Tahini, Turmeric & Date Vegan Granola Bars

These tahini, turmeric, and date vegan granola bars are naturally sweetened and perfectly spiced. They make for a great grab-and-go breakfast or snack

Homemade Granola Bars are a million times better than any you’d buy in the store! You can customize all of the ingredients to make them your own, and they’re incredibly easy to make.

We truly think these granola bars are awesome. Very simple: tahini and turmeric….they’re some of our favorite ingredients! They’re a flavor match made in heaven with so many health benefits. Yes, the combination makes these bars somewhat unusual, but that's in part what makes them so good (in our opinion anyway!). The inspiration, once again, was our grandmother and her amazing turmeric cake. This healthy granola bar recipe is healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast, but it’s a great snack on the go!

Healthy Granola Bar Ingredients

These homemade bars are made with all pantry ingredients that you likely already have on hand! It’s a truly scrumptious combination of ingredients that combine into a granola bar that’s sweet, chewy, and perfectly spiced.

• Old Fashioned oats - These get toasted, which adds a great deep flavor to these bars! Oats are also higher in protein than most grains in addition to containing fiber and protein. If you want these granola bars gluten-free make sure to purchase GF oats.
• Maple syrup - We love using pure maple to sweeten recipes without relying on refined sugars.
• Tahini - Runny tahini will work best for mixing into bars like this. Make sure the tahini is not dry, if it is just you open a fresh jar of tahini, but shake it well before you open it. Tahini is a great nut-free substitute for nut butter, and we love the subtle flavor it adds.
• Coconut oil - This will help your bars stick together.
• Vanilla extract - Vanilla enhances all those warm, spiced flavors!
• Seasonings: turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, ground ginger, coriander, salt, and pepper - This combination of spices makes these bars come alive!
• Pitted dates - Dates naturally sweeten the bars and add a great, chewy texture!
• Shelled pistachios - We love the color, flavor, and both fiber and protein.
• Sesame seeds

How to Make Homemade Granola Bars

This is a super simple process that creates the most delicious, flavorful homemade bars!

1. Start by toasting your oats! Spread the oats on a baking sheet and place them in an oven heated to 350F for 8 minutes. Set them aside to cool completely.
2. Combine the coconut oil, maple syrup, and tahini in a small saucepan and cook it over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove it from the stovetop, stir in your seasonings and chopped dates, and set it aside to cool.
3. Grab a large bowl and mix together oats, pistachios, and sesame seeds. Pour the cooled wet mixture over it and mix it well. We sometimes dive right in with clean hands! A wooden spoon or spatula also works well. Just make sure the oats are totally coated.
4. Spray an 8x8 pan with nonstick spray and line it with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the pan and push it down as hard as you can using your hands or the bottom of a heavy drinking glass. Pop them in the refrigerator for 3 hours before cutting them into bars!

How to Make Perfect Chewy Granola Bars

Here are a couple of tips to make sure this no-bake granola bar recipe turns out perfectly every time. These are the things we keep in mind while baking!

• Use runny tahini for the best results in binding the mixture together! Melting the coconut oil completely on the stovetop will also help this step.
• You’re going to want to  REALLY press the bar mixture into the bottom of the pan! The more compacted the mixture gets, the better the bars will hold their shape.
• Don’t cut the chilling time short. The bars need a full 3 hours in the refrigerator to set and harden! You can put them in the freezer if you’re feeling impatient. We also like to store them in the fridge or freezer to keep their shape.
• Have fun with mix-ins! You can add any of your favorite nuts, seeds, or dried fruits to these bars to make them your own.

More Snacking Recipes

• Vegan Gluten-Free Blueberry Raspberry Bars
• Oh So Comforting Apple Oat Bars
• No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Balls
• The Second Best Tahini Cookies
• Vegan Halva Bars
• Homemade Granola with Cranberries & Pecans
• Cocoa & Hazelnut Date Bars
• Goji Berry & Pistachio Granola Bars

The Story Behind these Tahini, Turmeric & Date Vegan Granola Bars

As food bloggers, sometimes we have to rely heavily on other people to figure out if a recipe is a success or a total fail. And it's not that we don't trust our own judgment, but seeing things through someone else's eyes (or in this case, taste buds) is most definitely helpful at times. You know, like when you're about to go out wearing a brand new outfit and a new hairdo and you think you look absolutely amazing, but in reality, you look like Mrs. Potato Head had an unfortunate encounter with a mop? And you have to rely on your friends to tell you? Yeah, it's just like that. In a less extreme way maybe, but you know what I'm talking about.

Now, let me tell you why I think these granola bars are awesome. Very simple: tahini and turmeric. Health benefits aside, a match made in heaven from a flavor standpoint, if there ever was one. Yes, the combination makes these bars somewhat unusual, but that's in part what makes them so good (in my opinion anyway!). The inspiration, once again, was our grandmother and her amazing turmeric cake.

So if you're feeling a little adventurous, I strongly suggest you give these  tahini and turmeric vegan granola bars a try. And as always, feel free to give us your (honest) feedback! Leave a comment or tag us @mayihavethatrecipe on Facebook or Instagram . You know how much we love hearing from you!

Oh, and on a totally non-food related note, if you're in the Philly area and are ever in need of a body tune-up, pay these guys at Excel Physical Therapy a visit. They're not just great taste testers and friends, they're also the best in the biz 🙂

Enjoy!

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