Homemade Date Granola Bars

Happy National Granola Bar Day! Celebrate the holiday by cooking up a batch of our crunchy, homemade date granola bars. Most store-bought granola bars are filled with refined sugars and preservatives; however, these granola date bars are made with pure and natural ingredients. Whether you're packing them in your camping bag, your kid's lunchbox, or just snacking at home, these Medjool Date Granola Bars are a sweet and satisfying snack you'll love! 

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups old-fashioned oats

• 1 or 1.5 cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc)

• 1/4 cup shredded coconut

• 1/4 cup chia seeds

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup pitted Medjool dates, chopped

• 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup

• 1/4 cup nut butter of your choice (peanut butter, almond butter, etc) 

• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted 

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Add-ins:

• Dark chocolate chips

• Dried fruits (apricots, cranberries, raisins)

Instructions:

1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together oats, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, and chia seeds.

3. Prepare Date Mixture: In a food processor, combine chopped dates, honey or maple syrup, nut butter, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Blend until you achieve a sticky and uniform mixture.

4. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the date mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until everything is well combined. If desired, add chocolate chips or dried fruits for an extra burst of flavor.

5. Press into Pan: Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it down firmly to create an even layer.

6. Bake to Perfection: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown. Keep an eye on them to prevent over-baking.

7. Cool and Cut: Allow the granola bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting them into bars or squares. This ensures they hold their shape.

We hope you enjoy this fun and easy recipe as much as we do! Say goodbye to store bought bars and bite into homemade deliciousness. Make sure to share your recreation of this recipe and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @coachellasbestdates.