Homemade No-Bake Date and Nut Bars made with 6 wholesome ingredients. Raw, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, they’re perfect for a healthy, clean-eating snack anytime.
If you are looking more healthy recipes using Medjool dates, try my date balls or the chocolate avocado mousse
A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: No Bake Date and Nut Bars
🕒 Ready In: ~10 minutes
👪 Serves: 12 bars
🧑🍳 Main Ingredients: Dates, almonds, cashews, coconut, coconut oil and cocoa powder
📖 Dietary Info: Vegan, gluten-free, raw, dairy-free, healthy, clean eating
📌 Difficulty: Easy, no-bake recipe
Why you’ll love these no-bake date and nut bars?
I love keeping healthy snacks on hand for when a sweet craving hits—something that actually makes me feel good. These homemade energy bars taste so much better than store-bought ones and keep well in the fridge for a guilt-free treat anytime. They’re super easy to make—just pulse everything in a food processor, press into a pan, chill, and slice. Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, and peanut-free, these bars are healthy, satisfying, and seriously delicious.
- maria doss
Jump to:
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Dates - I used soft 18 large pitted Medjool dates. It was 9.5 ounces by weight (without seeds) or slightly more than 1 and ½ cups when measured.
- Nuts: A mix of whole almonds, cashews, and shredded sweetened coconut adds texture, flavor, and richness.
- Coconut oil: I used 6 tablespoons. I tested reducing it to 4 tablespoons for a lighter version, but the bars didn’t hold together as well. Six tablespoons was just right for perfectly sliceable bars.
- Cocoa powder: As I mention in the blog post featuring cocoa powder recipes, Dutch-processed cocoa balances the sweetness of the dates and gives the bars a rich chocolatey flavor.
Tips for Success
- Don't grind nuts into a fine powder - Make sure to grind the nuts coarsely. The date bars looks and tastes better with the crunchy texture.
- Grind dates smooth paste - Process dates and coconut oil into a smooth paste.
- Coconut - I used sweetened shredded coconut but feel free to use unsweetened variety.
- Store in refrigerator - Store in the refrigerator and eat cold.
More healthy treats using dates
No Bake Date and Nut Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup raw almonds
- ¾ cup raw cashews
- ¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 18 large Medjool dates, pitted (9.5 ounces or 270 gms by weight without pits)
- 6 tablespoons liquid coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
Instructions
- Grind nuts. Add the almonds, cashews, and shredded coconut to a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground—don’t over-process into a powder. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
- Grind Dates. Add the dates and coconut oil to the now-empty food processor. Process until the mixture is finely ground and forms a sticky, cohesive mass.
- Finish. Scrape down the sides of the food processor, then add the ground nuts and cocoa powder. Pulse for a few seconds just until combined—be careful not to over-process.
- Shape and chill. Line a loaf pan (9x5 inches) or any similarly sized flat-bottomed pan with parchment paper, letting it hang over the sides for easy lifting. Press the mixture evenly into the pan, packing it firmly with the bottom of a glass. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to set.
- Slice. Lift the bars out using the parchment overhang and place on a cutting board. Using a large, sharp knife, cut into bars or bite-sized squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Enjoy chilled, as they soften at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
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Step 5 - Shape date bars dough into parchment lined loaf pan, making sure to press well using the bottom of a measuring cup or flat bottomed glass. Chill until firm.
Frequently Asked Dates
Yes! Simply skip the shredded coconut and add an extra ¼ cup of almonds or cashews. I also recommend adding 1–2 extra dates to make up for the sweetness the coconut would have added.
The no-bake bars stick together thanks to the ground Medjool dates and coconut oil, so it’s important to process the dates and coconut oil into a smooth, sticky paste. Also, avoid reducing the coconut oil—when I tested with less, the bars didn’t hold together properly.
Let the bars chill in the fridge for a few hours so they firm up before slicing. Use a large, sharp knife and steady it with both hands for clean, precise cuts. I recommend cutting them about ½-inch thick—thinner slices tend to crumble.
👉 Looking for more recipes using coconut oil? Try my almond joy stuffed dates or the almond flour cookie dough recipe.
MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💚 Please leave a ⭐️STAR rating and COMMENT below- I love to hear your feedback! Tag me with your creations on Instagram and find me on Facebook.
🌴 If you love dates, then I share a recipe using dates every Friday on Instagram and TikTok.
Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
I love that this is only 5 ingredients and a healthier alternative to other snacks! I can't believe the kids are already back in school! This summer flew by! These bars look so yummy Maria!
Patrick@looneyforfood.com
I’m in denial over summer ending so I’ll pretend I didn’t read that lol. But I’ll take these bars anyway! Love the low ingredient list
heather (delicious not gorgeous)
these look so tasty! i get free snacks at work but they're pretty unhealthy so i'll have to whip a batch up and keep it for the week (:
Theresa Byrne
Easy to make and delicious! I will see if my seven and four year old agree…fingers crossed but they are yummy.
Have you tried freezing these?
Thanks for a great recipe
Maria Doss
Hi Theresa,
Glad you loved these bars. They freeze great - thaw at room temperature before eating, Maria
Jeannette Shields
I know I will probably like these, but I don’t know if my daughter will. She says coconut upsets her stomach. What can I use as a substitute OR will you not taste it once it’s been “ground” (or “grinded”-I’m not sure of the right word!!) Thank you for the recipe!
Maria Doss
Hi Jeannette, You can easily make these date bars without the coconut if you prefer. Hope that helps!