Do you want a cookie but not the calories that go with it? That’s what I have here. Well, it’s not technically a “cookie” per say, but I’m calling it close enough. 😉 These no bake bars taste like a berry fruit roll up snack, except these bars are loaded with healthy ingredients.
Cranberry Date Nut Bars Recipe
(16 servings)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1 tablespoon sweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup miniature chocolate chips (optional)
Directions:
- Combine the almonds, dried cranberries, pitted dates, coconut flakes, and vanilla extract in a food processor and blend until all of the ingredients have formed into a ball. (With my food processor, it took about 5 minutes.)
- On a piece of parchment paper shape the mixture into a 6 x 6 inch square.
- Chill it for at least 1 hour.
- (Optional) Sprinkle miniature chocolate chips on top before serving.
Store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature or in a freezer friendly bag in the freezer.
You don’t need your oven today. Hello, no bake goodie. 🙂
You do need a food processor. You want to run it until the ingredients are really combined. The goal here is to make sure that you can flatten the mixture into a square and not have any bits fall out.
You can make these as thick or as thin as you like. I think a 6 x 6 inch square is ideal but if you end up with “rustic” edges, that’s okay too. I used my hands to shape the sides and then flattened it with the bottom of a measuring cup.
These bars do contain natural sugars from the dried fruit and a little bit from the sweetened coconut but they are honestly not bad for you. In fact, the whole thing only has about 2.5 grams of added sugar from the sweetened coconut flakes. And if you wanted to, you could even find unsweetened coconut to use instead.
The dried cranberry flavors shine here. I barely taste the almonds and dates. However, they act as a great binder, they boost the protein, and they add great nutritional value. These bars are a great snack after a work out (just saying, for any of you who recently started to work out as your new year’s resolution).
I could not resist topping these fruity bars with a few mini chocolate chips because I think anything with chocolate tastes good. If you’re counting calories or sugar, then feel free to omit them entirely.
I’ve never made anything like these bars before, but I love trying new things. Frankly, I wasn’t sure if my family would like them. Let’s face it, they’re not the Nestle Toll House cookies that they’re used to seeing from me. My family actually liked them! It was me sneaking a good for you snack into the bag of holiday cookies. However, for full disclosure, my husband hated them and he only managed to eat the corner off of one of them before he was shaking his head with a grimace on his face. It’s funny because he really likes all of the flavors that went into them, there was just something about the combination that made them weird for him. I happen to think that these are a great tasting healthy snack bar. 🙂
Adapted from: Paleo Grubs
Here are some other healthy snacks.
Almond Cranberry Granola Poppers
Honey Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas
These look awesome!!! I love cranberry
Thanks Ashley! 🙂
Uhmm did you say a cookie without the calories?? I love this idea. SO creative!!!
Hehe, thanks! 🙂
These look good, Tina! Thanks for sharing. Pinned! Hope you are staying warm where you are!
Awesome! Thanks for pinning. 🙂 It’s seriously WAY to cold for me…5 degrees F in CT right now. 😮 I know it’s warmer in FL for you but I think you’re also experiencing a cold spell so you stay warm too. 🙂
Oh my gosh, I would eat the whole batch! Seriously, I love stuff like this, and with those chocolate chips on top, they are totally irresistible!
I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks Ari. 🙂
Oh I love the looks of these! I’ve been playing around with dates a lot more lately and am really liking having healthier sweet options around the house. I love that there are cranberries in these!
The cranberries are my favorite part. I still love my sweets around the house so I’m trying to switch it up a bit. 🙂
I’m thinking these would be the perfect pre-run snack!
Absolutely! 🙂 I miss running. I don’t like doing it when it’s cold out so I’ll start up again in the Spring.
The color in these is beautiful! I love the magic that happens when you blend dried fruits and nuts together. I just made something with cranberries and was debating whether or not to post it, but I think I will now. 🙂 Cranberries are a delicious (and low cal) snack. I think it is so creative to take the no bake cookie and put it into bar form! Yum!
I really stepped outside of my comfort zone when I decided to make these bars. Then I debated whether to post about them. My general rule has been “No matter what the recipe is, if I like/love it and I’d make it again, then I want to share.” These bars fit that! I know that they won’t be for everyone, but I’m glad I decided to try something different. I love cranberries…hopefully I’ll see what you’ve been up to with them too. 🙂 Have a lovely day Mary Frances!
Oh yum! I love raw desserts and treats. I’ve never added cranberries to mine before – that sounds like a great idea 😀 Thanks for the recipe
Awesome! Thanks. 🙂
Love how perfect these bars look, like pretty little brownie bars! Look delicious Tina!
Thanks so much Pamela! Stay warm. 🙂
Oooh, these sound so yummy! Bet they make a great snack too.
Yup, a great guilt-free snack! 🙂
Wow, these look SO good and I love how easy they are to whip together in the food processor!
I know, right?! Thanks Rachel. 🙂
I love any dessert made with dates! These look heavenly and so easy! 🙂
This is my first recipe using dates. They’ve opened up a whole new world for me. 🙂
Nice recipe! And very healthy too! I love it
Awesome! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I think I’ll try this with my food grinder rather than process it for 5 minutes in the Cusinart.
I don’t have a food grinder so I don’t know how those work. Let me know how you make out. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂