Quick, easy, healthy No Bake Bars that kind of taste like cookie dough and are refined sugar free, oil-free and gluten-free. Bonus – They come with an optional not so healthy fudgy chocolate topping for when you feel like some chocolate but still want to be semi-healthy.
1 packed cup / 135gdried dates, not Medjool dates (use the cheaper dried ones usually found in the baking aisle). If you only have medjool dates see the recipe notes.
½ cup / 65gcashew nuts, or hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds to keep the bars nut-free
Add all of the ingredients (except those for the optional topping) to a food processor and process until it becomes one big smoothish ball. It should be a tiny bit tacky but not wet. If it is really wet, it probably means your dates were a little too fresh. You can add a handful more oats and process again and that should help.
If you want to add any optional add-ins like a handful of nuts or chocolate chips, add them now and pulse a few times to combine.
Remove from the food processor, being careful of the blade, and press into a lined shallow pan, flattening it down evenly. There is enough mixture to cover the bottom of an average sized loaf pan. If you want enough to fill an 8 x 8 inch pan you will need to double the recipe. Alternatively, you can roll the mixture up into balls.
Add the chocolate chips and the milk to a small pan and over a low heat, allow the chocolate to melt. Stir to help them combine. Once the chips are melted completely and the chocolate mixture is completely smooth, pour over the no bake bars and shake gently to level. If you made balls, dip them in the chocolate and place them on parchment paper or a Silpat to set.
Refrigerate for at least an hour then cut into bars. If you made them in a loaf pan you will be able to cut them into 7 large bars or 14 smaller ones if you cut each one of those in half again. I find smaller ones best as they are quite sweet and filling.
Video
Notes
Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. They also freeze really well. If you have medjool dates and not regular dried dates, you can still use them. You might find that the "dough" ends up a little soft and sticky though. Follow the recipe as it is, and when you process it all up, if the mixture doesn't form a ball and feel quite firm, and a little tacky but not sticky, just add a handful more oats and process again. They will help dry/firm it up. You can add as many as you need to form a firm-ish, tacky ball.