Description
These healthy snickers bars layer almond flour shortbread, thick date caramel, salty roasted peanuts, and a dark chocolate coating with flaky sea salt on top. No-bake, naturally sweetened, and made for the freezer. They taste shockingly close to the real thing.
Ingredients
Base
- almond flour, 2 cups (200g)
- maple syrup, 3 tablespoons (60g)
- coconut oil, 3 tablespoons (42g), melted
- vanilla extract, 1½ teaspoons
Date Caramel
- Medjool dates, 12 ounces (340g), pitted (20-24 dates)
- smooth peanut butter, ⅓ cup (85g)
- maple syrup, 2 tablespoons
- water, 2 to 4 tablespoons
- salt, ½ teaspoon
Peanut Layer
- roasted peanuts, ½ cup (70g)
Chocolate Coating
- dark chocolate chips, ½ cup (85g)
- coconut oil, ½ teaspoon
- flaky sea salt, for topping
Instructions
Make and press the base: Combine almond flour (2 cups), maple syrup (3 tablespoons), melted coconut oil (3 tablespoons), and vanilla extract (1½ teaspoons) in a bowl and mix until it comes together. The mixture should feel slightly crumbly but hold its shape when pressed between your fingers. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides. Press the base evenly and firmly into the bottom of the pan and transfer to the freezer for 15 minutes while you make the caramel.
Make the date caramel: Soak pitted Medjool dates (12 ounces) in hot water for 5 minutes, then drain. Add the dates to a food processor with smooth peanut butter (⅓ cup), maple syrup (2 tablespoons), water (2 tablespoons), and salt (½ teaspoon). Blend until completely smooth, adding more water a splash at a time if needed. The mixture should be thick but spreadable.
Assemble the layers: Spread the date caramel evenly over the chilled base. Sprinkle the roasted peanuts (½ cup) over the top and press them gently into the caramel so they stick. Melt the dark chocolate chips (½ cup) and coconut oil (½ teaspoon) together in 30-second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each, until smooth. Pour the melted chocolate directly over the peanut layer and tilt the pan to spread it into an even coating. Sprinkle immediately with flaky sea salt before the chocolate sets.
Chill and slice: Freeze for 3 to 4 hours, until the bars are fully set. Lift out using the parchment overhang and cut into 16 bars or squares with a sharp knife. For the cleanest cuts, run the knife under hot water and wipe dry between slices.
Notes
Soft, fresh Medjool dates are the most important ingredient in this recipe. If yours feel dry or hard, soak them for 10 to 15 minutes in hot water instead of 5. Dry dates won't break down into smooth caramel and you'll end up with a grainy texture no amount of blending can fix.
You can also pour the melted chocolate over individually sliced bars instead of the whole pan if you prefer that look. Both methods work, but pouring over the pan before slicing is faster and cleaner.
Most standard dark chocolate chips contain milk, so if you need these to be fully dairy-free or vegan, look for a brand like Enjoy Life or Pascha. Smooth peanut butter works whether it's natural drippy style or regular shelf-stable (Jif, Skippy), so use whatever you have.
Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Eat straight from the freezer or let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to soften slightly.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Time in Freezer: 4 hours
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 21.1 g
- Sodium: 97.3 mg
- Fat: 11.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 27.1 g
- Protein: 4.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0.3 mg