Date Bars or Squares {No Bake}
Quick and easy no bake date bars recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. These date squares are full of walnuts, cocoa powder, coconut, Medjool dates, sesame seeds.
These bars are loaded with flavor, texture, and the perfect balance of sweet and nuttiness. I love to serve these as a healthier treat for my family, or as a filling snack in work and school lunches. They contain so many healthy ingredients that provide energy throughout their long days. These Date Balls (Energy Balls) also make a great meal prep snack for family lunches or even quick on-the-go breakfasts.
Table of contents
How to make easy no bake date bars recipe from scratch?
- Pulse ingredients– Including walnuts, dates, coconut, cocoa powder in a food processor.
- Press mixture into pan– Lined with parchment paper or wax paper.
- Chill– In freezer, and then cut slices.
- Toss in sesame seeds– Until fully coated.
- Place in a sealed container– Separate layers by sheets of wax paper.
- Chill– To allow them to firm up even further. Enjoy!
Variations for healthy no bake date squares
Use other nuts– Such as cashews, pecans, pistachios, or peanuts. You can also use a combination of nuts.
Cover slices in something besides sesame seeds– Such as shredded coconut or finely chopped nuts, if you don’t like sesame.
Use frosting– Instead of covering in sesame seeds, ice it in Coconut Cream Chocolate Frosting.
Add spices– Such as cinnamon, ginger, or even pumpkin pie spice.
Make it spicy– Add in a small amount of cayenne pepper for a spicy version.
Add oats– For more texture and even more health benefits.
Add orange juice– Instead of water, if it is too thick. It will add a citrus flavor that will pair nicely.
Add salt– Add a sprinkle of sea salt or Himalayan salt before rolling in sesame seeds.
Tips and techniques for sesame bars
Don’t over-pulse the nuts– Because you will end up with nut butter. Then it won’t hold in a solid bar.
What to do if the mixture is too dry? Simply, mix in some water. A little amount at a time…
What to do if the mixture is too wet? Add more nuts or cocoa powder or desiccated coconut…
Add more or less cocoa powder– Based on your preference.
Toast sesame seeds– Because this enhances the nuttiness of the seeds and adds more depth of flavor.
These squares must stay chilled to keep fresh– They cannot be stored at room temperature.
Line the pan with wax paper or parchment paper– Because this makes it possible to remove the bars from the pan and to be sliced.
Must chill before slicing– Because this helps the squares hold their shape.
Storage of homemade date nut bars
Refrigerate– In a sealed container for up to 3 days.
Freeze– In a freezer safe container or bag for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge to enjoy again.
More easy no bake desserts
- No Bake Chocolate Tart {Tartlet}
- Easy Ghost Cookies {No Bake}
- Chocolate Rum Balls {No Bake}
- Strawberry Icebox Cake {No Bake}
- Easy Chocolate Cream Pie {No Bake}
- Banana Cream Pie {No Bake}
- Homemade Banana Pudding {No Bake}
- Mini OREO Bites {No Bake}
- Strawberries and Cream {No Bake}
- Rainbow Cereal Balls {No Bake}
- Cranberry Pie {No Bake}
- Smores Bars {No Bake}
- Mini Nutella Cheesecake {No Bake}
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie {No Bake}
- No Bake Oreo Pie
- Eggnog Cheesecake {No Bake}
- Oreo Spider Cookies {No Bake}
Easy Date Bars or Squares (No Bake)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Walnut halves, Can be replaced with almonds or pecans
- 2 cups Medjool dates, Pitted
- 2 tbsp Desiccated coconut
- 1/2-3/4 cup Cocoa powder, Adjust according to your preference
- 1 cup Sesame seeds, Toasted
Instructions
- In a food processor, add walnuts and pulse until crumbly.
- Add dates, coconut, cocoa powder and pulse until mixture is sticky but still holds together.
- If the mixture is too dry, add 1-2 tbsp of water and pulse again. If it's too wet, add some more nuts or desiccated coconut.
- Spread mixture in a square pan (Dimensions: 8×8), lined with parchment paper or wax paper.
- Press mixture in the pan firmly.
- Chill in freezer for 30-40 minutes.
- Remove from freezer and cut square slices.
- Fill a wide dish with sesame seeds.
- Toss each slice in the sesame until fully coated.
- Place these sesame date bars in a sealed container. Make sure each layer is separated by sheets of wax paper.
- Chill in fridge for a few hours to allow them to firm up even further. Enjoy!
Notes
- Read all my tips above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
I made these a couple nights ago for a high tea event I was hosting! And they turned out amazing. My friends loved these! I will deff be trying these out again and sharing this recipe with others as well.