Chocolate Chip Date Bars –

These date bars are naturally sweetened, have approximately 7.5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per bar, are grain free, dairy free, and shelf stable. The base of this recipe came from a “Homemade Lara Bar” recipe from amindfullmom.com and hers are delicious and taste just like a Lara Bar! However, I was looking for added protein, some crunch, and a little different flavor profile than a Lara Bar, while keeping them shelf stable, dairy free, and grain free. These don’t take long to put together and are another no bake recipe. I am relieved to finally have a lunch box snack option that tastes good, that doesn’t contain sugar, that includes fiber and animal protein, and that is dairy free and grain free for my two food sensitive children.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This only applies to Amazon links – my other links are not paid, but just a way to help you find good ingredients. I will only link to products that I use and have vetted for taste and quality. I’m hoping this won’t affect the way you read my recipes, but will be a way for me to improve it over time.*

Chocolate Chip Date Bars

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups pitted Organic Medjool Dates
• 1 cup cashews (try these soaked and dehydrated cashews) or you can use salted or unsalted cashews, or any nut of choice or combination of nuts
• 2 scoops protein powder (I have been using Taylor Dukes dairy free vanilla bone broth based protein powder for these)
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon Redmonds real salt (Add to taste, depending on whether or not nuts are salted.)
• 1/2 cups organic Whole Foods semi-sweet chocolate chips (These are dairy free and have very few ingredients.)

Equipment

• food processor
• parchment paper
• 8X8 pan

Directions

Add 1 cup nuts to a food processor and pulse about 2-3 times. Some of the nuts will be chopped up pretty fine, while some will stay more whole and that’s okay. You’ll blend it again and you’ll want the nuts to add crunch to the bar instead of the bars being smooth.

It should look about like this…

Add dates, honey, protein powder, chocolate chips, and 1/8 teaspoon salt.

Blend until mixture starts to stick together. It should look about like this… When you squeeze it with your fingers, you’ll feel it stick together.

Cut a piece of parchment paper that will fit into an 8X8 dish with the edges hanging off a little.

Place parchment paper on table and pour mixture onto parchment paper. Mold into the shape of the 8X8 dish using the parchment paper to help you mold it. It can be a little sticky so it helps to use the parchment paper to mold the bars. Once it close to size, place parchment paper and bars in 8×8 dish and press down and around the edges to fill the square and even out and smooth the bars.

Put in refrigerator for about 15 minutes.

Remove from refrigerator and slice into 12 bars.

Cover each bar in parchment paper and put and in an airtight container. These can be stored in the refrigerator or the pantry.

I hope you enjoy!