With a chewy chocolate base and topped with homemade caramel sauce and crunchy peanuts, these homemade Snickers with dates are a great way to curb your sweet tooth.
One of my kids' favorite desserts especially around Easter are these homemade Snickers with dates! A no-bake recipe means they're easy to whip up and the result is a caramel-like, chewy base with an indulgent crunch- kinda like this homemade chocolate turtles recipe.
These vegan Snickers bars are mini in size (though you can make them bigger) and sweetened with only dates (like this homemade chocolate date bark) and maple syrup. As a Certified Nutrition Coach, I love that they're a healthier dessert recipe but still have such a classic flavor.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: No baking is required for these homemade Snickers bars!
Low calorie: There's only 137 calories in each bar as they're mini in size making them a great bite-sized treat.
Allergy-friendly: You won't believe that these Snickers are dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, and vegan-friendly.
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, these bars are a favorite because they're:
Ingredients and Substitutions
Though the ingredients list looks long, they really do come together easily. Most of the things you need are right out of your gluten-free pantry too.
- Dates
- Peanut butter - natural is best as it blends better
- Maple syrup
- Cacao powder
- Coconut milk
- Arrowroot powder
- Almond butter
- Coconut oil
- Sea salt
- Peanuts
How To Make Homemade Snickers With Dates
Step 1: Process the dates and nut butter in a food processor until smooth.
Step 2: Melt together the peanut butter, maple syrup, and coconut milk.
Step 3: Mix together the date mixture, melted mixture, and cacao powder until combined. Add in the arrowroot powder and let sit before portioning them into molds.
Step 4: Sprinkle the tops of the bars with crushed peanuts and press them in.
Step 5: Melt together the caramel sauce ingredients and drizzle it on top. Freeze to set.
Important Teaching Tips
I used mini rectangle silicone molds to make the bars. You can make them into bigger molds you may just need to adjust the freezer time.
Soak your dates in warm water before you need them. This helps them blend smoothly. When making the date paste, add as little water as possible. Sometimes the dates can be hard to process down into a paste. However, the more water you add, the more you’ll struggle to firm up the bars.
Instead of adding more water, simply wait until you melt the peanut butter mixture down and add that to the processor. It should make it easier.
Make sure you use runny almond butter (not the hard part of the bottom of the container!) for the caramel sauce or it won't mix.
You do need to melt the coconut oil and whisk in the almond butter to get a warm and thus runny texture. Simply whisking the ingredients together will make the mixture thick and a bit chunky.
However, you don’t want the mixture hot when you portion it into the plastic bag! So, heat the oil minimally and over very low heat. Then, whisk in the almond butter and let it sit briefly, or use your finger to ensure it’s not hot.
How To Store Them
Store the homemade Snickers with dates in the fridge or freezer. Dates don’t freeze solid so you can actually enjoy them right from the freezer..
In order for them to firm up, they must be placed in the freezer to set (otherwise they’re too soft and mush). Once they’re set though they can be placed in the fridge and eaten anytime or in the freezer.
They'll stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week and in the freezer for 3 months. If stored in the freezer, simply let them thaw for a few minutes before eating.
Flavor Variations
There are a few ways you can vary the flavor of these homemade Snickers bars. Below are a few of our favorites!
Minty: Just like these mint chocolate protein bars, you can add a splash of mint extract to the date mixture for a pop of freshness.
Nuts: You can mix and match the nuts and nut butters you use in the recipe. I like to use roasted hazelnuts on top for pure indulgence.
Toppings: Of course, you can make these date Snickers more festive by sprinkling on colored sprinkles or candy hearts for the occasion.
Frequently Asked Questions
While store-bought Snickers bars don’t contain any gluten. If you have celiac disease you’ll want to confirm that they are processed in a gluten-free plant as cross-contamination can occur.
Other Easy, Healthy Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
- 4 Ingredient Candy Cane Fudge
- Healthy keto fudge
- White chocolate fudge
- Dark chocolate crunch bars
- Hot chocolate bombs
- Cashew cookies with chocolate frosting
- Chocolate coconut drop cookies
- Chocolate magic shell
- Healthier dessert recipes
Homemade Snickers With Dates
Video
Equipment
- Mini rectangle molds
Ingredients
For the date bar
- 1 cup Dates soaked in warm water for 20 minutes
- ¼ cup Peanut butter natural
- 3 tablespoons Coconut milk
- ⅛ cup Maple syrup
- 1.5 tablespoons Cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon Arrowroot powder
- ¼ teaspoon Sea salt
- 2 tablespoons peanuts crushed or chopped
For the caramel sauce
- ⅛ cup Almond butter
- 2 teaspoon Coconut oil measured solid
- 1 teaspoon Maple syrup
Instructions
- In a small pot, heat the peanut butter, cacao butter, and maple syrup over low heat until melted.
- While heating, drain the dates and process in a food processor to make date paste. You may need to scrape down the sides. If they’re not processing, add one tablespoon of water but no more.
- Once the peanut butter mixture is combined, pour into the food processor along with the sea salt and cacao powder Process until smooth.
- Scrape the mixture into a bowl and mix in the arrowroot powder. Mix well.
- Let sit for five full minutes.
- Using a silicone spatula, portion the mixture into a candy mold. Press down so no bubbles remain and scrape the surface so that all bars are even.
- Sprinkle the peanuts over the bars and press down slightly so they stick.
- Make the caramel topping by heating the coconut oil over very low heat until just melted. Mix in the almond butter, vanilla, and maple syrup until smooth.
- Let the mixture cool slightly but no harden and portion it into a plastic baggie.
- Cut the tip off the baggie and begin to drizzle the caramel over the bars.
- Pop into the freezer and let sit for sixty minutes. Then, carefully pop the homemade snickers bars out of the molds and store them!
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Glenda says
Dates are my number 1 favorite sugar replacement when baking! They're extraordinary in these mock Snickers bars. They help create that caramely flavor and mouth-feel I want from candy. Delicious! Thanks for sharing!
fitasamamabear says
Right?! Dates work so beautifully for a sweetener replacement!
jennifer says
ermagawd, YES! I'm making these this week and am so exited -- that caramel sauce is the perfect touch!
fitasamamabear says
The caramel sauce is our favorite! Tasty on ice cream too 😉
Erin says
Anything with dates and peanut butter in it has to be good! I love the other ingredients, too. I can't wait to try this!
fitasamamabear says
Haha right?! Best combo of life.
Yang says
What a creative way to make caramel sauce! The snickers bars look yummy, I can't wait to make them.
fitasamamabear says
Haha we use that caramel sauce for everything!
ChihYu says
Yum!! So fun and delicious!
fitasamamabear says
My kiddos LOVE them!
Megan Stevens says
I always love egg-free treats, and these look amazing! Thanks for the step-by-step photos! I need to get that candy mold.
fitasamamabear says
The candy mold makes it look real!!
Donny says
Snickers used to be my favorite so I'm so excited to try these!
Jean Choi says
These look amazing, and so much healthier than the original! Can't wait to make this.
fitasamamabear says
Definitely a bit healthier, they're a treat I don't mind my kiddos having!
Loren says
These are the perfect paleo no bake treat!
fitasamamabear says
They're super tasty!