Chock full of nuts and dates and with no refined sugar, these chewy trail mix date bars are a perfect low sugar on-the-go snack!
This post is sponsored by D’vash Organics however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
What Makes These Bars a Must-Try
I’m very excited about these bars…for a few reasons. First of all, they are the perfect grab-and-go snack before you head out the door for work, for trips, etc. They are full of nuts and dates, which keep you satisfied for hours. They have a great smoky-sweet texture from the combo of date syrup and Khalas dates. Which brings me to my next point: this is my first sponsored post and I’m delighted to be doing it with D’vash Organics!
D’vash Organics started in 2016 and their products can be found in groceries stores nationwide as well as online. In addition to dates, date syrup, and date sugar, they also make delicious superfood bites. For my trail mix date bars, I used their Khalas dates, which are tender and sweet (not the dried out dates you see at the store sometimes). I also used their date syrup, which is less sweet than honey and has a more molasses-like texture, which makes it perfect for adding to bakes, smoothies, coffee, etc. D’vash’s date syrup is made from sustainably-sourced non-GMO “ugly dates,” and it’s also vegan, paleo and gluten-free. It’s a great low-sugar sweetener option and works wonderfully in this recipe. Hope you enjoy these bars!
Ingredients and Tips
- Nuts and seeds: any combo of nuts and seeds will work in this recipe, just make sure to keep the total amount to 2.5 cups.
- Nut butter: I’ve used peanut butter and almond butter and both result in a delicious, chewy granola bar.
- Almond meal: using almond meal allows for a lighter bar and a smoother texture. It’s also great for those who are GF!
- D’vash Date Syrup: I’ve used honey in these bars before, but I love the way date syrup reduces the sweet factor and gives them a smoky-sweet flavor. if you’ve never used date syrup before, I highly recommend it!
- D’vash Khalas Dates: these dates are by far the best quality of dates I’ve come across. Large, juicy and full of sweet flavor, these Khalas dates help give the bars some chewy texture and some added natural sweetness.
- Resting Time: these bars bake in about 33 minutes and need to cool at room temp for about 30 more minutes. For easier cutting and slicing, let them cool even longer (in the pan) in the fridge for 30-45 minutes.
- Storage: these bars keep for a week refrigerated in an airtight container. They can also be kept out in an airtight container for three days.
Trail Mix Date Bars
Equipment
- 1 8 in. square pan
- 1 small saucepan
Ingredients
- ¾ cup D'Vash date syrup (235 g)
- ¼ cup nut butter (60 g)
- ¾ cup almond meal (70g)
- 8 dates D'Vash Khalas dates, pits removed and chopped
- 1 cup almonds (130 g), chopped * See note on bottom
- ¾ cup pecans (70 g), chopped
- ¾ cup pumpkin seeds (90 g)
- 1 pinch flaky salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 320°. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
- In a small saucepan, stir the date syrup and nut butter on medium heat until both are thoroughly mixed (about 5 minutes).
- In a large bowl, mix the almond meal with the chopped Khalas dates. Use your fingers (or spoon) to coat the individual date pieces in the almond meal (this will help avoid any large date clumps in the bars).
- To the large bowl, add in the pumpkin seeds, chopped pecans and chopped almonds. Mix until combined.
- Pour the date syrup/nut butter mixture over the bowl and mix until everything is coated in the syrup.
- Pour into the lined tin and press the mixture down with a spatula or your hands to achieve a uniform layer.
- Bake for 33 minutes. Remove and cool at room temp for 30 mins. Refrigerate for an additional 45 minutes before cutting.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5-7 days.