Healthy Homemade Energy Bars

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These No Bake healthy homemade energy bars are made with dried fruit, nuts, and without oats. They are also vegan, gluten and dairy-free! So easy to make, these healthy energy bars are perfect for a quick breakfast or throwing into the lunch bag or gym bag for a post-workout healthy snack or dessert.

4 No bake energy bars stacked with parchment paper between them and blue loaf pan on cutting board in background

My kids are teenagers and they couldn't get enough of these! They love to grab one for a quick breakfast or after-school snack. And they are a great alternative to a granola bar or candy bar. These healthy energy bars are made with natural ingredients and are dense, chewy, and delicious, and have 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. These date energy bars were inspired by my Healthy Fruit and Oat Bars and were the inspiration for my Almond Butter Granola Bars (no bake). They are also WW friendly at 5 WW points.

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🥘Ingredient Notes
📖Substitutions & Variations
🔪How to Make Healthy Energy Bars
Recipe Tips
🔢WW Points
🌡️Storage
👪 Serving Size
❔ Recipe FAQ's
📋More Healthy Snacks
📋 Healthy Homemade Energy Bars Recipe

🥘Ingredient Notes

Made with real foods, you only need 6 healthy and simple ingredients, with no added sugar, to make these healthy natural energy bars~!

ingredients in healthy homemade energy bars, labelled, in small glass bowls

Dates. Make sure you use pitted dates. I use generic No Name dates- it doesn't really matter which dates you use.
Dried cranberries. I use Craisins because they are the perfect mixture of sweet and tart!
Raw almonds. Use the raw, unsalted almonds.
Pumpkin seeds. You will want to use unsalted shelled pumpkin seeds, also called pepitas.
Unsweetened flaked coconut. You could use fine, medium, or coarse shredded coconut.
Chia Seeds. You could use white or black chia seeds. I usually use the black chia seeds because they are easier to find and more economical.

*See recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities.

📖Substitutions & Variations

Dried fruit - use dried apricots or dried cherries instead of cranberries
Dates - you can use Medjool dates or another type of date
Chia seeds - you can use flax seeds instead of chia
Pumpkin seeds - you could substitute sunflower seeds
Adding Extra Flavor: A pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla extract can add a unique twist to the flavor of your bars.

🔪How to Make Healthy Energy Bars

It's sooo easy to make your own energy bars, it's not even worth buying them.

Prep: Line a 9X5 loaf pan with plastic wrap.

Step 1: Mix almonds in a food processor, scraping down sides, as needed until it starts to cling together- 5- 6 minutes.

all ingredients for energy bars in food processor

Step 2: Add pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, coconut, chia, and dates.

ingredients for energy bars ground together in food processor

Step 3: Process until combined, about 5 more minutes.

energy bars being pressed into blue loaf pan with blue spatula

Step 4: Press firmly into prepared loaf pan and refrigerate until firm (1 hour).

Recipe Tips

Test for Stickiness: After processing, pinch a small amount of the mixture between your fingers to ensure it holds together. If it’s too dry, add a tablespoon of warm water or nut butter
Greasing Hands/Tools: To make pressing the mixture easier, lightly grease your hands or spatula with a neutral oil. You could also wet your hands a little.
Firmly press mixture into pan. You need to compress the mixture when you are pressing it into the pan. This will ensure it holds together.
Set for an hour. Make sure you leave these energy bars in the fridge for at least an hour to set.
Prevent bars from crumbling. Use a sharp knife and cut these bars while they’re cold, straight from the fridge. You can also lightly oil the knife to prevent sticking.

No bake energy bar on a counter with coconut scattered around

🔢WW Points

These No Bake Energy Bars are made without artificial sweeteners and are WW friendly at 5 WW points on my plan (per bar).

🌡️Storage

Fridge: Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. If you are stacking them, stack them between sheets of parchment paper.

Freezer: Freeze these health bars in a sealed container or Ziplock freezer bag for up to 4 months (they freeze well)!

👪 Serving Size

This Homemade Energy Bar recipe makes 10 energy bars. You can cut them smaller to make more or simply double or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. However, you'll need another loaf pan.

energy bars with a knife cutting through into bars

❔ Recipe FAQ's

Can I use a blender instead of a food processor?

A high-powered blender may work, but a food processor is better suited for evenly blending the ingredients into a cohesive mixture.

Why isn't my energy bar sticking together?

This usually happens if the dates are too dry or you haven’t processed the mixture long enough. Try soaking the dates or adding a teaspoon of water at a time until the mixture holds together.

Can I make these bars without a loaf pan?

Yes! You can press the mixture into a small baking dish, use a granola bar mold, or even shape them into individual bars or energy balls by hand.

Can I add protein powder to these healthy energy bars?

Absolutely! Add 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite protein powder. You may need to add a small amount of water or almond milk if the mixture becomes too dry.

4 no bake homemade energy bars on pieces of parchment paper, spread out on a counter top

If you're looking for a healthy snack, these Homemade Healthy Energy Bars are the perfect snack!

📋More Healthy Snacks

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