Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars (2024)

byChristine |Vegan| 02.28.24

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Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars that are the BEST healthy sweet treat! They’re gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, and full of delicious ingredients. Whether you’re making these for a healthy sweet snack at home or for a gathering, every bite is full of chocolatey date caramel melt-in-your-mouth goodness!

Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Date Bar Recipe

This has become one of my new favorite evening snacks! You know, the one you save for after the kids go to bed and you look forward to all day…that’s these date bars for me! Goodness, they’re delicious. Made with rolled oats, almond flour, oat flour, coconut oil, dates, and date or coconut sugar, these healthy bites are full of better-for-you ingredients. And the chocolate chip and walnut topping just really takes things to another level!

My number one tip for these date bars: let them cool and set in the fridge. They tend to be a bit crumbly when they’re warm, so I like to let them completely cool in the fridge, then cut them into bars and let them set again.

While they do tend to be a little bit crumbly, they’re 1000% SO good (trust me on this one) and I know you’ll love this recipe!

You’ll Also Love: Date Snickers (Peanut Butter Yogurt Dates)

What You’ll Need

Oatmeal Bars

• Date Sugar– Or coconut sugar.
• Coconut Oil– Melted vegan butter or regular butter works great, too!
• Maple Syrup
• Oat Flour
• Almond Flour
• Rolled Oats
• Baking Soda
• Salt

Date Filling

• Chopped Pitted Dates– About 10-11 Medjool dates.
• Almond Butter
• Water
• Vanilla Extract

Toppings

• Vegan Dark Chocolate Chips-Or chocolate chunks.
• Chopped Walnuts

How to Make Healthy Oatmeal Date Bars

These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars are so easy to make for a fun, wholesome dessert! Here’s how to put them together:

1. Soak the Dates

Soaking the dates helps to soften them before blending. Even just 10 minutes of soaking while prepping the other ingredients makes such a difference!

2. Make the Oatmeal Bar Mixture

Stir the ingredients for the oatmeal bars in a large mixing bowl. Pour a little more than half of the mixture into a baking pan lined with parchment paper and press down to create a crust!

3. Blend the Date Filling

Blend the soaked, pitted, and chopped dates with water, vanilla, and creamy almond butter.

4. Layer the Bars

Pour the date filling over the oatmeal mixture in the pan, then evenly sprinkle the remaining oatmeal mixture on top. Add chocolate chips and chopped walnuts!

5. Bake

Bake the date bars at 375 degrees F for about 25-30 minutes.

6. Let Cool & Slice

Let cool completely, and if you have time, let the bars set in the fridge for 30 minutes. This is optional, but it helps them to set up as they can be a bit crumbly! Slice the bars and enjoy.

RELATED: Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Cups

Tips for the BEST Date Bars

• Date bars tend to be a bit crumbly when they’re warm, so I like to let them completely cool in the fridge, then cut them into bars and let them set again. It isn’t required, but definitely helps!
• Use a small cup blender for blending the date filling for best results. I like using the bowl attachment on my Vitamix, but even something like a baby bullet works great!
• Add a dash of flaky sea salt over these bars for extra flavor!

How to Store

Date Bars are best kept in the fridge! To store, place the sliced bars in a large rectangle airtight container in a single layer and add the lid. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days! They can also be frozen for up to 3 months and then thawed the night before when ready to enjoy.

More Healthy Treats You’ll Love

• Homemade Date Twix Bars
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bars
• Cranberry Almond Healthy Oatmeal Bars
• Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
• Vegan Cookie Bars (Gluten-Free)

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4.84 from 6 votes

Print Recipe

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars that are the BEST healthy sweet treat! They're gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, and full of delicious ingredients. Whether you're making these for a healthy sweet snack at home or for a gathering, every bite is full of chocolatey date caramel melt-in-your-mouth goodness!

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 Bars

Calories: 166 kcal

Author: Christine McMichael

Equipment

• 8×8" Baking Pan

• Blender w/ Small Cup Attachment

Ingredients

Oatemal Bars

• ▢ 1/3 cup date sugar (or coconut sugar)
• ▢ 1/2 cup coconut oil (or butter, melted)
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
• ▢ 1/4 cup oat flour
• ▢ 1/2 cup almond flour
• ▢ 3/4 cup rolled oats
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt

Date Filling

• ▢ 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates (about 10-11 dates)
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons almond butter
• ▢ 1/4 cup water
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Toppings

• ▢ 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (or chocolate chunks)
• ▢ 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

• Soak the dates while prepping the other ingredients.

• Mix the oatmeal bar ingredients together.

• Remove the date pits and chop.

• Blend the date filling ingredients until smooth.

• Line an 8×8" pan with parchment paper.

• Press a little more than half of the oatmeal bar mixture into the pan.

• Add in the date filling and spread over the oatmeal mixture.

• Sprinkle the remaining oatmeal mixture evenly over the date filling.

• Top with chocolate chips and walnuts, then lightly press into the filling.

• Bake for 25-30 minutes.

• Let cool completely, then cut into bars. Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Bar | Calories: 166 kcal | Carbohydrates: 14 g | Protein: 3 g | Fat: 12 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 0.03 mg | Sodium: 118 mg | Potassium: 97 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 7 g | Vitamin A: 8 IU | Vitamin C: 0.04 mg | Calcium: 32 mg | Iron: 1 mg

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