Healthy Date Candy Bars (Vegan + Paleo)

These Healthy Date Candy Bars are so divine! With crunchy pretzels and a gooey, peanut butter date caramel center that’s all completely covered in chocolate. This is my healthier take on one of my favorite childhood treats, a Take 5 candy bar, but made with more whole food ingredients.

This recipe is vegan, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, gluten-free and grain free. Just make sure to use pretzels that fit your needs.

Want More Healthy Dessert Recipes?

Check out my PB Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, or my Paleo Orange Cranberry Cookies.

Pictured Instructions:

1. Add medjool dates, peanut butter and maple syrup to a food processor.
2. Mix thoroughly until you achieve a smooth, gooey filling.
3. Add crushed pretzels (The ones I used aren’t available online but here are some grain free pretzels)
4. Then, stir to incorporate.

Pictured Instructions:

1. Place pretzels on a tray (here are some grain free pretzels)
2. Add 1 tablespoon of filling on top of each pretzel and smooth using a spoon or your hands.
3. After chilling in the freezer, dunk each bar in chocolate and place on parchment paper.
4. Place bars in the freezer to let chocolate completely harden before enjoying.

Healthy Date Candy Bars (Vegan + Paleo)

Author: Adrianne

Yield: 20 candy bars

Ingredients:

• 8 large soft medjool dates
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (I use an all natural)
• 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup (optional for more sweetness)
• 1/4 cup crushed pretzels (gluten-free + paleo if needed)

• 20 whole pretzels (gluten-free + paleo if needed)
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips (vegan + paleo if needed)
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions:

1. If your dates aren’t really soft, soak in water for 10 minutes. Drain off water before adding dates to food processor.
2. Add dates, peanut butter and maple syrup to a food processor and mix until and a gooey filling has formed. Then fold in crushed pretzels using a spoon or your food processor very briefly. You want there to be small chunks of pretzels in the filling.
3. Lay out whole pretzels on a tray and place about 1 Tablespoon filling on top of each pretzel. Using a spoon or your hands, smooth filling over each pretzel to form a small bar shape.
4. Place pretzels in the freezer to firm for 10-15 minutes while you melt your chocolate.
5. Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a bowl and melt using the double broil method or in the microwave. Stir often while melting.
6. Lay a piece of parchment paper (I like to use unbleached) on a tray or baking sheet.
7. Dunk each bar into melted chocolate to fully coat. Then, transfer to parchment paper with the pretzel side facing down. Continue until each bar is coated in chocolate. Using a spoon, you can drizzle a bit of chocolate on top of each bar in a zig zag pattern, but this step is optional.
8. Place bars in the freezer for an hour to allow chocolate to completely harden before enjoying.