These granola bars with dates are soft and SUPER easy to make! With simple wholesome ingredients like chia seeds, and hemp hearts, these will give you an energy boost! This is a weekend-prep, must-make lunch box snack.
Making no-bake snacks is my love language! They are often very fast, quite nutrient-dense, and extra delicious. Just these granola bars, my kids also love cinnamon oatmeal bars that take 5 minutes to make, and these gooey cookie dough bars (try them next!).
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Ingredients you will need
Things to note about some of the ingredients (and what you could swap it with):
- Dates: I use medjool dates as I find they are soft, big and have a lovely sweetness! However any dates work, but be sure to soak them in hot water before using them!
- Almonds: I use raw unroasted almonds for these healthy granola bars. However, roasted salted almonds would be fine, I would recommend to skip adding the salt though. If you want to make these no bake bars nut free I would use more oats or pumpkin seeds instead of almonds.
- Hemp hearts: I use hemp hearts to increase the protein in these chewy granola bars. If you don't have any you can add any other type of seed.
- Chia seeds: These are known to offer energy, they are little but nutrient dense and powerful. Chia seeds can be replaced with ground flax seeds, as these both help bind the bars together and reduce any crumbs!
- Coconut oil: I use a small amount of coconut oil in this recipe as it will become running when mixed with the dates to create a paste that makes everything stick together. Then when the bars go into the fridge it helps solidify the bars. Coconut oil can be replaced with butter.
- Rolled oat: Try to buy organic oats if possible to avoid any sprays that will affect your health. I haven't tested this recipe with quick oats but I think it would work just fine.
See the recipe card below for complete quantities.
How to make granola bars with dates
- Remove the pit from the dates, place them in a measuring cup and pour very hot water over the dates so they become soft. Let them sit for 5-10 minutes.
2. In a food processor pulse the almonds rolled oats, chia seeds, hemp hearts, and sea salt. (This could also be done in a high power blender)
3. After about 20-30 seconds or so it will look like coarse sand, with some chunks, this is what you want. Place this mixture in a mixing bowl.
4. Drain the water from the soaking dates, then add the dates, coconut oil, and vanilla to the food processor (no need to wash it after using it for the oats before using it again!), and blend until you get a thick paste, about 40 seconds to 1 minute.
- Use a spatula to scrap all the date mixture out of the food processor and into the bowl of oats and almonds. Mix together well, even using your hands to knead until a dough forms and there are no dry oats.
- Place the dough into an 8x8 pan and press into the corners of the pan. Place the granola bars into the fridge for 30 minutes and then cut into bars (3 by 6 is what I did). Keep the date granola bars in the fridge in a sealed container and enjoy within 2 weeks.
Other easy no bake snacks
Read more about dates and their nutrition here. Next try this easy date bark and these delicious date ginger energy balls!
Did you make these granola bars with dates? Would you take 5 seconds to give a star rating and review just below the recipe? That means a lot to me and helps the growth of Beside the Mountain blog. ❤️
Granola Bars with Dates
Equipment
- 1 8x8 pan
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup almonds or other nuts, or pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup hemp hearts
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup pitted dates, loosely packed
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil or soft butter
- 1 tablespoons vanilla
Instructions
- Place the pitted dates in a glass measuring cup and pour hot water over them so they become soft. Let them sit for 5-10 minutes.
- In a food processor pulse the rolled oats, almonds, hemp hearts, chia seeds, and sea salt. After about 20-30 seconds or so it will look like coarse sand, with some chunks. Place this in a mixing bowl.
- Drain the water from the soaking dates. Place the dates, coconut oil or butter, and vanilla in the food processor and blend until you get a paste, about 40 seconds to 1 minute. Use a spatula to scrap all the date mixture out of the food processor and into the bowl of oats and almonds. Mix well, even kneading with your hands, until a dough forms with no dry spots.
- Place the dough into an 8x8 pan and press into the corners of the pan. Place the pan into the fridge for 30 minutes and then cut into bars (I cut them 3 by 6 for 18 bars).
Notes
Nutrition
Danika Vanderpyl, C.H.N
I create snack recipes with healthy ingredients that are mostly already in your kitchen. I'm certified in Holistic Nutrition and I care about giving my kids real food. Let me share my nutrient-dense easy snacks with you.
Susan Mueller says
Chewy and naturally sweet with the pureed dates, this recipe was fantastic! i used organic sprouted oats and added a handful of mini cacao nibs! the best
Danika Vanderpyl says
Susan! This is great to hear! I love that you increased the goodness with sprouted oats and cacoa nibs sounds like a great addition!