I have always had a sweet tooth but I have been trying to cut down on my sugar intake but still eat healthy so I have been trying to find snack recipes using dates.
My daughter gifted me some delicious dates from Rancho Melduco Date Farm in the Coachella Valley in California, and believe me when I say they are a delightful treat all by themselves! This family-run operation has dates that are plump, sweet, and fresh. You can also buy dates at every grocery store if you don’t want to order online. This recipe is from the Rancho Melduco website, but I changed it because I didn’t have espresso powder; instead, I used unsweetened cocoa powder. You can use any nut you like, and they will be just as good!
Date Granola Bar
Recipe adapted from
Rancho Melduco Date Farm
Ingredients:
1 cup old-fashioned oats
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons water
3 cups soft dates (about 20 dates) pitted.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup roasted unsalted almonds
½ cup unsweetened flaked coconut
½ cup dark chocolate chunks
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the oats in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until toasty and beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the dates with the cocoa powder, water, vanilla, salt, half of the almonds, half of the coconut, and half of the oats until a thick paste forms. Scrape down the sides as needed. Add the chocolate chunks and the remaining almonds, coconut, and oats. Pulse until the mixture is chunky but holds together when pinched. If your mixture is too crumbly, gradually add more water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, and pulse until desired consistently.
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Using the parchment overhang, lift from pan. Cut into bars.
Note: If your dates have dried out, place in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let sit for 6 minutes, then drain.
The bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or stored in the refrigerator or freezer for up to a month.
Enjoy!
The Basque Wife 
Yum!
Hi Marilyn, I found your blog after a brief introduction of it at Cardio Rehab. Your beautifully displayed truffles were absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing! I jumped on your blog to see what other recipes you might have provided. I try to post several pictures a week on my Facebook page of healthy lunches and dinners I put together that are very low in sodium, saturated fat, and sugar. It keeps me motivated to make heart healthy meal combinations. Here’s to a good recovery in 2025 to ensure that we can spend healthy days with our families and enjoy life adventures!
Thank you! Same to you!