Homemade Date Granola Bars (Easy, Healthy & Chewy)

Hey there, snack enthusiasts! 🌱 Ever find yourself rummaging through the pantry, craving something that's both delicious and good for you? Look no further—our Homemade Date Granola Bars are the answer to your munchie prayers. These bad boys are not just easy to whip up; they're also packed with natural sweetness from dates and a whole lot of nutrients. Perfect for on-the-go breakfasts or midday pick-me-ups, these granola bars are your ticket to guilt-free snacking. So, ready to elevate your snack game? 🌟

First off, let's talk about the nutritional powerhouse that this recipe is. We're not just throwing around buzzwords here; these granola bars are genuinely good for you.

Packed with fiber from the rolled oats and natural sugars from the dates, they're a delicious snack you can feel good about. Plus, the walnuts and hazelnut butter bring in those healthy fats that your body loves. So, you're not just satisfying your taste buds; you're also fueling your body with essential nutrients.

Now, onto the "easy factor." We get it; no one wants to spend hours in the kitchen for a snack. That's the beauty of this granola bar recipe—it's incredibly straightforward. You'll spend more time enjoying these bars than making them, and there's no fancy equipment needed. Just a food processor, some pantry staples, and you're good to go. It's meal prep made simple, and who doesn't love that?

Last but not least, versatility is the name of the game here. Whether you're looking for a quick breakfast option or a midday pick-me-up, these granola bars have got you covered. They're perfect as both a meal and a snack, fitting seamlessly into your busy lifestyle. And if you loved our previous recipe for homemade granola recipe, this one takes inspiration from it, adding a new twist to an already amazing dish.

This is our 5-ingredient granola bar that works beautifully 100% of the time, just as our no-bake fig bars, are equally delicious!

Jump to:

• 🧾 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• 🍶 Substitutions
• 📖 Recipe Variations to Try
• 💡 Top tip
• 🫙 Serving and Storage Tips
• ❓ FAQ
• 📚 More granola recipes
• 📚 More Healthy Snack Recipes
• 📋 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews and Comments

🧾 Ingredients

Only wholesome ingredients for these healthy granola bars.

• Rolled Gluten-free Oats or Spelt: These grains are the backbone of our granola bars, providing essential fiber and nutrients. Plus, they give the bars that classic, hearty texture we all love.
• Dates: Nature's candy, anyone? Dates bring natural sweetness to the table, eliminating the need for refined sugars and adding a chewy texture. If you can get soft Medjool dates, even better!
• Walnuts: These crunchy gems are more than just a texture play; they're loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for brain health.
• Hazelnut Butter: This creamy delight not only binds the ingredients together but also adds a rich, nutty flavor that complements the sweetness of the dates. You can use any nut or seed butter you have handy.
• Agave Syrup: A plant-based sweetener that's less processed than table sugar, agave syrup helps to hold the bars together while adding a touch of extra sweetness.

🔪 Instructions

To kick off this recipe, we'll start with dates as our go-to natural sweetener. Feel free to toss in some mixed dried fruits like raisins or goji berries for added flair. Next up, we've got walnuts or almonds, your choice, followed by either spelt or oats. We'll blend these with hazelnut butter and a splash of agave or maple syrup to bring it all together.

If you're in the mood for an extra crunch and a toasty flavor, consider baking your spelt and walnuts for about 15 minutes. It's an optional step, but it takes the bars to a whole new level.

And here's the cherry on top: These granola bars are freezer-friendly! So, you can make a big batch and have a quick, healthy snack ready whenever you need it. Just remember to pit your dates, or you can take a shortcut and use date paste. Ready to get started? 🌱

Oven baked version

Pit the dates; you can also use date paste instead. Blend the data and dried fruit until a thick paste forms.

Hint: add a ¼ teaspoon of pumping spice mix and vanilla extract to add some Fall season twis.

Transfer to a prepared pan with parchment paper on the same baking tray and press down the mix with a spoon. Place an additional parchment paper on top and press with a drinking glass.

Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes, and then cut the bars.

Chewy No Bake Granola Bars with Dates variation

Making healthy chewy granola bars is even easier!

Start by lining a baking dish with parchment paper. You'll want some overhang to make it easier to lift out the bars later. Next, toss your dates into a food processor and blend until a soft, sticky ball forms—this should take about 15-20 seconds.

Now, here's where the magic happens. Combine your oats (or spelt), walnuts, agave syrup, and hazelnut butter in a large mixing bowl. Add the blended dates to this granola bar mixture and stir until everything is well combined.

Transfer this heavenly mixture to your prepared baking dish and press it down firmly. Cover it with another piece of parchment paper and set it in the fridge for at least an hour.

Once it's chilled, lift the whole thing out using the parchment paper overhang and cut it into 12 glorious, chewy bars.

A Quick Note on Dates

For the ultimate chewy texture, we highly recommend using soft Medjool dates. If you're working with drier dates, soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes before pitting. This will give them that chewy goodness we're after.

🍶 Substitutions

You can change the hazelnut butter for peanut or almond butter just swapping and using the exact quantities. Make sure to use Gluten-Free spelt and oats to keep your homemade granola bars gluten-free. It is a very easily customizable recipe. Both children and adults love them.

In addition to dates, you can make granola using other natural sweeteners such as raisins, chopped dried apricots, and other mixed dried fruit.

You could even use the almond pulp leftovers from making almond milk in your energy power balls.

Add some chia seeds or flax seeds to add extra antioxidants.

We usually make these granola bars with ingredients readily available in the pantry.

We only change the dried fruit (sweetener), nuts (any nut), creamy bonding ingredients (nut butter), and cereal (oats or spelt)—all wholesome and crunchy ingredients.

These are the perfect bars for a healthy snack because they keep you full and don’t provide much sugar. They have many fiber and complex carbs, so the energy is released in your body gradually instead of giving you a sugar rush, leaving you hungry a little time later.

They also pack healthy fats and lots of fiber, and the quantities are easily adjustable to your needs.

📖 Recipe Variations to Try

• Chocolate Chip Nut-Free Version: Swap out the walnuts for sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds, and use sunflower seed butter instead of hazelnut butter then toss some vegan mini chocolate chips. This variation is perfect for those with nut allergies but still packs a nutritional punch.
• Tropical Twist: Add a handful of unsweetened shredded coconut and some dried pineapple bits to the mixture. This will give your granola bars a tropical flair that's perfect for summer snacking.
• Peanut Butter Cranberry: Inspired by our Peanut Butter Granola Bars on the site, substitute hazelnut butter with natural peanut butter and toss in some dried cranberries. This combo is a classic for a reason—it's absolutely delicious!

Feel free to get creative and make these bars your own. The possibilities are endless! 🌱

💡 Top tip

Press down the mixture firmly before chilling to ensure the bars hold their shape.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your ingredients ready and let's make some chewy, no-bake granola bars that are as good for you as they are delicious. Happy snacking! 🌱

🫙 Serving and Storage Tips

These no-bake wonders are perfect as a meal replacement or a quick snack. Store homemade granola bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to two months. They're best enjoyed cold, straight from the fridge or freezer.

So, are you ready to elevate your snack game? Trust us, once you try these No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars with Dates, you'll never go back to the store-bought stuff. Happy snacking! 🌱

❓ FAQ

📚 More granola recipes

📚 More Healthy Snack Recipes

• Healthy Vegan Truffles (Power Balls)
• 3-ingredient Low-calorie Protein balls
• Homemade Vegan Granola Bars
• 3-Ingredient Guilt-Free Crispy Kale Savory Snack
• Vegan Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Candied Walnuts

Try our Fall season favorite: no-bake pumpkin balls!

If you try any of these granola bars with dates, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

📋 Recipe