Let’s face it, consciously or subconsciously, we’re all thinking about getting healthier when the new year hits. But that doesn’t mean we want to completely sacrifice the sweet side of life. Recipes like these chocolate hazelnut energy bars are a good compromise – sweetened just enough, spiked with a little chocolate (a must!), made with whole grains, and loaded with “heart-healthy” nuts.
These chocolate hazelnut energy bars have a Nutella-like vibe but without dairy and with a more natural ingredient list. They also have a nice chewy finish, thanks to the blend of the dates, hazelnut butter and oats. The bars are portable for lunch boxes and post-gym eats as they will keep during the day at room temperature, but are best stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
This chocolate hazelnut energy bars recipe with photo was shared with us by hazelnutsfromturkey.com.
Special Diet Notes: Chocolate Hazelnut Energy Bars
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. To keep these chocolate hazelnut energy bars strictly soy-free, be sure to use top allergen-free chocolate chips, such as Enjoy Life.
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup hazelnut butter*
- ¼ cup honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- 1½ cups rolled oats (certified gluten-free, if needed)
- 1 cup hazelnuts, toasted
- ½ cup dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Place the dates in your food processor and process until they begin to come together into a ball. Add the cocoa powder and salt and process to combine.
- In a small saucepan or in the microwave, heat the hazelnut butter and honey together until warm. Pour into the food processor, and pulse until all is well mixed.
- Add the oats and hazelnuts to your food processor, and pulse until chopped and combined. Add the chocolate chips and pulse just to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased and foil-lined 9x9-inch pan. Using a spatula, pack the mixture and even it out.
- Freeze to set for 15 minutes.
- Lift the mixture out, peel off the foil and cut into 15 bars. Store in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator to keep fresh, or in the freezer for longer term storage.
7 Comments
Hello! Thank you for the yummy sounding recipe 🙂 I have a question about when to add the hazelnuts, oats and chocolate chips…the recipe does not specify. Do you just add them to the rest of the ingredients in the processor? If so, how do you retain the course/nearly whole hazelnuts like in the photo? Many thanks!
Oops, it looks like a step was accidentally removed when we did an update! I’ve fixed it. And I believe the nuts were pressed into the top for photo effect. I’ve added a note for that. That said, you just pulse to combine the nuts.
Healthy or not, I would make these, eat them all in one sitting, and wonder why the scale keeps going up!
LOVE the recipe though! Who needs Nutella when you can combine cocoa, dates and hazelnut butter, anyway? 😉
Oh yeah, I’m sure the scales are a big concern with you Lori! 🙂 Enjoy!
I love the flavors in these – we always have at least 2 bar / bites in the fridge, these might have to be next!
Wow, those sound and look good, Alisa! They might be on the agenda for this week. I will report back. 🙂
Shirley
Excellent – yes, let me know if you do trial Shirley!