Description
These Healthy Breakfast Bars are a nutritious and delicious on-the-go snack made with wholesome ingredients like medjool dates, gluten-free oats, peanut butter, and seeds. Perfect for a quick breakfast or a midday energy boost, these bars require no baking and are naturally sweetened and packed with fiber and protein.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 cups (350g) pitted medjool dates*
- 2/3 cup (71g) organic gluten-free rolled oats
- 1/2 cup smooth unsalted peanut butter*
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt*
Add-Ins
- 1/4 cup (32g) pumpkin seeds
- 2 heaping tablespoons (24g) dried cranberries
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Dish: Line a small 6-cup baking dish (approx. 2 x 8 x 6 inches) with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Process Dates and Oats: Add pitted medjool dates and gluten-free rolled oats to a food processor. Pulse on high speed until the mixture is finely chopped and uniform in texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients and Spices: Add peanut butter, cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice), vanilla extract, and salt to the food processor. Blend until the dough comes together and sticks when pressed between your fingers. If the dough is dry, add water one tablespoon at a time and blend until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Incorporate Seeds and Fruit: Add pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries to the food processor. Pulse just until mixed in to maintain some texture from the seeds and dried fruit.
- Shape the Bars: Transfer the mixture to the parchment-lined baking dish. Spread evenly and press firmly into the dish using a wet spatula or your hands to compact the mixture tightly.
- Chill: Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the bars to firm up and hold their shape.
- Cut and Store: Remove the firmed mixture from the dish using the parchment paper. Cut into 8 bars or squares. Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
- If your dates are not soft, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes and drain before using to help processing.
- If using salted peanut butter, omit the additional 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Nut allergy alternatives: replace peanut butter with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter if allergic to nuts.
- Feel free to substitute pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries with your preferred seeds and dried fruits to suit your taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 289
- Sugar: 31.4 g
- Sodium: 75.1 mg
- Fat: 13.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 7.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 41.7 g
- Fiber: 4.3 g
- Protein: 3.2 g
- Cholesterol: 30.5 mg
