Today’s recipe is for Healthy Granola Bars using one of our favorite sweet ingredients…dates! Medjool dates have a natural sweetness and a rich caramel-like taste making them the perfect base for these yummy bars. Not only are they easy to make, but they’re also ready to enjoy in no time!
These healthy granola bars received high marks from our taste testers as well. The staff at my office could not get enough; I’ve made these 2 weeks in a row and they still ask for more! The original recipe calls for peanut butter, but if you’re not a big fan go ahead and substitute with tahini. The bars are just as sweet and tasty.
Cutting back on your sugar intake doesn’t have to be so tough—just incorporate dates into your diet! Medjool dates have a high fiber content, zero fat, vitamins ( B-6 and B-5), potassium, and copper, which help support your cardiovascular system.
Advertisement
These bars contain many heart-healthy ingredients including oats, cranberries, pistachios, almonds, and pecans. We also love how customizable the flavors of this recipe are. So feel free to get creative with these healthy granola bars, experiment with different types of dried fruits, seeds and more! So tell us what flavor combinations you use by commenting below! If you make this recipe and post it be sure to tag #Hearthealthygreek!
Plus stay up to date on our latest recipes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. And get them delivered straight to your mailbox by subscribing to our mailing list!
Healthy Granola Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool dates
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup shelled pistachios
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup almonds chopped
- ½ cup pecans chopped
- ⅛ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp chia seeds
- ⅛ cup honey (sub with extra maple syrup for vegan)
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter or tahini
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small bowl soak dates in water for 10 minutes and drain. Remove pits from dates.
- Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with parchment paper, allowing easy removal of bars. Set pan aside.
- Process dates in a food processor until it forms a soft consistency.
- To a medium-size bowl add the oats, nuts, dried fruit, and chia seeds, mix well.
- To the oat mixture add the processed dates, and set aside.
- In a small saucepan over low heat add the maple syrup, honey, and peanut butter (or tahini). Add vanilla and stir until sauce is incorporated.
- Pour warm sauce over oat mixture and mix. Add mini chips and mix again.
- Once thoroughly mixed add the mixture to the prepared pan. Press the granola mixture down in the pan until flattened and firmly packed.
- Cover with additional parchment paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from pan and cut into bars. We stored the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for a week.
