All the Chocolate hazelnut spread flavor (AKA Nutella), none of the guilt. We are serious, give these cocoa and hazelnut date bars a try! No sugar added!
Cocoa & Hazelnut Date Bars - No sugar Added!
I was recently in Israel visiting my daughter who is spending a year abroad. Needless to say, I went there with a whole bunch of presents.... but I also wanted to bring her something from home, something more comforting. What to do? What to bring?
Since she is one of our biggest fans and loves to taste our recipes, and knowing how disappointed she is for having to miss an entire year of "May I have that Recipe" food, I thought, why not bring her some homemade goodies?
While flipping through the pages of the January 2015 issue of Bon Appetit Magazine, I saw 3 great bar recipes full of nuts, seeds, and other healthy ingredients. The bars were also free of refined sugars. Bingo! Right up her alley. I shared the idea with my sister and the next day she showed up with these delicious cocoa and hazelnut date bars. And I have to tell you, they taste just like that popular chocolate and hazelnut spread (AKA Nutella), only healthier! No sugar added and with an intense hazelnut cocoa flavor. Just awesome.
So I made two of the Bon Appetit bars (with some modifications of course, because you know, I can never follow a recipe!) a big batch of these yummy date bars and voila! The perfect gift.
And just as I anticipated, the date bars were a complete success. Mission accomplished!
Enjoy!
PS: For a bite-size treat, you can shape these into little truffles and dipped them in cocoa powder or finely chopped hazelnuts!
Date, cocoa & Hazelnut Bars - No sugar Added
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 6 bars 1x
Description
All the Chocolate hazelnut spread flavor (AKA Nutella), none of the guilt. We are serious, give these cocoa and hazelnut date bars a try! No sugar added!
Ingredients
- 8oz dates, pitted an chopped
- 2 tbsp raisins
- Warm water (just enough to soak the dates and raisins)
- ½ cup hazelnuts
- 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp natural vanilla extract
Instructions
- Soak dates and raisins in warm water for 10 minutes. Drain all the water and transfer to a food processor
- Add hazelnuts, cocoa powder and vanilla and pulse until all the ingredients are well incorporated
- Transfer to a cutting boar lined with wax or parchment paper. Form a log ( 7 x 4 x ½ inch approximately). Cut into 6 bars and refrigerate until ready to eat
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Category: snack
- Method: raw
- Cuisine: vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 178
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 1.3
- Fat: 7.3
- Saturated Fat: .7
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 4.2
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 0
Lisa Jay says
Wow! So easy. Now, can you give me an easy way to clean that food processor after?
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Use a rubber spatula to scoop as much date mixture as possible. Add some warm water and soap into the food processor cup and pulse it a couple of times, that should help you clean it.
leah says
you dont say how many boz dates to use
Vicky & Ruth says
Hi there,
The recipe calls for 8 ounces, pitted and chopped
The Steaming Pot says
How beautiful they look! I wish I could get hold of hazelnut, not so accessible in my part of the world 🙁
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you very much. Sorry you cannot get hazelnuts easily. You may want to try replacing the hazelnuts for your favorite seed or not.
Connie Greenwald says
Just made these and they are in the fridge hardening up a bit. Next time I will pulse the hazelnuts before adding the other ingredients. I found a product at Trader Joes that has the same ingredients as these bars. They are individually wrapped disc's and very high in fiber, but a bit pricy. Do you have any idea on the nutritional value of these bars?
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Hi Connie, we just posted the nutritional information.
Kaylu says
Any idea how long these will last, in the fridge or out? I'd love to take them on camping trips.
Vicky & Ruth says
Unfortunately, we don't know. They never last long enough in our house. If we would have to guess 3-5 days.
Sue Sanman says
Is soaking th dates necessary if they aren’t dried?
Vicky & Ruth says
Hi Sue,
Yes, we recommend soaking the dates and the raisins, so they can break down and blend better with the rest of the ingredients.