A great snack bar that is easy to make and not loaded with refined sugars, this Peanut Butter Choc Chip Bar makes a great afternoon snack or grab-n-go bar for someone on the move. A mixture of dates, cacao, and peanuts, this bar is both meal prep and freezer friendly.
Peanut Butter Choc Chip Bars
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Peanut Butter Choc Chip Bars make delicious healthy snack bars that don't taste healthy at all.
They are just great for lunch boxes, great for snacking, and great for satiating that afternoon sweet tooth.
They are great for curbing that afternoon sweet tooth.
Plus they only require a handful of ingredients.
You will need:
- dry roasted unsalted peanuts
- pitted dates
- chopped cacao pieces or chocolate chips
- pinch sea salt
That's it!
These are the perfect portable snack bar for bringing to the park, on picnics, or on road trips and they work out a lot cheaper than the versions available at the store.
How To Make The Perfect Bar
Lile I said, these peanut butter bars are super easy to make.
However, to be sure you get the most out of your ingredients please consider the following tips and tricks.
Dates
Mejdool dates are best for making bars like this.
These are the bigger, stickier dates (like these ones) and they will give your peanut butter bar that great texture you want.
You will find them in little containers or big boxes in the fruit and veggie section of most supermarkets.
If you can’t find Medjool dates, then you can always sub in some neglet or noor dates, although it will be a little more work.
You will need to soak neglet or noor dates in warm water for about 5 mins, drain them and then use them as called for in the recipe.
Chocolate or Cacao
This recipe is super versatile, and totally open to being made in whatever way suits you or your family.
I tend to use unsweetened cacao or dark chocolate bars for mine as I find the dates sweet enough.
However, you can easily use regular chocolate chips or chocolate bars chopped up.
Peanuts
Choose either raw or roasted peanuts depending on preference.
You will want to go with unsalted or the bar will end up being way too salty.
We do add a little pinch of salt in the preparation of the bar to balance out the sweetness from the dates and cacao/chocolate, but the salt that comes with salted peanuts would be just too much.
Can These Bars Be Frozen
They absolutely can, making them just perfect for batch cooking.
I usually double or triple the recipe and freeze a heap of bars for easy snack meal preparation.
To freeze:
To freeze, arrange the peanut butter bars in a single layer on a baking sheet small enough to fit into the freezer. Pop into the freezer. Remove when frozen and transfer to a freezer-friendly container or Ziploc bag and pop back into the freezer until ready to use.
For the bars that you do not freeze, they will last for about a week in the fridge in an airtight container.
They work well wrapped in plastic wrap or beeswax for easy transportation.
Need Some More Snack Recipes?
If your house is anything like mine, then there will always be room for more snack recipes.
Try these out:
- Peanut Butter Choc Chip Banana Oatmeal Muffins
- Grab n Go Coconut Blueberry Oatmeal Bites
- Honey Almond and Tahini Healthy No-Bake Granola Bars
- Peach and Blueberry Pie Bars
Happy Eating
xx
Recipe
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup dry roasted unsalted peanuts
- 2 ½ cups pitted dates
- ¼ cup chopped cacao pieces or chocolate chips
- pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Pop the peanuts into a food processor and pulse until finely chopped but not a paste
- Add in dates, chocolate and salt and pulse until one large mass forms
- Line a 9x9 dish with plastic wrap and press mixture into the dish. Use a wet silicone spatula to even out the surface (if you don't have one you can just use fingers but it may get sticky)
- Pop into the freezer for 30 mins
- After 30 mins remove from the freezer and use the plastic wrap to remove from the dish. Cut into 12 squares and store in a glass airtight container in the fridge
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Mother Mands says
Ooh you've got loads of great recipes that I need to try! Healthy snacks are one area I've struggled with, I try to cook as unprocessed as possible, but filling my husbands lunch box with alternative s to chocolate bars and boring flapjack...well these sound perfect, along with some of your other snacks! 🙂
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks 🙂 I find I spend most of my time trying to come up with snack recipes as well!! I hope you enjoy if you give them a go!
Rowan says
These look amazing! Pinned for later <3 thank you
Whole Food Bellies says
You are so welcome Rowan!
Linh {A Beautiful RAWR} says
Shut the front door - this looks delicious and I love that it's only 4 ingredients 🙂 Will be adding dates to my grocery list this weekend. Thanks for the recipe!
Linh
http://abeautifulrawr.com
Whole Food Bellies says
No worries Linh 🙂 Hope you like them!
annabelt - geeks diet says
These look great, and healthy too! My middle son loves anything with peanuts so I'm going to try making these - good that they freeze too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Whole Food Bellies says
You are very welcome! I am pretty sure my eldest would live on peanuts and anything peanutty if I let her 🙂
Carly says
Oh yum! These look amazing!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Carly 🙂
Sara @All That I Wished For says
Another recipe going in my must try file! They look wonderful!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Sara!
Jaime says
Looks delicious! It looks similar to what I make sometimes, but easier.
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Jaime. I am all about the easy recipes when it comes to snacks 🙂
Christina says
I love peanut butter and chocolate so I may have to try this. Thanks for sharing!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks for checking them out Christina. Would love to know how you go if you try them!
Joanna says
Yum! These look so easy to make and tasty too. I love quick, healthy snack ideas. Thank you for sharing:)
Whole Food Bellies says
You are very welcome Joanna! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Donna Ward says
That's so cool Donna! I make something similar as a pudding - using coconut milk! My local health food store game me the taste and recipe - oh and she adds a touch of dried peppers for zing - I sometimes add cinnamon oil also - I'll be saving this - thank you 🙂 I'll probably make your recipe in the next couple of days!! I have the ingredients on hand!
Whole Food Bellies says
That sounds yummy Donna, especially with the peppers!! And cinnamon oil - how have I not encountered this yet? I will be searching it out!
Nina says
We love Larabars over here too! Never thought of making my own. Seems pretty easy though, I'll give it a try 🙂
Whole Food Bellies says
Super easy and just as good as the real thing!
kristen says
These look INCREDIBLE!! I cannot wait to make these! Thank you for sharing! xx Kristen
Whole Food Bellies says
You are very welcome Kristen 🙂
Kate says
That looks amazing!!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Kate 🙂