Let's make these yummy chocolate date bars! This no bake recipe is super easy and needs just 4 ingredients. A great snack or wholesome sweet treat!
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These vegan date bars are perfect for a quick energy boost or a healthy snack.
You'll love how easy this no-bake recipe is to make!
These chocolate covered date nut bars are:
- Vegan and dairy free
- Easily made refined sugar-free
- Gluten-free
- Chewy
- Wholesome
- Indulgent
- Chocolaty
- And simply delicious!
Ingredient tips
You only need four simple ingredients for these no bake bars:
Medjool dates have a delicious caramel flavor and soft texture. They bring natural sweetness to the recipe, as well as a sticky texture that holds the bars together.
You can use other types of dates too, but as medjool dates are larger, you will need to use more.
If your dates are dry and hard, soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes to soften them.
Mixed nuts. You want the unroasted and unsalted kind.
The bars pictured use a combination of almonds, walnuts and cashew nuts, but I also love to make these bars with other nuts such as pecans, pistachios, macadamia nuts or hazelnuts.
Chocolate. You can use any variety of vegan chocolate for the topping.
Both chocolate chips or a chopped bar of chocolate will work.
A high quality dark chocolate with 70% cocoa content brings a rich, intense flavor that pairs well with the date and nut filling.
If you prefer a sweeter bar, you can use a semi-sweet chocolate or vegan milk chocolate.
Shredded coconut. Use unsweetened coconut for best results.
Step by step pictures
Look how easy it is to make this no bake date bars recipe! Full detailed recipe and quantities are in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Step 1 - Add the pitted dates, nuts and shredded coconut to a food processor and blend until you have sticky, uniform mixture with only small pieces of nuts remaining.
Step 2 - Press the mixture into a lined tin so that it is flat and evenly covers the base.
Step 3 - Melt the chocolate in a double boiler (a heatproof bowl set over a simmering pan of water) or microwave the chocolate in 30 second intervals, stirring each time, until the chocolate is molten and smooth.
Step 4 - Pour the chocolate over the top of the date mixture and use a spatula to spread it in an even layer.
Chill the bars in the fridge for about 30 minutes or freezer for 10 minutes, until the chocolate is firm.
Step 5 - Remove the bars from the tin and place them on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the bars into your preferred size.
For extra decoration, you can also fill a piping bag with melted chocolate to decorate the top with a yummy drizzle!
Vicky's top tip!
To cut the bars without the chocolate cracking, don't overchill them.
You want the chocolate to be firm but not completely hard.
You can also score lines on the top and use a warmed knife to aid in cutting.
Substitutions and variations
You can customize these bars in so many ways!
I love to sprinkle extras on top of the melted dark chocolate layer. You can use:
- Flaky sea salt
- Shelled hemp seeds
- Coconut flakes
- Cacao nibs
- Chia seeds
- Dried fruit
Nut-free: Use a mixture of pepitas / pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds as a substitute for the nuts.
Refined sugar-free: Just use a vegan chocolate with an alternative sweetener such as Hu Kitchen, which is made with coconut sugar.
Raw: Make homemade chocolate with cacao powder, agave or maple syrup and coconut oil or use a raw chocolate ganache as a topping instead.
Serving
These date energy bars taste best served at room temperature, as the chocolate is softer and the flavor comes through more.
Storage
Store: Keep these chocolate date bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freeze: They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze the bars, place them in a single layer in an airtight container or freezer bag, making sure to remove as much air as possible.
Thaw: Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a few hours.
More ideas
This recipe is featured in our collection of 35+ No-Bake Vegan Desserts (Easy & Quick Recipes!) Check it out for more inspiration!
For more chocolate recipes, why not make our:
Recipe
No Bake Chocolate Date Bars
Ingredients
- 12 large (210 g) Medjool dates
- 1 ½ cups (195 g) mixed nuts *
- ¾ cup (60 g) shredded coconut unsweetened
- 1 ½ cups (240 g or 8.5 oz) vegan chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate
Instructions
- Line a 8 x 8 inch (20cm square) tin with baking parchment.
- Remove the pits from the dates. If your dates are dry, soak them in warm water for around 10 minutes until they are soft.
- Add the pitted dates, nuts and shredded coconut to a food processor and blend until you have a sticky, uniform mixture with only small pieces of nuts remaining.
- Press the date mixture into the lined tin so that it is flat and evenly covers the base.
- Melt the chocolate in a double boiler (a heatproof bowl set over a simmering pan of water) or microwave the chocolate in 30 second intervals, stirring each time, until the chocolate is molten and smooth.
- Pour the chocolate over the top of the date mixture and use a spatula to spread it in an even layer.
- Chill the bars in the fridge for about 30 minutes or freezer for 10 minutes, until the chocolate is firm.
- Remove the bars from the tin and place them on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the bars into your preferred size.
- For extra decoration, you can also fill a piping bag with melted chocolate to decorate the top with a yummy drizzle!
Notes
Nutritional Estimate Per Serving
Leave a commentI hope you loved this recipe! Leave a ★★★★★ rating and share your ideas in the comments! Vicky x 
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