Description
Deliciously chewy bars made with pitted dates, oats, and chocolate chips.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup packed pitted dates
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup quick oats (the one-minute kind)
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup roasted and salted pistachios (coarsely chopped)
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 cup chocolate chips (dark or milk chocolate)
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
Instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper or foil, adding an overhang for easy removal. Don’t spray with cooking spray as it makes these bars greasy. Set aside.
- In a small blender or food processor, pulse the pitted dates to create a very thick and sticky paste. This takes some patience; stir with a spoon and re-blend as needed.
- Scoop out every last bit of the date paste and add to a large bowl. Add in peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer to beat until combined.
- Stir in the quick oats, old-fashioned oats, mini chocolate chips, and coarsely chopped pistachios. (If the pistachios and peanut butter aren’t salted, add a scant 1/4 teaspoon salt too.) Mix until thoroughly combined. If needed, knead the mixture with your hands to get a well-combined and incorporated mixture.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking pan and very firmly press the mixture into an even layer. Use the bottom of a flat 1 cup measuring cup to help firmly press. Set aside.
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil (measured when the oil is in a hardened state). Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds, stirring between each burst for 15 seconds, until melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate evenly over the bars and tip the pan around to create an even layer of chocolate on top. Cover and refrigerate until the chocolate is completely set.
- Using the parchment-paper overhang, remove the bars from the pan and cut into equal-sized bars. Store leftover bars in the fridge, covered, for up to 1 week.
Notes
- See note 1: Pitted dates can be blended into a smooth paste.
- See note 2: Use roasted and salted pistachios for best flavor.
- See note 3: Mini chocolate chips can be replaced with regular chocolate chips if preferred.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg