Gluten-free, vegan and no-bake homemade date energy bars are a perfect on-the-go snack or as a breakfast. These no bake date energy bars are made with a few ingredients that could be customised with various options to suit an individual's taste.
These delicious plant-based energy bars are easy to make with a few pantry ingredients and are better than buying at stores that are loaded with unwanted preservatives.
The best part is that you can substitute your favourite dried fruits, nuts, seeds and sweeteners to create your own personalised energy bars. Perhaps it could be customised as an allergy-friendly snack for people with allergic reactions.
Date bars are a great snack to have in the kitchen that comes in handy on days when you are short of time or on lazy days. Perfect to pack in a kid's snack box, as an after-workout snack. These bars are portable and mess-free treats to pack in a travel bag.
Dates are an essential item to have in the pantry for those unexpected sweet cravings. Rather than snacking on store bought treats, these are tasty ways to satisfy cravings instantly.
Sticky dates work perfectly as a natural sweetener in desserts and as a binding agent in no bake snack recipes like dry fruit laddu, date snickers, coconut date balls, chocolate date energy balls and healthy date bars and cookie bars.
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Why you will love these bars?
No cooking or baking involved
Fun and easy recipe to make with kids
It can be customised with various options.
Ingredients
- Nuts & Seeds: I used walnuts, desiccated coconut, and pumpkin seeds. Feel free to use whatever nuts and seeds you have on hand.
- Dates: Fresh dates are preferred in this recipe.
- Dry fruits: Raisins, cranberries. You can use any dry fruits that you have in the pantry.
- Sweeteners and Condiments: flaxseed meal, salt and coconut oil.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make date energy bars?
Place dates and walnuts in a processor and process until dates are smooth and well combined with walnuts.
In a large bowl, place flax meal, desiccated coconut, raisins, pumpkin seeds, cranberry and stir well.
Add dates mixture and mix until everything comes together and forms a dough-like mixture.
Transfer the mixture to a baking pan lined with parchment paper.
Spread it evenly and press firmly with the hand or back of a bowl.
Keep the pan in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set.
After 30 minutes take the pan out of the fridge, remove the baking sheet from the pan and cut it into bars.
Enjoy these homemade date energy bars as a snack or for breakfast.
Store the remaining bars in an airtight container in the fridge.
Check out no bake coconut almond balls on the blog.
Substitutions and Variations
Nuts: You can use cashews, pecans, almonds or a combination of various nuts instead of walnuts.
Sweetener: Leave out maple syrup if you feel the natural sweetness from dates is sufficient.
Dry Fruits: Use any dry fruits that you have on hand - apricots, prunes, figs.
Seeds: You could use sunflower seeds or melon seeds instead of pumpkin seeds if you have them on hand.
Flavouring Agent: A dash of vanilla extract or a big pinch of cinnamon adds a lovely flavour to this homemade energy bars with dates.
Protein: Transform it to protein bars with dates by adding peanut butter as a protein content.
Serving Suggestions
These easy date bars are great as an after-school snack or after a workout.
Enjoy it as a light dessert after a meal.
These medjool date bars are great as a breakfast bar with a cup of hot chocolate, haldi doodh, masala chai or rose milk tea.
These homemade bars are an ideal homemade gift option.
Storage
Fridge: These plant-based energy bars stay fresh for 6-8 days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Freezer: Freeze them for a longer shelf life. Freeze date bars on a baking sheet until solid and then transfer them to a freezer-friendly container or bag and pop them in a freezer. Ensure to thaw (defreeze) them well before serving. Use up within 3 months.
Tips & Tricks
If the mixture is too dry then add extra coconut oil or a little water to help get the right consistency.
If you think the mixture is too wet, then add dry ingredients such as flaxseed meal, oats flour or coconut flour to help set the mixture well.
You may have to pause while processing to scrape the date mixture from the sides of the food processor container.
Soak dates for 15-20 mins in hot water to help them soften if you are not using fresh dates. Soft dates combine well with other ingredients.
Always allow the mixture to set well before you cut it into bars, otherwise, the mixture will crumble.
Ensure to press the mixture down firmly as much as you can on the base of the baking sheet.
Just a pinch of salt enhances the flavour of energy bars.
FAQ
The nutrition factor and how healthy depends on the ingredients used in the date bars recipe.
Yes, you can But ensure the dates are not dry and hard. Otherwise, you have to soak them to soften dry dates. Place dates in a large mixing bowl of warm water for at least 20 minutes or 10 minutes in hot water.
More Refined Sugar Free Treat Recipes
Chocolate peanut butter energy balls
KEEP IN TOUCH
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📖 Recipe Card
Homemade Date Energy Bars
Ingredients
1 cup = 250ml ; 1 Tablespoon = 15ml ; 1 Teaspoon = 5ml
- 1 cup (or) 211 gms Fresh Dates pitted
- ¼ cup (or) 26 gms Flaxseed meal (ground flaxseeds)
- ¼ cup (or) 23 gms Desiccated Coconut
- ¼ cup (or) 27 gms Walnuts
- ¼ cup (or) 40 gms Pumpkin Seeds
- ¼ cup (or) 40 gms Raisins
- 4 Tablespoons Maple Syrup adjust to taste
- ¼ Cup (or) 36 gms Cranberries
- Salt a pinch
- ⅓ cup (or) 84 ml Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Place dates and walnuts in a processor and process until dates are smooth and well combined with walnuts.1 cup (or) 211 gms Fresh Dates, ¼ cup (or) 27 gms Walnuts
- In a large bowl, place flax meal, maple syrup, salt, coconut oil, desiccated coconut, raisins, pumpkin seeds, cranberry and stir well.¼ cup (or) 26 gms Flaxseed meal (ground flaxseeds), ¼ cup (or) 23 gms Desiccated Coconut, ¼ cup (or) 40 gms Pumpkin Seeds, ¼ cup (or) 40 gms Raisins, 4 Tablespoons Maple Syrup, ¼ Cup (or) 36 gms Cranberries, Salt, ⅓ cup (or) 84 ml Coconut Oil
- Add dates mixture and mix until everything comes together and forms a dough-like mixture.
- Transfer the mixture into a lined baking pan.
- Spread it evenly and press firmly with the hand or back of a bowl.
- Keep the pan in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set.
- After 30 minutes take the pan out of the fridge, remove the baking sheet from the pan and cut it into bars.
- Enjoy these no-bake bars as a snack or for breakfast. Store the remaining bars in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Related
Welcome to Flavours Treat. I share vegetarian recipes made with wholesome, mostly fresh ingredients. Every recipe has easy-to-follow instructions with process shots (detailed step-wise pictures), a short video and lots of tips to help your cooking journey. Read more
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