Do you struggle with a sweet tooth? (I do!) Are you looking for a healthier alternative to products with lots of added sugar. Me too. Fortunately, I discovered homemade energy bars recently, and they’ve become the healthy answer to my frequent cravings for sweets.
Homemade energy bars are a delicious and guilt-free treat, packed with real foods that contain healthy fats, fiber, and natural sugars.
And they’re a great alternative to store-bought energy bars, which tend to be either ridiculously expensive or filled with processed ingredients.
One of the things I love most about these bars is that you can customize them to make everyone in your family happy. The basic ingredients are raw almonds, rolled oats, medjool dates, and coconut oil.
Beyond that you can pick and choose almost any additional ingredients or add-ins you like. My recipe has flax meal, which is full of healthy fatty acids, fiber and compounds that may fight cancer, and chia seeds, which contain healthy fatty acids, fiber and protein – and add a bit of crunch.
And dark chocolate because – well, it’s dark chocolate.
If you’re looking for a real food snack, give these healthy and delicious homemade energy bars a try.
Delicious Homemade Energy Bars
Print recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 12 medjool dates (pitted)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- 2 tablespoons flax meal
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- water
Directions
 Line an 8x8 pan with foil or parchment and set aside. Combine almonds, oats, dates (pitted), and coconut oil in a food processor and pulse 6-8 times. Add coconut, flax meal, chia seeds, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Mix until all of the ingredients are finely chopped and they begin to come together in a sticky mass. Add chocolate chips. (You can add them earlier or later in the process, depending on whether you want them chopped or nearly whole in your bars. | |
 Test the mixture with your fingers to make sure it holds together easily. If it doesn't, add a tablespoon of water at a time, mixing well after each addition, until it does. (Err on the side of less water if you're unsure about the consistency.) Transfer the mixture to the lined pan and spread it evenly. Then press it down firmly with your fingers. To make the top smoother and flatter, finish pressing it with the back of a spatula. | |
 Refrigerate the pan of energy bars for about an hour. When chilled, take them out of the refrigerator and remove the foil or parchment from the pan. Cut into squares or bars using a pizza cutter or large knife. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container (or freeze for later use). | |
Notes
The beauty of these homemade energy bars is that you can create your own version, adapting them to suit almost any taste. The key ingredients are the almonds, oats, dates and coconut oil. Once you add those, you can play with the other ingredients, deleting ones you don't like or have on hand and adding others you do.
You may also like my ebook, Quick. Healthy. Delicious. Simple Meal Solutions for Busy Moms and Hungry Families and 10 Ways to Prep Food on Sunday to Eat Healthy All Week.
Juggling Real Food (@JugglngRealFood) says
These look so good Gaye! You had me at “Well – it’s dark chocolate.” Not that they will last very long in my house, but about how long will these stay fresh?
GC says
Thanks Christina. They don’t stay around very long at my house either, but I know we’ve kept a few in the refrigerator for at least a couple of weeks.
Gaye
Jennifer says
I’m having difficulty getting the recipe and i’d love to try these.. all the ingredients and comments ppl posted make these energy bars sound like the perfect make ahead snack! all it says is “[gmc_recipe 6445]” but it’s not even a link that I can click? suggestions… or maybe you could just email the recip to me? I tried looking at your “Spice Italian Beef” recipe also and I had the same problem. Thanks for your support and great health/marriage tips!
GC says
Hi Jennifer – I’m so sorry. I have been having some trouble with my recipe plug-in – I have to deactivate it at times to work with other plug-ins. I have reactivated it, and you should be able to get the recipe. If not, please email me at [email protected] and I’ll make a pdf of it and send it to you.
Thanks for letting me know.
Gaye
allie says
Hi, I am also only seeing the “[gmc_recipe 6445]”.
Thank youH
GC says
Hi Allie – Thank you for letting me know. It should be fixed now.
Gaye
Deborah says
I think I might try these this week!
GC says
I hope you like them, Deborah. My family really loves them.
Gaye
Michelle says
Looks great! Thanks for sharing 🙂
GC says
Thanks Michelle.
Gaye
Gabrielle says
Hi I love all your posts ! Such a blessing !!! I don’t have a food proccesor is there anyway to make the energy bars without that? Also I was wondering if you could recommend a place I could order healthy food in bulk like Almonds and Flax seed things we use a lot of maybe at a better price we have a large family and trying to make healthy food and having to keep running to the groceries store is expensive and tiresome thanks so much for your posts!
GC says
Hi Gabrielle – Thanks so much for your kind words. I don’t know a way to make these bars without a food processor. It might be possible to chop everything very finely by hand, but I think it would take a lot of effort and I’m not sure how well it would work. I have not ordered healthy food online, but I do find that it’s cheaper from bulk bins at Earthfare and similar places. I buy things like organic oatmeal, brown rice, flour, and nuts from those bins, and it seems to be quite a bit cheaper than buying packages.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Gaye
Kyra says
Hi Gaye, I’m loving homemade energy bars at the moment too – they are so easy to make and the whole family loves them too 🙂 will give your recipe a try next time I make them – love the addition of dark chocolate!
GC says
Hi Kyra – Yes, my family cannot stop eating them. The dark chocolate is really a yummy addition.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Gaye
Sharon Mavis says
This looks delicious! I have been looking for a recipe to replace the packaged protein bars. Thanks!
GC says
I think you will like these, Sharon. They are easy and delicious.
Gaye
Andie Williams says
I really want to try making these (: Thanks for sharing!
Visiitng from http://www.andieconn.com
GC says
Hi Andie – They are really good. My family cannot stop eating them!
Thanks for stopping by.
Gaye
Carrie Groneman says
Hello Gaye, I am excited to try these bars and with the bins in the stores now it is inexpensive to make these recipes. Thank you for sharing and i love your site! I featured you on my fb page and please keep up all the great things you are doing, it is very worthwhile. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Karen says
Your bars sound delicious, Gaye! I love the versatility and the natural sweetness. I’ll have these in our kitchen soon!
GC says
Thank you, Karen. I hope you enjoy them. Hope you are doing well.
Gaye
Rosemind says
I am looking forward to trying your recipe. I’m eating these whole foods anyway; why not combine them into this yummy treat? Thanks for the idea, Gaye!
GC says
Hi Rosemind – Thanks. I hope you enjoy them!
Gaye