Healthy Date Oat Bars
Date bars with creamy tahini (sesame seed butter), chopped walnuts, oats and chocolate are your favorite childhood candy all grown up. Made with just 6 easy, every day ingredients, no sugar, gluten free, no bake and loaded with antioxidants, fiber, good fats and protein. Perfect healthy bars for snacking perfection!Supremely easy, these sweet treats just take a little planning: give yourself 2 hours to allow them to set in your freezer.These date bars are my go-to when I’m craving something indulgent. They are sweet but not too sweet, with a nutty sesame flavor and a decadent chocolate coating. I know I can count on them to give me a little jolt of energy. When I’m short on time, even just a quick little dip into the fridge for a bite gives me that boost I need. And, trust me, I find myself dipping into the fridge quite a lot when I make these tahini date bars! They taste just like a Snickers candy bar, only better!This recipe makes 16 bars, but they stay fresh for up to a week (and they are always eaten well before then in my house)! If you are making them for just yourself, you can freeze them for up to two months. Simply pop a few in your fridge to thaw the night before and you have a nice little snack waiting for you to enjoy.These date bars rarely make their way to a plate. But, if I can resist the urge to eat them standing somewhere near my fridge, I’ll make myself a cup of coffee to sip between bites.These bars are also great for a packed lunch, or you can serve them as finger food for a casual afternoon party or family gathering. Serve alongside a spread of equally fuss-free snacks. Your guests will move on from savory delights and their sweet tooth will start calling. These date bars will be there to answer, in a nutty, semi-sweet, totally satisfying, and unexpected way. These date bars make enough to please a crowd and are so simple. In fact, there’s very little cooking involved! Simply blend, spread, melt, and chop. Why you will love this Healthy Date Oat Bar Recipe:It is naturally sweetened (no sugar added)Packed with wholesome ingredientsThese are no bake date bars, such a fuss free recipe!So easy to put together and ready in no timeHighly customizable - any nuts or seeds of choice can be substitutedPerfect as breakfast bars, travel snacks, after workout food, grab and go snack or dessert. These date oat bars with creamy tahini and chocolate drizzle are a rich, indulgent treat that requires no processed sugar,or time in the oven. Budget a couple of hours to freeze these not-too-sweet treats and you will have an afternoon pick-me-up at the ready.
Servings 16
Ingredients
- 2 cups dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup tahini (sesame seed butter)
Chocolate Drizzle
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Garnish - shredded coconut
Instructions
- Line a 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some overhanging to act as a handle to get the bars out easier for cutting. Or use a silicon pan.Place dates into a food processor and process until the dates turn into a thick paste. Some bigger bits remaining is fine as its nice to have texture variance and different size ‘bits’ in your date bars. Add the oats and pulse until combined.Transfer the date/oat paste to the baking dish. Using wet hands, spread the paste evenly across the bottom of the dish. Spread the tahini evenly on top of the date layer using the back of a spoon. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts evenly on top.Place in refrigerator while you melt the chocolate.
Chocolate Drizzle
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small dish and microwave at 50% power with 30 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.Once chocolate has melted, remove the date and tahini layer from the freezer. Pour the chocolate over the nut layer. Sprinkle with shredded coconut or your choice of garnish.Place back in fridge or freezer until the layers have set and the chocolate has hardened.Holding the parchment overhang on opposite sides, pull it out of the pan and set on a cutting board. Remove the parchment.Cut into 16 bars or more smaller squares.Store any uneaten bars in a tightly closed container in your fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
