date power bars

Date Power Bars Recipe

Date Power Bars. Homemade

Have you ever taken the time to read the ingredient list in most commercial brands of power bars?

I am sorry to have to say this:

Commercial power bars are not the healthy snacks they are cracked up to be.

By contrast, just look at this lineup of ingredients in my date power bars: Why even bother shopping for snacks, if ten minutes of work will get you dozens of these scrumptious power bars? Each one is like having a meal: You just can’t miss! When I am on the road, they are my best friends. They keep very well, in a tin or in the freezer, no need to wipe them all out, so behave yourself please, and save some for later, and for your buddies! I know it’s hard to keep your hands off these treats, but the freezer is always great help. Talk about the perfect back to school treats!

These date power bars are a real nutritional powerhouse!

You will find several variations below, including one I make all the time and love, with just dates, toasted nuts and orange flower.

Nothing beats homemade granola!

My recipe has no sugar. It is pretty awesome, and comes with several variations to suit your preferences, and to vary from one delicious granola to another. I even sprinkle granola on salads! Send your kids to schools with little baggies of granola, and you got yourself the perfect snack!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups soft and plump pitted dates, packed (about 1 ½ pounds)
  • 1/2 cup agave
  • 1 cup tehina (sesame paste)
  • 1 cup flax meal (ground flax seeds: Health food stores)
  • 3-4 cups crunchy granola, larger pieces crumbled
  • 2 cups toasted sesame seeds (10-12 minutes in a preheated 300°F oven)

Instructions

In a food processor, process the dates and agave until a perfectly smooth paste forms. Transfer to a bowl, and add all but last ingredient. Combine thoroughly (it will be sticky: be patient). Press the mixture firmly into a greased cookie sheet, about 1/2 inch high.  Press the sesame seeds firmly and evenly over the whole top. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into 1x3 inch bars.  You might also shape the mixture into logs, wrap the logs tightly in plastic wrap,refrigerate or freeze the logs, and slice as needed, even straight out of the freezer.  Store refrigerated in airtight tins.

Variations:

  • Substitute other dry fruit for the dates, anything except prunes.
  • Substitute 2 cups chopped toasted nuts for the granola. The resulting bars will be less firm, more chewy.
  • Throw in 2 cups unsweetened grated coconut
  • Substitute other ground seed or nut flour for the flax meal.
  • Substitute any nut butter for the tehina
  • Substitute a natural fruit syrup (health food stores), maple syrup or honey for the agave
  • For a super simple bar, just the ground dates and granola or nuts, some orange flower water for a nice Sephardi/Moroccan touch, and nothing more.

Yield: Makes about 5 dozen.

7 replies
  1. Lévana
    Lévana says:

    Ha! That’s what I call UFOs (unidentified frozen objects)! You had a good experience. I recently had a reverse instance: I thought I was thawing a container of chocolate sauce, whose label had fallen off in the freezer, and it turned out to be…. cholent! Of course I love cholent, only not for dessert!

    Reply
  2. Lévana
    Lévana says:

    Happy healthy new year to you and all yours. So sorry I had to miss the wedding! Can’t wait to have my chance to celebrate with Eli and Ali!

    I like The Baker brand Granola, but there are quite a few decent brands of crunchy granola. BTW the best one will be in my cookbook: Stay tuned!
    My love to all, have an easy fast, let me know when you are in NYC, we’ll make a date, all of us. Where does Alison live? xoxo

    Reply
  3. Terri Barnett
    Terri Barnett says:

    Shana Tova to you and Maurice and the kids! I hope you have a year of good health and happiness and prosperity!

    A funny thing happened at my RH lunch table. I served what I thought was broccoli soup (it had been frozen and the label fell off). But it tasted over the top delicious. Everyone wanted the recipe. After HOURS of searching, I discovered it was your curried white veg soup from you Dairy Free cookbook. Thank you so much! YUM! It’s on the menu for Sukkot!

    Reply

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