Description
A simple and nutritious recipe for Healthy Candy Bars made with natural ingredients like dates, nuts, and cocoa powder. These no-bake bars are sweetened with honey or maple syrup and can be customized with optional toppings such as dark chocolate chips or coconut flakes. Perfect as a wholesome snack or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup dates (pitted)
- 1 cup nuts (such as almonds or walnuts)
- 1/2 cup nut butter (such as almond butter or peanut butter)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (for sweetness)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Optional Toppings
- Dark chocolate chips
- Coconut flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Mixture: In a food processor, combine the pitted dates, nuts, nut butter, cocoa powder, honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Blend until the mixture is well combined and sticky.
- Form the Bars: Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press it down firmly and evenly using your hands or a spatula.
- Chill: Place the baking dish in the refrigerator for about 1 hour to allow the mixture to firm up.
- Cut and Serve: Once set, remove the mixture from the baking dish using the parchment paper. Cut into bars or squares. If desired, melt dark chocolate and drizzle over the bars or sprinkle with coconut flakes before serving. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- You can customize the nuts with your favorites like pecans, cashews, or pistachios.
- The bars can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- For a vegan option, use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Make sure the dates are soft for easier blending—soak them in warm water if needed.
- Optional toppings add texture and extra flavor but can be omitted for a simpler bar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: healthy candy bars, no bake candy bars, date and nut bars, natural sweet snack, gluten-free snack, homemade candy bars
