These homemade energy bars are just 3 ingredients and easy to make and customize. They make a great afternoon pick-me-up snack.
I used to buy these energy bars to snack on after yoga class, but found them to be a little expensive. And then I realized how easy they are to make at home. Plus you can customize with your favorite fruits and nuts.
This energy bar recipe is very simple and doesn’t have any refined sugar or oats. I use dates to give them a chewy texture and natural sweetness. Some dried fruit also adds some sweet flavor and nuts add crunch.
This is a no bake recipe and you can store them in the refrigerator or freezer. I like to make a batch over the weekend so I have them on hand for healthy snacks during the week.
Ingredients
- Dates
- Dried fruit
- Unsalted nuts
How to Make Energy Bars
- The main ingredient is dates. The dried dates are the binding agent that hold these bars together.
- You need to make sure the dates are soft and moist. I try to start with a new package of dried dates. If you are using old dates that may have lost their moisture, you will need to soften them first by soaking them in warm water for a few minutes.
- The dates are blended until they form a paste. Then the other dried fruits and nuts are added.
- For other dried fruits, I usually use dried cranberries, apricots, cherries or blueberries.
- For nuts, I usually use almonds, cashews, and pecans. You could also use walnuts or macadamia nuts.
- The fruits and nuts are added to the paste until they are roughly chopped.
- Press the mixture firmly into a pan to set and chill overnight. Once the bars are set, they are ready to cut and serve or store them in an airtight container.
Other Mix-In Ideas
You can add up to 1 cup of mix-ins, so if you don’t like nuts or dried fruit you can easily swap them. Here are some ideas – I haven’t tested all of them, but think they would work fine. Also, not all of them are refined sugar-free.
You can mix and match your favorites to customize your energy bars.
- Dark chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips. If you want sugar-free, I like Lily’s brand.
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Seeds like chia seeds, finely chopped pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, or shelled sunflower seeds
More Healthy Snacks
- Healthy Homemade Granola Bars Recipe
- 2 Ingredient Almond Crackers
- Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites
- No Bake Oatmeal Bars
Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups pitted dried dates medjool preferred
- 1/2 cup dried fruit (I used dried cranberries and apricots)
- 1/2 cup unsalted nuts (I used almonds, cashews, pecans)
Instructions
- In a food processor, blend the dates. At first they will become finely chopped. As you continue to let the food processor run, they will eventually stick together again until a big ball forms. Stop once the ball forms.
- Add in dried fruit and nuts. Pulse for a few seconds until nuts and fruits are chopped into finer pieces and mixed into the date mixture, but stop before the nut and dried fruit pieces completely dissolve into the date mixture. The mixture may loosen up from ball form with the addition of fruits and nuts. That's okay.
- Take your energy bar mixture and press onto a small pan lined with parchment paper. Press down firmly so that the energy bar becomes compact and the nuts and fruits are firmly embedded into the date mixture. Energy bar mixture should be about 1/2 inch in thickness.
- Chill for a few hours or overnight. Remove from fridge and using a sharp knife, cut to desired bar lengths. Bars can be stored in fridge or freezer.
Notes
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Hi I would like to try making these but want to know the nutritional values please using the same ingredients as you. Thanks
Sorry, but we don’t have the nutritional info for this recipe. There are free online calculators you can use to get the information.
Wondering if Almond paste might be another substitute for those averse to dates? Love yourself 3 ingredient stuff for meager cooks like me. It’s perfect!!
We haven’t tried almond paste so we can’t say how that will work. We’re glad to hear you love the easy recipes!
Thanks for recipe. I usually use date paste, instead of actual dates, I get date paste at Middle Eastern halal stores, brand called Ziad Baking Paste, it costs under 3$.
thanks for sharing!
HI! I found this recipe via Lauren Conrad’s blog today and i so want to try it!! But i just have one stupid little quesiton: is it okay if i use a blender instead of the food processor?? Because i don’t have one on hand and I still want to do your recipe!!!
Thanks for the clarification!! 🙂
I’m not sure if a blender will properly be able to make this. This doesn’t have any liquids, so this may just sit in the blender and not mix right.
Don’t the dates get all stuck into the blades of the processer?
No, the processor should be powerful enough to work through the stickiness.
Hi,
OMG! I just made these and I can not stop snacking on them. They will be perfect for moving across the country in 2 months! There affordable and fairly easy to make. I added pretzels, chocolate almonds, and reduced sugar crasins. I wonder if the base would work with something like part dark chocolate and part dates because SOME people in my house don’t like dates (wonder if their related to me?). Next time I’m going to put in chocolate protein powder!
Hmm, I think if try to get rid of the dates or take some out, the energy bar loses the base that keeps it together. I guess maybe dark chocolate might work but I’m not sure and it might get more messy. I was thinking of trying some other sticky fruits, like dried figs, but haven’t gotten a chance to experiment yet.