These healthy peanut butter and chocolate granola bars with date caramel are one of the best healthy treats I’ve ever made! I experimented with healthy sweet snacks a lot this Summer making hippie crispies, peanut butter oat bars, and then finally landed on these which are a sort of healthy scotcheroo with dates that blend into a natural caramel like texture.
When I was on my quest for a healthy bar type recipe I had a conversation with a friend about rice crispy treats and how much we still love them. We had both tried making healthy versions with no avail. But this.. THIS is like an even better rice crispy treat that happens to be healthy. All of my rice crispy dreams have come true and with peanut butter and chocolate none the less!
For the recipe, I like to use a mixture of oats with puffed brown rice for a crunchy texture. I also add nuts- almonds and walnuts, but use what you have, and sunflower seeds (because I usually have those around too). As for the peanut butter I use a creamy one for this recipe. The medjool dates both sweeten and bind the mixture and a little touch of salt brings all the flavor together. Top it all with melted chocolate and its a real magical bite!
Have I told you how much I love dates? If you’re not already crushing on dates, my I implore you to give them a try! They are a perfectly healthy sweet treat for a mid day snack or post meal, sweet fix. They are also fun in salads, muffins, and on top of oatmeal. Once you have them around the house, you’ll be adding them to just about everything!
Here are some of my favorite recipes with dates
Raw Chocolate Truffles with Dates (an oldie but a goodie…needs a new photo!)
Give dates a try and these bars too. I promise they won’t disappoint!
Here’s a Healthy Granola Bar Recipe that tastes like a real treat! These peanut butter bars are filled with dates, oats, nuts and seeds and topped with melted chocolate.
Course:
Snack
Cuisine:
American, Gluten Free, Sugar Free
Servings: 16 bars
-
6
large medjool dates -
1/2
cup
creamy peanut butter -
1/4
cup
maple syrup or brown rice syrup* -
3
tablespoons
coconut oil
divided -
2
cups
puffed brown rice cereal -
1
cup
rolled oats
(gluten free if needed) -
1/2
cup
nuts
roughly chopped (I use almonds and walnuts) -
2
tablespoons
sunflower seeds -
1/2
teaspoon
salt -
1/3
cup
chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 9 x 9 inch baking pan.
In a food processor blend together the dates, peanut butter, maple or brown rice syrup and 2 tablespoons of the coconut oil. Blend until it forms into a ball.
In a separate large bowl stir together the dry ingredients – puffed rice, rolled oats, nuts, salt and seeds. Add the blended peanut butter and date mixture to the dry ingredients and use a spatula and your strong arm to mix the two together (this make take a little bit to get it all combined).
Press the mixture into the prepared pan and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool completely . Melt chocolate and remaining 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and pour over the top of the cooled bars. Place in the fridge to further harden then loosen with a knife around the edges, turn out onto a cutting board and cut into 16 square bars. Store in the refrigerator in an air safe container.
You can find brown rice syrup at any natural grocer. I usually use half maple syrup and half brown rice syrup which results in a flavor not too sweet and not overly maple-y.
