These no bake snack bars are one of the best bar recipes you will make! Sweet, chewy, and wholesome bars are chock full of cocoa, peanut butter, and sweet chewy dates.

Another favorite snack bar recipe is my homemade Larabars recipe

Healthy No Bake Snack Bars

I love healthy snack recipes that you don’t need to cook or bake.  Without much effort, you can have a healthy snack whipped up that can compete with a packaged snack anyday. These healthy no-bake snack bars are exactly that!

These snack bars taste a whole lot like a peanut butter cup and my kids love them! You can’t beat how easy, healthy, and simple they are. And bonus: they also store great! I love them for an after school snack, and they also make a perfect lunch box treat.

I also love having them on hand for those times I need an afternoon treat, but don’t want something leaving me feeling blah or unsatisfied. These bars are a perfect craving buster.

Ingredients Needs for No Bake Snack Bars

• Dates. Dates are surprisingly packed with fiber (almost a full gram of fiber per date) they are portable and delicious.  Dates are so sweet that provide the perfect natural alternative to added sugars in any date recipe.   In fact, dates are such a great source of natural sugar, they have been processed to make natural sweeteners such as date juice, date sugar, dehydrated dates, date paste, ground dates, and even diced dates that you can add to recipes you want to sweeten up naturally. Dates make a great base for no-bake snack bars.
• Peanut Butter. Peanut butter is a great alternative protein source as well as a source of B vitamins. Plus its creamy texture and delicious flavor take these snack bars up a level.
• Cashews. Cashews add a slightly crunchy texture and salty flavor to balance the sweetness and chewiness of the dates. They are a perfect match in this bar recipe!
• Cocoa Powder. Pure cocoa powder is known for being high in antioxidants which help decrease inflammation. Plus it adds a depth of flavor without any added sugar.

How to Buy and Store Daters

You can typically find dates in the produce department in a container with the pits already removed. Look for dates with shiny skin, that isn’t too dried out, because they blend much better in your food processor.

If you buy dates with the pits in them, you must pop them out before blending in a food processor. You’ll feel or see the long pit (or seed) on the inside if you tear open the date.

I store our dates in the pantry or on the counter. Because they are so low in moisture, like dried fruit, dates can last up to 6 months when stored in an airtight container!  Although we eat ours much more quickly than this.

How to Make No-Bake Snack Bars

This recipe is incredibly easy to make! You just need a food processor and a square dish!

1. Start by adding all of the ingredients into the food processor. Pulse until everything beings to smooth and clump into a ball.
2. Pour the mixture into your square dish – I like to line mine with parchment paper first for easy cleanup and also it makes removing the bars much easier.
3. Press the mixture with your hands into the bottom of the dish. If its sticking to your hands, I like to lightly spray my hands with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes – you can also freeze these! (I personally love them frozen)
5. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Commonly Asked Questions About This Recipe

• Question: Can you use another type of nut instead of cashews? You can use almonds (these are the closest to cashews), peanuts (they will taste extra peanutty 😉 walnuts or pecans (these seem to be a bit more oily, so use sparingly)
• Question: Can I leave the cocoa powder out? If you leave it out, the flavor and texture won’t be the same. You could try using carob. Carob and dates are typically a great combination.
• Question: What can I replace the coconut with? You could use hemp hearts as a substitute.
• Question: What if my dates seem dried out? Try soaking them in warm water for 10 minutes before adding them to your food processor. That should soften them right up and make them easy to blend!
• Question: We can’t use peanut butter, can I substitute for something else? You can use almond butter, sunbutter, or Wowbutter.
• Question: How do I store these? These can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen. They stay good for up to 1 week in the fridge and up to 3 months in an airtight container in the freezer.

More Favorite No-Bake Recipes!

• 2 cups dates, pitted
• 3/4 cup cashews
• 1/4 cup peanut butter, all-natural
• 1/2 cup coconut flakes
• 2 tablespoon cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

• Toss everything into a food processor and process until the mixture starts to go smooth and clump into a ball. The dates will be all chopped up but you’ll still have bits of nut.

• Turn the mixture out into an 8 or 9 inch square dish lined with parchment paper. Use your hands to firmly press the mixture into the bottom of the dish. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

• Remove the bars from the pan and cut into pieces using a sharp knife. Enjoy these bars cold or frozen. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer.

Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 69mg | Potassium: 374mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg