Need a yummy energy bar? Try this delicious and healthy peanut butter and dates energy bar recipe!
Disclaimer: this post is made in partnership with Natural Delights. Thanks for supporting the brands who support me and make this blog possible!
Peanut Butter Dates Energy Bars
While running Ragnar, the only “food” products (aka not my bars, running gels, etc) I brought with me was a jar of peanut butter, bagels, and a box of Natural Delights medjool dates. I loved munching on my dates in-between runs with a spoonful of peanut butter as my way of keeping my body fuelled.
As dates contains way more potassium gram per gram than bananas, I kept munching on my box of dates to keep the cramping at bay. I could feel a twinge near the end of my first of three runs so after my first run, I ramped up my date consumption and boom – no cramps for 24k in 24 hours!
When I got home, I was putting way my leftover peanut butter and thinking what if, I combined the two together? Peanut butter and dates. Energy bars? That already sounds like a hit! So after some testing, I figured out how to make the most delicious peanut butter and date energy bars! Not only is this peanut butter energy bar recipe healthy AF, the dates will provide you with all the potassium you’ll need while being the binding agent in the bars.
After making a couple batches of these, I brought them into work and they. were. a. hit! The energy bars disappeared as quickly as I put them down and more was wanted. So I’m pretty confident when I say that these peanut butter and dates energy bars will be your favourite!
What You’ll Need To Make Energy Bars with Dates
- Natural Delights organic medjool dates
- peanut butter
- honey
- rolled oats
- cranberries
- sunflower seeds
How To Make Peanut Butter Energy Bars
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Soak the medjool dates for 10 minutes before putting them in a food processor and blending it until it’s a bit of a paste consistency (add water if needed)
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Heat the oven to 350F.
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On the stove on low heat, warm up your peanut butter and honey and stir until combined.
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Add in your oats (I used Bob’s Red Mill), dates, cranberries, and sunflower seeds and mix them together.
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After everything is mixed together, place it in a pan (lined with parchment paper) and press down firmly until uniformly flattened (I used a loaf pan so they came out thicker. Use a bigger pan if you’d like it to be thinner), and bake for 15-20 minutes.
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Once the bars have cooled down, remove bars from pan and cut into your desired size for the bars. I put it in the fridge to chill a bit before cutting so the peanut butter can set more.
Peanut Butter and Dates Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups Natural Delights organic medjool dates
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2-3 cups rolled oats
- 1 handful cranberries
- 1 handful sunflower seeds
Instructions
- Soak the medjool dates for 10 minutes before putting them in a food processor and blending it until it's a bit of a paste consistency (add water if needed)
- Heat the oven to 350F.
- On the stove on low heat, warm up your peanut butter and honey and stir until combined.
- Add in your oats (I used Bob's Red Mill), dates, cranberries, and sunflower seeds and mix them together.
- After everything is mixed together, place it in a pan (lined with parchment paper) and press down firmly until uniformly flattened (I used a loaf pan so they came out thicker. Use a bigger pan if you'd like it to be thinner), and bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Once the bars have cooled down, remove bars from pan and cut into your desired size for the bars. I put it in the fridge to chill a bit before cutting so the peanut butter can set more.
Let’s chat! What’s your favourite way of consuming dates?
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Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner
Dates and peanut butter are the best combo aren’t they!?
Abbey Sharp
Oooh I could definitely see myself chowing down on these after a workout! Match made in heaven!
Mikki
Oh my gosh. That’s all the ingredients there are? Wow! That looks AMAZING!! I am going to have to try those out for sure.
GiGi Eats
Those look super addicting!!!!! Who can stop eating peanut butter?!
aliah
YUM! This looks delicious and is nutritious. Dates are my fave. Do you think I could add a few dark chocolate pieces?
Carmy
It would be a delicious addition!!!
Min
Hi…is it 2 to 3 cups of oats or 2/3 cup?
And also…what did you hear your oven to? 350?
Carmy
Hi! I’m sorry for the confusion. I’m not sure how the 350F didn’t show up. But yes, 350F for the oven. As for the oats, I wrote 2 to 3 cups since it’s up to you if you want a higher oat to other item ratios or if you want less oats and more dates/cranberries/etc for the bars!
Ryan
How many calories do you believe is in each serving? Also very delicious thanks for sharing!
Jean
Made these today – turned out great!
Carmy
Thanks Jean!
Patty S.
I used a mix of rolled oats, oat flour and almond flour, scant 3 c. total. I threw in a couple figs I had lying around, soaked in boiling water first. Also didn’t have parchment paper but greased a 13×9 in. glass pan with coconut oil and they came out great. I would cut back a little on the honey next time. Great recipe, thanks!
Carmy
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for leaving a rating!
Faith
Turned out great and loved them! Totally obsessed. Perfect post workout snack! Thank you. How long do you think they would be okay for airtight in the fridge? And do you think they could be frozen?
Carmy
I’ve left them in the fridge for 3-4 days! However, I have not tried freezing them. So glad you enjoyed! :)
Carrie
Delicious!!! I love this recipe, plus, I know the ingredients are healthy. Win! Win!
Carmy
So glad you enjoyed! :)
Michele Barry
Do you have the breakdown of nutrition values?
Carmy
Hi Michele, sorry I don’t have nutritional data for this recipe.
Lisa
Can I add flour to this? Am thinking it would set up a bit more. I love this recipe though!
Carmy
Hi Lisa! Unfortunately, I have not tried adding flour to this. I would add more oats to try to set it up more.
Laura Petrone
These were very good. We put chocolate instead of cranberries. Thank you.
Carmy
A delicious swap! :)
Sarita
Hi! Just made them and they are delicious but wondering the best way to store them afterwards? In an airtight container in the fridge or no fridge?
Carmy
Hi Sarita! Yes, airtight container in the fridge for them to last the longest :)
James Coates
Could these be frozen?
Thanks
Carmy
Hi James, I haven’t tried freezing these! If you try it, please let me know!