Cranberry Date Nut Bars

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.

04Cranberry Date Nut Bars

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:

  1. 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.)
  2. On a piece of parchment paper shape the mixture into a 6 x 6 inch square.
  3. Chill it for at least 1 hour.
  4. (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.     🙂

01Cranberry Date Nut Bars

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.

02Cranberry Date Nut Bars

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.

05Cranberry Date Nut Bars

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).

06Cranberry Date Nut Bars

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.

09Cranberry Date Nut Bars

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.     🙂

 

Rating:

3 Hats

Adapted from: Paleo Grubs

 

Here are some other healthy snacks.

Almond Cranberry Granola Poppers

02Almond Cranberry Granola Bites

 

Honey Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas

05Honey_Cinnamon_Roasted_Chickpeas_1024x768

 

Homemade Almond Butter

07Homemade Almond Butter

Comments

  1. These look awesome!!! I love cranberry

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks Ashley! 🙂

  2. Uhmm did you say a cookie without the calories?? I love this idea. SO creative!!!

    1. Tina says:

      Hehe, thanks! 🙂

  3. These look good, Tina! Thanks for sharing. Pinned! Hope you are staying warm where you are!

    1. Tina says:

      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. 🙂

  4. 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!

    1. Tina says:

      I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks Ari. 🙂

  5. Ashley says:

    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!

    1. Tina says:

      The cranberries are my favorite part. I still love my sweets around the house so I’m trying to switch it up a bit. 🙂

  6. Joanne says:

    I’m thinking these would be the perfect pre-run snack!

    1. Tina says:

      Absolutely! 🙂 I miss running. I don’t like doing it when it’s cold out so I’ll start up again in the Spring.

  7. Mary Frances says:

    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!

    1. Tina says:

      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!

  8. 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

    1. Tina says:

      Awesome! Thanks. 🙂

  9. Love how perfect these bars look, like pretty little brownie bars! Look delicious Tina!

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks so much Pamela! Stay warm. 🙂

  10. Oooh, these sound so yummy! Bet they make a great snack too.

    1. Tina says:

      Yup, a great guilt-free snack! 🙂

  11. Wow, these look SO good and I love how easy they are to whip together in the food processor!

    1. Tina says:

      I know, right?! Thanks Rachel. 🙂

  12. I love any dessert made with dates! These look heavenly and so easy! 🙂

    1. Tina says:

      This is my first recipe using dates. They’ve opened up a whole new world for me. 🙂

  13. matmedmera says:

    Nice recipe! And very healthy too! I love it

    1. Tina says:

      Awesome! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

  14. Cathy Moran says:

    I think I’ll try this with my food grinder rather than process it for 5 minutes in the Cusinart.

    1. Tina says:

      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. 🙂

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