Healthy and homemade no-bake date energy bars made with honey, oats, peanut butter and almonds.
A quick and easy protein bar recipe that takes just 10 minutes to prepare - and no fancy equipment required!
Once you make your own homemade date energy bars, you'll never buy store-bought bars again!
Just like my classic muesli bars, peanut butter protein balls and dark chocolate almond granola bars, these date nut bars are healthy AND packed full of nutritious and energy-boosting ingredients!
Try them for yourself and see why they're so popular with hungry kids after school, gym bunnies and busy parents on the go!
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
There's so much to love about this energy bar recipe with dates:
- Quick & easy - it takes just 10 minutes to prepare these energy bars!
- No-bake - forget about turning on the oven... simply melt, mix and chill.
- Just like store-bought... but better! I used to spend a small fortune on store-bought nut bars. Now I always make my own homemade nut energy bars - not only do they taste so much better, are far cheaper, you also know exactly what's in them! No added nasties!
- Freezer-friendly - make a double batch and store in the freezer. The bars defrost in just a couple of minutes at room temperature - making them perfect 'grab and go' snacks.
- Energy booster - these oatmeal date energy bars are the perfect protein-packed after-school or post-workout snack.
- Conventional and Thermomix - you will find both methods in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
What You Need
My date energy bar recipe is made using delicious and nutritious ingredients!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
- Almonds - use roasted almonds for the ultimate crunch!
- Rolled oats - use old fashioned rolled oats or substitute with quick oats.
- Medjool dates - this is a variety of dates that are large, soft and caramel-flavoured. See my tips below for removing the pits from the centre of the dates. If you can't find medjool dates, you can use regular pitted dates.
- Vanilla extract - or vanilla essence.
- Sea salt - to perfectly balance the caramel flavour of the nut bars.
- Honey - or substitute with rice malt syrup.
- Peanut butter - you can use a store-bought or homemade peanut butter. Peanut butter can be substituted for any nut butter, if you prefer.
Equipment Required
There's absolutely NO fancy equipment required to make these healthy nut bars!
- Microwave, stove-top or Thermomix - for melting the honey, peanut butter, sea salt and vanilla extract.
- Food processor, Thermomix or knife - for chopping the pitted dates.
- Baking tin - 20cm square (8 x 8 inches). Grease and line with baking paper.
Step By Step Instructions
It takes just 10 minutes to prepare my healthy protein bars with dates and oats.
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
Step 1 - Melt
Place the honey, peanut butter, sea salt and vanilla extract into a large mixing bowl.
Melt on 50% power until melted (stirring every 30 seconds).
Step 2 - Chop The Dates
Using a Thermomix, food processor or simply a knife, chop the pitted dates into small chunks.
Step 3 - Mix
Place the rolled oats and chopped almonds into a large bowl.
Add the chopped dates.
And pour over the liquid.
Mix until very well combined.
Step 4 - Chill
Press the mixture firmly into a greased and lined baking tin.
Chill for 3 hours before cutting into slices.
How To Remove The Pit (Seed) From Dates
Many store-bought dates will still have the pits (seeds) inside (with the exception of pitted dates).
Medjool dates have one large pit inside each date.
It's VERY important to remove the pits before chopping the dates.
To remove the pit, simply press firmly on the side of the date and move your finger from side to side until the pit comes out.
Discard the pit.
Expert Tips
- Where possible, use medjool dates as they have a beautiful caramel flavour and a soft texture.
- Ensure you remove the pits from the dates before chopping.
- Roasted almonds have the best flavour and crunch!
- Store date energy bars in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Date energy bars will defrost in just a few minutes once removed from the freezer.
FAQ's
Absolutely! Made using oats, natural sugars (honey and dates) and nuts - date energy bars are a healthy, nutritious and energy-boosting snack.
Based on 16 serves per recipe batch, there are 145 calories per large bar.
Dates are a highly nutritious fruit containing fibre and antioxidants. They are also
a natural (non-processed) sugar.
When enjoyed in moderation, peanut butter is a healthy addition to a balanced diet. Peanut butter is high in magnesium and protein.
Related Recipes
If you love making your own homemade muesli or granola bars, you'll love these popular recipes too!
Honey, Nut, Oat & Date Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 110 g (1 cup) roasted almonds roughly chopped
- 135 g (1 ½ cups) rolled oats or quick oats
- 200 g (1 cup) pitted medjool dates or pitted dried dates
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla essence
- pinch sea salt
- 85 g (¼ cup) honey
- 65 g (¼ cup) cup peanut butter
Instructions
Conventional Method
- Grease a 20cm x 20cm square cake tin and line with baking paper. Set aside.
- Place the chopped roasted almonds and the rolled oats into a bowl.
- Place the medjool dates into a blender and chop for 30 seconds or until small chunks remain. Add the chopped dates to the bowl of almonds and oats.
- Place the vanilla extract, sea salt, honey and peanut butter into a microwave safe bowl.
- Melt together in 30 second bursts on 50% power for 2-3 minutes (stirring between each interval).
- Pour the liquid into the bowl and mix together until completely combined.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and press down firmly.
- Place the tin into the fridge for 3 hours or until firm (the bars will still be slightly soft and bendy).
- Cut into slices and place into an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days (you can also freeze the slices).
Thermomix Method
- Grease a 20cm x 20cm square cake tin and line with baking paper. Set aside.
- Place the roasted almonds into the Thermomix bowl and roughly chop by pressing Turbo 3-4 times. Set aside in a bowl.
- Place the medjool dates into the Thermomix bowl and chop by pressing Turbo 8-10 times or until the dates resemble small chunks. Add the chopped dates to the almonds.
- Place the vanilla extract, sea salt, honey and peanut butter into the Thermomix bowl.
- Melt together for 3 minutes, 80 degrees, Speed 2. Add the rolled oats, dates and almonds to the Thermomix bowl and mix for 10 seconds on Reverse, Speed 3 or until completely combined (use the spatula to help).
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and press down firmly.
- Place the tin into the fridge for 3 hours or until firm (the bars will still be slightly soft and bendy).
- Cut into slices and place into an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days (you can also freeze the slices).
Notes
- Where possible, use medjool dates as they have a beautiful caramel flavour and a soft texture.
- Ensure you remove the pits from the dates before chopping.
- Roasted almonds have the best flavour and crunch!
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- The bars will defrost in just a few minutes once removed from the freezer.
Manal says
I haven't made these yet but just wondering if they'll hold up in the lunch box for school as they are no bake. Would I be better off making one of your baked muesli bars instead?
Lucy says
Hi there, I find that these are fine in lunchboxes (although we live in a cooler climate). Baked ones will always hold up better though of course!
Vicki says
Help! My bars are more like a crumble! I didn’t have a thermomix bowl and hadn’t heard of one either. I microwaved the honey and peanut butter for 50 seconds? Or perhaps i didn't mix enough? I used mix setting on a ninja food processor and jumbo oats.
Lucy says
Hey! They are best cut into bars after being chilled in the fridge overnight - did you do that? And yes, the more they're mixed, the more the liquid will combine with the dry ingredients and set everything firm.