No Bake Chocolate Energy Bars with Dates

These no-baked chocolate energy bars with dates are chewy, nutty, naturally sweetened with medjool dates, with a crisp layer of dark chocolate and a sprinkle of sea salt to top. We use gluten-free crisped rice, nuts and seeds all crammed in for ultimate flavour. They are naturally vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free and like a slightly-better-for-you homemade chocolate bar.

No oven is needed and the bars can be made and stored in the freezer to grab and go. They can actually be eaten directly from the freezer so there's no forward thinking required.

I first developed this recipe when my eldest child was a toddler. They were my lifeline during 3am night-feeds and they are so quick and easy to make that it was easy to whip up batches of them during naptimes to stash in the freezer for emergencies. I seemed to find an excuse most days to treat myself to one.

We've got a slightly larger family now (four kids!) and these no bake energy bars with their naturally healthy ingredients still do some heavy lifting in the snacking department. They see us all through long stretches between meals, as breakfast bars or perfect energy boosting after school snacks.

You'll love this recipe if you're making packed lunches (although they are not nut-free) or if you need something delicious for travelling, picnics, hiking or you just want something satisfying for enjoying with a cup of tea from the comfort of your sofa at home.

Ingredients Needed

Dark chocolate. Choose a vegan chocolate if you need your energy bars to be dairy-free. Any percentage is fine but I use 72% dark chocolate.

Medjool dates. The soft caramelly texture of medjool dates are hard to beat. They are essential to this recipe as they provide natural sweetness plus their sticky texture holds the cereal filling together whilst creating their gorgeous chewy texture.

Gluten-free crisped rice. They lose their crispy texture in this recipe instead adding to the delicious chew of the bar. Be warned many brands of crisped rice often contain wheat so make sure the one you choose is gluten-free.

Nuts. It’s up to you which nuts you choose but cashews and pistachios work particularly well.

Seeds. Again, choose your favourites but I recommend sesame seeds, chia seeds and flaxseeds.

Almond butter. Adding gorgeous flavour and helps bind our cereals together. You can swap for cashew butter if you like.

Coconut oil. This not only helps to hold the ingredients together once you chill the bars, but is also added to the chocolate topping for a glossy crisp finish.

Vanilla extract. Here you can really use any vanilla extract - it doesn't have to be an expensive brand.

Salt. Using flaked sea salt in the bars themselves and a little bit sprinkled over the top is absolutely essential.

How To Make Chocolate Energy Bars

For full recipe instructions go to the recipe card at the end of this post. 

1. Dates. Soak the dates in just boiled water for half an hour.
2. Dry ingredients. Mix the crisped rice, nuts and seeds in a large bowl.
3. Wet ingredients. Pour coconut oil, almond butter, vanilla and salt into the soaked dates and blend.
4. Mix and set. Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mix and pour into baking tin lined with parchment. Chill.
5. Chocolate. Melt the chocolate with coconut oil and salt then pour over the set cereal bar mixture and spread out evenly with a rubber spatula.
6. Chill again then cut into bars.