A healthy and delicious on-the-go snack that is made with only 3 ingredients! These cashew chocolate chip date bars are the simplest snack that comes together in minutes. They have a natural sweetness from the dates and healthy fats from the cashews. Chocolate chips take them over the top, because everything needs chocolate, right!? I have been loving these cashew chocolate chip date bars as a mid-day snack, or for a little something sweet after lunch. However you eat these, you’ll be sure to love them! These bars are vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free, so everyone can enjoy them!

I was inspired by Larabars for this recipe. They have been a go-to of mine since I began college. They have such simple ingredients and taste absolutely amazing. The only downside is that they can be a bit pricy, especially on a college budget. If I see them at the store, I’ll pick them up on occasion, but not all the time. I figured the ingredients were minimal, why not make them myself? I’ve had dates in my fridge for a while, cashews in my cupboard, and always have chocolate chips. Everything was pointing in the direction of making my own Larabars! These cashew chocolate chip date bars are inexpensive, tasty, and taste just like a store-bought snack!

What Ingredients Do I Need?

This recipe seriously could not be any simpler. These bars require only 3 ingredients, that you probably have somewhere in your kitchen. Here is what you’ll need:

Pitted Deglet Noor Dates
Cashews
Chocolate chips
Vanilla extract (optional)

What are Dates?

No – we’re not talking about a romantic date. The dates that I’m referring to are a delicious fruit that acts as a binder and sweetener for desserts and bars. Dates get a bad reputation at times. They aren’t the prettiest fruit, but they really are delicious! Don’t let their appearance turn you away.

Dates are a great source of fiber, B vitamins, potassium, and magnesium. They are also extremely versatile and can be used in baked goods and energy balls as a sweetener. I love eating them on their own or dipping them into peanut butter and chocolate hummus. Delicious!

Mix-Ins

I love adding chocolate chips to these bars, but there are so many other options. If chocolate isn’t your thing, make sure you try one of these delicious mix-ins:

Coconut flakes
Raisins
Craisins
Chopped nuts
White chocolate chips
Blueberries
Chopped apples
Peanut butter drizzled on top

Pre-Soaking the Ingredients

You definitely want to take the extra time out to pre-soak the cashews and dates for this recipe. If not, the ingredients will not blend as well and just cause a hassle. Make your life easier and take the time to soak the ingredients. You’ll thank me later! Just boil some water, and pour it over the cashews and dates. It will make them super soft and easy to blend in the food processor. A total kitchen hack!

How Should I Store These?

These bars need to be kept in the refrigerator and stay fresh for up to 7 days. If not eaten within a week, they can be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Products Used:

Here are some of the ingredients and kitchen tools I used for this recipe that can be purchased on Amazon:

Healthy Cashew Chocolate Chip Date Bars

Recipe by Mary WeissCourse: Snacks, DessertDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Ingredients

2 cups soaked cashews
1 cup soaked Deglet Noor Dates (about 28 dates)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Directions

Bring some water to a boil on the stovetop or with a tea kettle. Place the cashews and dates in separate bowls. Pour the water over the ingredients until they’re covered. Let them soak for at least 20 minutes, or up to 1 hour.
Drain the cashews and dates in a strainer over the sink. Place the ingredients on a kitchen towel and dry them off.
Take the cashews and place them in a food processor. Blend them until the cashews are in tiny pieces. Place them in a separate bowl.
Blend the dates in the food processor until a think paste forms. Add them into the bowl with the cashews.
Using your hands, mix the dates and cashews until they’re totally combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract.
Line a 9″x11″ baking pan with parchment paper. Evenly distribute the mixture into the pan and press it down with your hands. Place in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours. Cut into 16 bars and enjoy!