart health and they provide a little energy boost thanks to the natural sugars. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars.
The dried fruit has a caramel-like sweetness that can also help reduce cravings for sugary snacks. I’m always on the hunt though for creative ways to dress up my dates, and I just knew these caramels would be delicious! If you haven’t cooked with dates yet, you have so many delicious uses just waiting to be discovered!
There are lots of date-focused recipes on social media these days, but when I came across viral date caramels I knew I had to try the recipe. And it did not disappoint!
Dates are a super fruit! They are a great source of nutrients and vitamins such as potassium, magnesium, vitamins B6 and K, calcium and iron, which contribute to various health benefits. They also provide a natural energy boost and are low on the glycemic index so your blood sugar won’t spike when eating them.
Why you will love these Date Caramels
Healthy ingredients – this recipe is made with just a small handful of wholesome ingredients to provide a healthier alternative that tastes just like a caramel candy!
Easy to make – just mix everything together in a food processor, freeze, cut into squares and then dip in chocolate. Store these delicious bites in the fridge (or freezer for longer) for whenever that craving strikes.
Incredibly delicious – a sweet, smooth caramel covered in rich chocolate. Is there anything better?
Sometimes, nothing else will do but a sweet treat and this recipe is so delicious it will soon become your favourite go-to treat! With the rich, caramel-like flavor of dates combined with luxurious cashew butter, the added protein powder and a hint of sea salt, these easy-to-make caramel protein candy’s are the perfect snack you can enjoy guilt-free.
Date Caramel Chocolate Protein Bars
Ingredients
Date Caramel
- 1 1/2 cups dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
- 3/4-1 cup almond (or any other) milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
Nougat Base
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
- 1/3 cup cashew or almond butter
- 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
- 3 tablespoons water, if/as needed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Coating
- 1 1/3 cups chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/2 cup cashews, chopped *for the filling
Instructions
- Make the date caramel first so its ready when you go to make the candy.
Date Caramel
- Add all ingredients (starting with ¾ cup almond milk) into a food processor and blend until mixture is smooth. A few bits of dates are ok. Add more almond milk, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, if needed to help the blending process or to thin the caramel. Be careful not to thin it out too much! Once it's done, store in an air-tight container in the fridge.
Nougat Base
- Line an 7 x 5-inch loaf pan or dish with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some overhanging to act as a handle to get the bars out easier for cutting.Add all of the ingredients to a food processor .Process a minute or so, scraping down the sides as needed until a dough forms.It shouldn't be sticky, but shouldn't be dry. It should hold together. Add the water, as needed!Press the dough into the bottom of the pan. Pour the caramel over the base layer, using a spatula to help spread it out evenly. Sprinkle over the chopped cashews.Place the pan in the freezer for 2-3 hours, to allow the bars to firm up enough to cut/dip in chocolate.Once they are firm and ready to dip, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Chocolate Coating
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 20 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.Remove the bars from pan using the parchment paper handles and cut into 10-12 bars or more smaller squares. Use two forks to hold each bar and one by one, dip into the melted chocolate.Roll around until fully coated, then place on the parchment lined tray.Or hold each one with a fork over the melted chocolate and spoon it over letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Sprinkle with flaky salt if desired, then chill until chocolate has set.Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw for 10 minutes prior to eating so the insides are soft and creamy.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
