No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Energy Bars
Published 1/15/2018 • Updated 10/3/2018
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Experience the healthier version of the classic candy bar with these Chocolate Coconut Date Bars! They’re like an almond joy but made with medjool dates, real shredded coconut, cashews, cocoa powder, and vanilla! They’re the perfect snack when your sweet tooth comes around!
why we love these energy bars!
You guys won’t believe how easy it is to whip up these No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Energy Bars. All you have to do is throw everything into a food processor, let them firm up, and they are ready to go!
I love them in the morning for a quick snack or as the perfect sweet treat after dinner. You just can’t go wrong. Chocolate + Coconut = a DREAM combo!
What You Need to Make Chocolate Coconut Date Bars
- Dates: Lee and I use dates as a base in most of our balls, no-bake bars, or if we need a natural sweetener in a cookie or frosting. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars. You don’t need many dates to make something sweet!
- Shredded Coconut: We use unsweetened coconut flakes for this recipe, as the dates make everything sweet enough!
- Cashews: Cashews add a little bit of healthy fats and a velvety texture.
- Cocoa Powder: This forms the rich chocolate base for our date bars. We use unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Vanilla: This aromatic flavor ties everything together.
- Food Processor: We love using our high-speed food processor for this recipe as it blends everything super smooth, making it easy to shape the dough into bars!
Chocolate Coconut Date Bar Variations and Substitutions
- Nut Switch-Up: While cashews are a classic choice, feel free to explore other nuts like almonds or macadamia nuts for a different flavor profile.
- Superfood Boost: Want to boost the nutritional profile of your bars? Add a tablespoon of chia seeds or ground flaxseed to the mixture for a dose of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Add a drizzle of dark chocolate over your energy bars for a more indulgent twist.
Storage + Freezer Directions
We keep our date bars covered in the fridge for up to 1 week. For longer storage, we recommend freezing them individually for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat them again, let them thaw at room temperature.
How long does it take to make Chocolate Coconut Date Bars?
It takes around 20 minutes of prep time with around 30 minutes to an hour of chilling time in the freezer!
Chocolate Coconut Date Bars
Ingredients
- 30 medjool dates, ~2 cups packed*
- 1.5 cups raw cashews
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups of shredded unsweetened coconut
Instructions
- Begin by pitting 30 dates. Make sure your dates are soft and squishy. Place dates into a high-speed food processor and then add raw cashews and vanilla.
- Blend on high for 2 to 3 minutes, stopping a few times to scrape the sides.
- Once the dates and cashews are combined, add cocoa powder and salt and blend until combined. If your dates aren’t soft enough, you may need to add a teaspoon or two of water in order to get a sticky dough.
- Finally, add in shredded coconut and blend one more time. You can either leave your coconut more whole or fully pulverize into the rest of the bars.
- Once combined, your dough should be soft and feel like cookie dough.
- Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper and then place dough in pan. Use your hands or a spatula to spread dough evenly into pan. The goal is to get everything to be the same height. Top with a little more shredded coconut and use your hands or spatula to press into dough.
- Before placing in the freezer, use a spatula to round the edges of the bars. Place in freezer for 30-minutes to an hour.
- Remove from freezer and take bars out of the pan. Cut the bars in half and then slice each half into 8ths. Enjoy!
Tips & Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Great recipe! Looks amazing
Very thanks for the recipe!
Looks amazing. Looking forward to trying this
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This looks so delicious! I will do this for my friend’s birthday party.
I will definitely try this recipe, as I am in the process of losing weight and I think it will help me when I am hungry. Thanks!
Good recipe!
Very thanks for the recipe!
This looks delicious and really easy to do! I don’t have an oven so these recipes are very good for me. Congratulations!
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