Chocolate Chip Date Nut Bars Recipe
Delicious and wholesome Chocolate Chip Date Nut Bars made with a blend of chopped nuts, naturally sweetened pitted dates, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips. These no-bake bars are perfect as a healthy snack or dessert, combining rich chocolate flavor with the natural sweetness and chewiness of dates, all held together with a hint of vanilla and a pinch of salt.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup nuts, chopped (cashews and almonds recommended)
- 3–4 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons chocolate chips
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups pitted dates, packed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Soak Dates: Soak the pitted dates in warm water for 10 minutes to soften them; soak longer if the dates seem dry. After soaking, remove the dates from the water, reserving the soaking liquid for later use.
- Chop Nuts: Place the nuts in a food processor and pulse until they are chopped into small pieces but not fully ground.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Transfer the chopped nuts to a bowl and stir in the cocoa powder, salt, and chocolate chips; set this mixture aside.
- Make Date Paste: Return the soaked dates to the food processor and blend until they form a smooth, sticky paste.
- Combine Mixtures: Add the date paste to the bowl containing the nut and cocoa mixture, then mix everything thoroughly until evenly combined.
- Adjust Consistency: If the mixture is too dry and crumbly, gradually add the reserved date soaking liquid one teaspoon at a time, mixing well after each addition, until the mixture just begins to stick together.
- Press into Pan: Line an 8×8-inch or loaf pan with parchment paper. Using the back of a spoon, firmly press the date nut mixture evenly into the pan, spreading to cover the edges and creating a compact layer.
- Refrigerate: Place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour to firm up the bars.
- Serve and Store: After chilling, cut into 8 bars. Store the bars in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and firmness.
Notes
- Note 1: Soaking the dates softens them making it easier to blend into a paste, particularly if your dates are dry or older.
- Note 2: Adding the reserved soaking liquid a little at a time helps achieve the perfect sticky texture so the bars hold together without being too wet.
- Note 3: Storing the bars in the fridge prevents them from becoming too soft or sticky and extends their shelf life up to one week.
Keywords: chocolate chip bars, date nut bars, no bake bars, healthy snacks, gluten free bars, chocolate date bars
Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/chocolate-chip-date-nut-bars-recipe/