A healthier spin on the classic candy bar, this Date Snickers Recipe layers chewy dates, creamy homemade caramel, and crunchy peanuts over a rich chocolate base to satisfy your sweet tooth.
"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!" - - Glenda
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 20 minutes Prep
- 👪Serves: 10
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 130 kcals and 3 grams of protein
- 📋 Main Ingredients: Dates, peanut butter, coconut milk, maple syrup, and cacao powder.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, and paleo.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: A grain-free, naturally sweet, no-bake Snickers bar with gooey caramel, crunchy nuts, and rich chocolate that's indulgent yet healthy.
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One of my kids’ favorite treats, especially around Easter, has become this mock Snickers with dates recipe. It’s a no-bake, fuss-free dessert that brings all the chewy, crunchy joy of a classic candy bar, but with better-for-you ingredients (kind of like my homemade chocolate turtles recipe that we can’t stop making).
These dates peanut butter Snickers bars are mini, but they pack big flavor thanks to naturally sweet dates, maple syrup, and a layer of creamy nut butter. They remind me a lot of this peanut butter protein bark in how easy they are to customize. Sometimes, I even toss in a sprinkle of crushed pretzels. For even more chocolate-date magic, check out this homemade date bark recipe.
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💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: No baking is required for these homemade Snickers with dates making them simple to whip up.
Low calorie: There's only 137 calories in each bar as they're mini in size, so they're a great bite-sized treat.
Allergy-friendly: The bars are totally dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, and vegan-friendly.
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.
- Dates: Soak your dates in warm water for 5-10 minutes before you need them, as this makes them easier to blend.
- Peanut butter: Other nut butters can work here as well, and almond butter gives even more of a caramel flavor (like in this homemade dairy-free caramel sauce). Either way, use a natural, fresh nut butter so it mixes easily.
- Coconut milk: Use coconut milk from a can and try to use a full-fat version in which you drain any excess water and only use the thick, white, cream. This will give a richer taste to the date snicker bar recipe.
- Arrowroot powder: If you don't have this on hand, cornstarch will work too. It's just to help thicken and bind the mixture.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
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.
How To Make Date Snickers
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.
Expert Tips
Use mini rectangle silicone molds for easy shaping. Bigger molds work too, just increase freezer time.
Soak your dates in warm water before blending. Drain them and use minimal water to avoid soft bars. The melted peanut butter helps smooth the paste.
Always use runny nut butter (not the hardened bottom of the jar) for the caramel layer. The hard stuff won't blend.
Melt the coconut oil and almond butter together over low heat (just whisking the ingredients together will make the mixture thick and a bit chunky), but let it cool slightly before transferring to a piping bag.
How To Store Them
Store the date Snickers in their molds or an airtight container 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 mushy). Once they’re set, though they can be placed in the fridge.
They'll stay fresh in the fridge for up to 7 days and in the freezer for 3 months.
Date Snickers FAQ's
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.
Snickers candy bars are a blend of chocolate. caramel, and crunchy peanuts. To make dates taste like Snickers, combine them with almond butter, vanilla, and maple syrup for a caramel-like flavor, and then top the bars with peanuts.
More Healthy Candy Bar Recipes
If you tried this Date Snickers Bar Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Homemade Date Snickers (Dairy and Gluten-Free)
Video
Equipment
- Mini rectangle molds
Ingredients
For the date bar
- 1 cup Dates soaked in warm water for 120 minutes0-
- 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
Make The Base
- 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.
Top The Bars
- 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"
Nutrition
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!