Walnut Oat Bars with Dates

These walnut oat bars with dates are made with dates, coconut, walnuts, honey, coconut oil and chia seeds.

They're naturally sweet and packed with fiber. You'll love them, I just know it!

My favorite raw granola bars are about to become your favorite, too!

How to make walnut oat bars with dates

Featured Ingredients

• Medjool dates: The star of the show, if you ask me.
  • Their stickiness brings everything together and also add sweetness while providing that classic date flavor.
  • Make sure to get the pitted kind unless you want to dig the pits out.
• Rolled oats: The old-fashioned kind work great, but you could also use quick oats.
• Coconut flakes: I use the unsweetened flakes.
• Walnuts: A ½ cup adds nuttiness and a boost of omega 3 fatty acids.
• Coconut oil: This is a crucial ingredient for this recipe. When you make the bars, melt the coconut oil so it will evenly distribute throughout the bar "dough".
  • Then, when it cools in the refrigerator it will become hard and hold the bars together.
  • Other oils that are liquid at room temperature will not work for this recipe; you must use an oil that is solid at room temp like coconut oil (I use it for recipes like this one and for granola; otherwise, coconut oil is not my first choice).
• Honey: Adds a bit of sweetness and the stickiness brings things together.
• Chia seeds: A tablespoon adds texture and, like walnuts, adds a boost of omega 3s.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until a sticky dough forms.
3. Transfer dough to the parchment-lined dish and press evenly into a square.
4. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. 
5. Lift the bars out of the baking dish using the edges of the parchment paper and place on a cutting board.
6. Cut into 12 bars. 
7. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container or bag.

Recipe Substitutions and Alterations

• Instead of dates: You can use any type of date (pitted), dried figs or prunes.
• For the rolled oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats or quick oats will work.
• For the coconut flakes: You can skip them if you don't like them; just add a bit more walnuts and oats to make up for it.
• For the walnuts: Use pecans instead.
• For the honey: Use maple syrup.
• For the chia seeds: You can leave them out or use a tablespoon of ground flax seed if you want.

Nutrition Considerations

• To make them gluten free: Use certified gluten free oats. Be sure all other ingredients are gluten free.
• To make them dairy free: These bars are dairy free.
• To make them vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey.
• To make them egg free: This recipe does not contain eggs.

Scrumptious snack recipes:

• Pumpkin Cookie Dough Bites
• Healthy Chex Mix
• Dill Veggie Dip
• Broccoli Cheddar Bites
• Honey Nut Granola
• Banana Peach Smoothies
• Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins

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