John and I kind of have a thing for granola bars. It started when we discovered the glory that is Trader Joe’s Apple (Pie) Bars. Then, we got into more basic versions with rolled oats. But somewhere along the line we got suspicious of the ingredients – namely high fructose corn devil – and strayed away from them altogether.
However, sometimes you really just need a snack that has some serious staying power. And being that this is Minimalist Baker, you know I wanted something simple. Enter: The 5-Ingredient (No-Bake) Granola Bar. Things are getting seriously minimalist right now.
The base for these bars is dates – the natural sweetener supah powah. Then we add almonds, oats, peanut butter, and honey (or maple syrup) and mix it all together!
That’s it. Just 5 ingredients, no baking involved (unless you want to toast the oats and almonds) and they’ll keep in the freezer for-ever (that is, if you can resist them for that long).
If you can’t jive with peanut butter simply swap in almond, sunflower or another nut/seed butter. To keep these vegan, stick with maple syrup or agave instead of honey. And to keep them gluten-free, use GF oats. Simple, customizable, delicious.
Speaking of delicious, these little guys are dreamy.
Simple flavors, wholesome ingredients, salty-sweet and lots of crunch. I made a batch last week and am already down to one-quarter of ONE bar. How I exercised the self control to save one quarter of a bar is beyond me. But by tomorrow it likely won’t be there, if I know myself at all.
These really are the perfect bar for a hearty snack because they keep you full for hours and don’t provide a sugar overload. Plus, they pack in plenty of healthy fats from the almonds and peanut butter, and lots of fiber from the oats. Afternoon and mid-morning snack, solved.
September 23, 2016: Video added and recipe updated to include slightly more dates so the bars stick together more easily.
Healthy 5-Ingredient Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup packed dates (pitted // deglet noor or medjool)*
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or agave nectar (or honey if not vegan)
- 1/4 cup creamy salted natural peanut butter or almond butter
- 1 cup roasted unsalted almonds (loosely chopped // see instructions for roasting nuts)
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (gluten-free for GF eaters)
- Chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, banana chips, vanilla, etc. (optional additions)
Instructions
-
Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a "dough" like consistency. (Mine rolled into a ball.)
-
Optional step: Toast your oats (and almonds if raw) in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Otherwise, leave them raw - I prefer the toasted flavor.
-
Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl - set aside.
-
Warm honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
-
Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8x8-inch baking dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily. (A loaf pan might work, but will yield thicker bars // adjust size of pan if altering batch size).
-
Press down firmly until uniformly flattened - I use something flat, like a drinking glass, to press down and really pack the bars, which helps them hold together better.
-
Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let firm up in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes.
-
Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars (or 9 squares // as original recipe is written). Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. I kept mine in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn't necessary.
Notes
*Although not ideal, if your dates don't feel sticky and moist, you can soak them in water for 10 minutes then drain before processing. This will help them blend better and hold the bars together better. But ideally, you can find fresh, sticky moist dates.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
Nutrition Per Serving (1 of 10 bars)
- Calories: 217
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 19g
- Protein: 6g
This is the only granola bar recipe I use! It is so delicious and so easy to make. I mix it up a lot – I’ve added combinations of flax seed, hemp hearts, chia seeds, dried cherries, dried cranberries, cocoa powder, chocolate chips (really good if you melt them with the peanut butter!), shredded coconut (toasted with the almonds and oats), pepitas, sunflower seeds, substituted almond butter – the possibilities are endless and they’re all fabulous! And sometimes if the dried fruit is to big, I process it with the dates. Thanks so much for sharing this and so many other great recipes!!
So glad you enjoy this recipe! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
This was an awesome recipe and so tasty! I made the nuts diced though, just my preference really.
I added chocolat chips as suggested (who says no to an optional chocolate chip add-in anyways…) to the mix while still warm with toasted oats and nuts and melted peanut butter and maple syrup. It melted through everything and hardened back once in the fridge. The result is amazing! I was looking for something to replace my daily trip to the coffee downstairs for a sweet pick-me up snack, and this really does it for me. Also I found out mid-recipe that I was out of almonds, so I replaced with half peanuts, half cashews (which I roasted with the oats). Cannot wait to try it again with almonds next time! Oh and please, double the batch. So easy once everything is out, and so worth it.
Thanks for sharing, Annie!
My granola bars ended up as crumbs, not the lovely solid bar you have in the photos.
I followed the recipe to the letter, any ideas where I went wrong?
Hi Mandy, our best guess is that your dates may have been too dry. We would recommend searching for fresh, sticky moist dates next time. If that’s not an option and your dates don’t feel sticky and moist, you can soak them in water for 10 minutes then drain before processing. This should help them blend better and hold the bars together better.
Hi,
I already have date paste that’s already been processed. Just wondering how much of that to use in this recipe?
Thx
I measure my dates packed, so date paste would be about the same as the measurements I call for, maybe a little less.
I find that adding the dates to the melted PB mixture helps the dates spread around and helps everything stick together.
Thanks for sharing, Ruth!
Hello,
I was wondering, if almonds aren’t someone’s favorite, could it be substituted for a cup of dried fruit, other nuts, or banana chips you think? I understand that nutritionally, it isn’t the best thing, but just wondering about alternatives to the almonds that wouldn’t ruin making them if I substituted the almonds. Any other substitution suggestions are greatly welcome.
Scott
Hi Scott, though we haven’t tried it, we think that other nuts/seeds would work well. Let us know if you give it a try!
Yes that would be lovely
Can I make this without the Dates? I’m not a big fan of them. Would cutting out the Dates mess with the result or is it a must to add them?
Hi, unfortunately, that will greatly impact the texture and they would not hold together. Other readers have substituted prunes with success. Hope that helps!
I used raisins successfully! Soak them for half hour and then place in a good processor with excess water to use as the granola bar base.
Thank you for another great recipe! I tried this a while back & found them too sweet for me. How can I reduce the sweetness? But have them still hold together? Ideally i’d like a higher protein content too. I’d really appreciate your help & any tips?
ALSO, do you have any granola recipe that comes out more as clusters? If I could make a granola that forms clusters that would be AMAZING! I really REALLY miss the texture of standard cereal I used to have years ago in my days of ignorance 😂 which had a real clustery crunch texture to it.
Really hope you can help! Thanks soo much!
*Reposting 1st part of my comment in hope for a response 🙈*
You can go heavier on the nut butter, lighter on the dates and omit any additional honey / maple syrup! Here’s my super chunky granola!
Thank you!
I’ve made these several times and they come out perfect. They are so delicious, all the family love them. I have to hide them away because I don’t want to share them.
Thanks, Lisa!
Hi there. These are amazingly tasty. I am confused about the shelf-life on these. Many people have asked. Most of the responses say a few days. A response to “nikhil mote”‘s question from February of 2017 by “Support @ Minimalist Baker” says up to two weeks at room temperature. So many of the date/nut bars on the internet have differing shelf lives, and it is very confusing. Can anyone speak to the actual shelf life of such a bar? Given the relatively long shelf life of dates, the fact that they are not necessarily soaked beforehand, and the relatively high sugar content, my thinking is that these bars should last much longer than a few days.
Every year, I lead a 12 day trip into the Norwegian backcountry with a large group of students. It would be great to be able to use these through that long of a trip. They are healthy, and full of quick burning energy.
Hi Jason, we don’t have an exact amount of time on the shelf life as it will vary based on temperature and freshness of ingredients. But we believe 2 weeks is a good estimate if in a temperate climate.
Hi! Can I substitute the medjool dates for prunes? I have prunes here at home.
Other readers have done so successfully! You may need to add a little bit of water if they have trouble mixing. Hope that helps!
Hi, Thank you for another great recipe. I tried this a while back & found them too sweet. How can I reduce the sweetness? Ideally i’d like a higher protein content too. I’d really appreciate your help! Thank you
I made this recipe and LOVE the result! Although mine came out a little differently. I did not want to gum up my food processor with the dates, so I just minced them up.
They were a little on the dry side, but I did not soak them, I also added a handful of minced dried apricots. As a result, my bars were crumbly and didn’t stick together. So I added another 1/4 cup of peanut butter and 1/4 cup of maple syrup. Then I squished the mixture into small balls (messy but fun) and put them in the refrigerator. They are delicious, don’t crumble and are small enough for stealing one a couple times a day without feeling guilty!
My new FAVORITE granola bar recipe! I subbed almond butter for peanut butter,sunflower and pumpkin seeds for almonds, added shaved coconut flakes, and sprinkled toasted cocoa nibs on the top and pressed in…..the perfect granola bar! Definitely need to use a heaping cup of packed dates to ensure the bar stays together.
I have shared this recipe with several friends and family. Thanks!
Best granola bars ever! I will not be buying granola bars ever again!
Amazing bars! So much better than store bought and they were super easy to make too. We are hooked!
So yummy and very easy to make. I just melted everything apart from the oats and nuts in a large pan over slow heat and then added the dry ingredients and put into a loaf tin and chilled for 30 minutes and they came out perfect. I cant believe that they can charge at least £2 to £3 for one of these bars.
What can use to replace the dates as I do not eat dates
The dates are key to this recipe. Perhaps you would prefer this recipe.
I made them last week and I totally recommend these as they are in the recipe :-) I love cranberries so I added a fistful of them as well.
The bars were perfect!
I must say that I also tried your Thumbprint cookies with raspberry jam tonight and they were delectable!
Thank you so much Dana for sharing recipes that actually work from the first attempt ! The ingredients are perfect and everything is more than clear.
Aww thanks so much for the lovely review and sweet note, Daniela! xo
I made this and I feel like the bars firmed up after refrigeration but are not able to hold shape while you tuck into it – like a candy bar. What can I do different to make the shape work? Coz the taste is awesome!
It sound like either your dates weren’t quite sticky enough or you needed more of them. To make them more sticky, you can soak them in water for 10 minutes then drain before processing. Hope that helps!
hi, can i use raisins instead of dates? and how to do it without affecting consistency? thank you!
Hi Iram, we haven’t tried that, but other readers have had success replacing the dates with raisins. Hope that helps!
Great recipe. I use Prunes instead of dates and add a drop of water to help them blend. For the cup of nuts, I use half a cup of seeds (pumpkin & sunflower), and half a cup of nuts (walnuts), with a little extra peanut butter to bind it (I use 1/3 cup not 1/4). Then I freeze them in 9 portions, and take one out for my breakfast every day, defrosted and ready to eat by the time I get to work!
Disappointingly these cookies didn’t bind for me. I did add a handful of sunflower seeds and a pumpkin seeds each but not enough I didn’t think to affect the outcome. I’m debating as to whether or not I add more maple syrup & peanut butter and remix them. Any thoughts? Too bad they look interesting. Thanks.
Dates are the glue. We recommend adding more and making sure they’re fresh, sticky, and moist. Hope that helps!
Can i substitute dates with some non fruit option? Granola or something?
The dates are important for helping the bars hold together and making them sweet. We haven’t tried it, but you could potentially use brown rice syrup, instead. If you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes! Hope that helps!
This was super easy to make and so delicious. Everyone in my family especially my 2 teen girls loved it…Plus I have tried so many recipes…and this is the only one that i was able cut it into bars without crumbling them…thank you. Definitely a keeper
Wanted a snack today and was looking for something quick and easy to make. This looked like a good recipe to try, but I didn’t have dates so I substituted cranberries and tried to correct the moisture issue by adding 2 tablespoons of butter to my honey/PB mixture and melting it all together. They’re in the freezer now and I can’t wait to taste them! Will let you know how they turn out!
Ok, wow! These are delicious – even though I didn’t follow the recipe exactly. Slightly sticky and a bit crumbly at the edges (probably didn’t press down hard enough) but holding together well. Will take this batch into work and share them around!
These are the best bars and so easy. I have made them many times, finished another batch today. My kids love them. I only use 1/8 cup of honey and unsalted mixed nuts – cashews, pistachios, pecans and almonds from Costco. Roast and chop them by hand. Putting them in the food processor to chop results in too much nut powder and your bars won’t hold together. Going to try them with figs next. Love your recipes. Thanks!
hi! Do these need to be refrigerated? If not, how long would they last wrapped in plastic wrap?
Hi Brooke! Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. I kept mine in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn’t necessary.
Great recipe!! Added chocolate chips, cranberries, and raisins. My family loves it!
First time making these. I only had 120g of dates so added them in with the peanut butter and maple syrup and crushed them with a wooden spoon as they were melting; (goodness knows how sweet this would be with the right quantity of dates!). I added in a couple of handfuls of rice crispies and a handful of mixed seeds to the oats. I also didn’t have almonds so replaced the quantity with mixed nuts (blitzed in the food processor). I’m very impressed….. After 15 mins in the freezer they are moist, chewy and delicious and holding their shape well. Next time I’d be tempted to add in choc chips, but that would be over indulgent for an already sweet treat!
I was curious about the nutrition facts. It looks very delicious and a great idea. I noticed the calories are a little low, the protein could be a bit higher, and the sugar is high. Is there a way to adjust these numbers to get a better balance?
Hi Michael! For more protein, you could try adding some protein powder perhaps? As for the sugar, you could replace the dates with a dried fruit with slightly less sugar, such as unsweetened cranberries or cherries? Hope this helps!
I made this recipe and it was delicious ! I mixed the date paste with the honey and peanut butter in the casserole which made the overall paste less sticky, more consistent and easier to handle! I added as well chopped hazelnut and peacan to the almonds
My colleagues loved them!
Going to try this recipe. Any idea how much the calorie and sugar/carb content would go down if I used sugar free maple syrup? Thanks
Not sure, sorry!
Hi,
regarding the optional nuts, chocolate chips… I´d like to add chia and sunflower seeds, walnuts.
How many grams can I add on top of the original recipe?
I´m afraid If I add too much, I´ll be too dry and won´t stick.
Thanks
Yes, you could include those additions to the recipe! I’d recommend adding ~1 tbsp of each!
I made these and rolled them into walnut sized ‘protein balls’ which was the perfect size for a quick snack. I also used about a third of the amount of honey suggested as the dates make them really sweet. They still stuck together well. The recipe made about 22 balls.
This looks delicious and I want to make, but can you please tell me approx amount of the optional extras(choc chips, etc).
I’d start with 1/2 cup of the optional ingredients!
Excellent vegan recipes. I used a combination of almonds, pecans and cashews via a food processor. I toasted them with the oats. I used agave nectar. Yummy!!
Is there a substitute for peanut butter
Could I use unsalted butter instead ?
If yes how much
Thanks
Any other nut butter would do.
These were excellent and easy to make. My toddler loves them! I used a mix of dates and prunes (soaked for a bit before pulverizing) plus half walnut pieces half almond slices and to make them even healthier I added hemp seeds and ground chia, plus mixed in a scoop of spirulina to the peanut butter and honey. They are definitely sweet, and a little sticky but they held together. Thanks for the recipe!
Great! Thanks for sharing, Meg!
Very adaptable straightforward recipe, thank you. I substituted with dried figs, pecans, rice malt syrup (as a mild sweetener) and unhulled tahini.
I made these but used raw almonds and raw oats and instead of putting them in the fridge i backed them in the oven for 10 minutes on 180’c. They are delicious and look and feel like a proper granola bar!
Hi, I made these yesterday for my husband and he loved them. TOTALLY AMAZING. Added some dried cranberries too. So good from the freezer. Already planning another batch with variations.
Would they be suitable for diabetics as its all natural sugars?
These taste sooooo good but I didn’t have a food processor so I made the date paste with a paring knife and my bare hands ,and instead of peanut butter I used almond butter, and added dried cranberries ,also I could eat the warm maple – almond butter mix straight outta the pan! imagine eating that on French toast or pancakes mmmmmm… yum.
Smart! Thanks for sharing, Heather!
I’m trying to limit sugar, and although it’s not refined, one granola bar still contains almost the daily limit for sugar. Any suggestions for how to bind granola bars without so many dates or other added sugar?
You could replace a dried fruit with slightly less sugar, such as unsweetened cranberries or cherries?
These are amazing with bittersweet chocolate chips and dried cherries. Thank you for an excellent recipe!
I just made these and actually decided to bake them for about 15mins until golden!! Wow… yum so delicious!! Also added coconut flakes & dried cranberry. A big winner :)
Whoop! Glad to hear that, Adriana!
I also baked for 15 minutes – good idea!
My family loves this recipe! It’s so healthy. I always add chia seeds and sometimes flaxseed meal. It just makes it healthier and maybe keeps you fuller longer. To help the extra ingredients stick together I add a little more peanut butter and honey.
I made these bars and took them with us at the weekend when we went away in our motor home. We had one with a coffee on Saturday afternoon, my husband said they reminded him of a Picnic bar minus the chocolate! He loves them and so do I. I toasted the oats and almonds which I think gave the bars an extra crunch. I will be making these again for sure. Thanks for the recipe. X
We are glad you enjoyed these on your weekend away, Melanie!
Any suggestions on making it less sweet? I used an 8×8 square tin and cut it into 15 pieces but it is still a bit sickly – delicious tho! Xx
Hi Sarah! See the comments above for suggestions!
Hello,
I am just starting to transition to a zero waste lifestyle! I have made these for my school lunches and just put them in the fringe – the mix tastes delicious 😋
Is there an option to bake these muesli bars? I would prefer them baked, so I am just wondering.
Thanks heaps,
Sarah :)
Hi Sarah! Others have tried baking these bars – see the comments above!
Greeting from Germany.
I replaced the peanut butter with Tahina (sesame seed paste), because I’m allergic.
The same for the almonds which I replaced with sunflower seeds. I toasted the sunflower seeds and the oats in a pan to get them nice and brown.
The endresult is hands down the best snack I ever made. Sweet, crunchy with a nice touch of fruit.
Thanks for the amazing recipe, this is going to be a staple in my kitchen for years to come.
Thank you for sharing your recipe subs, Michael! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed these bars!
Is there an Oat substitute you’ve tried with this recipe? I’m unable to get gluten-free oats where I live
We haven’t tried an oat sub, but let us know if you experiment with this recipe!
Hi, I wanted to do these bars but was wondering how long the bars lasted in the fridge?
…and I’ll used honey. Next time I will try the maple syrup…that sounds delicious too!
I made this but I didn’t have dates (going to go get some today) so I used the dried fruit blend I had (apricots, mango, pineapple, kiwi, cherries and apples).
When I pressed the mixture into the pan and it was almost flattened, I sprinkled the top with coconut (I had it and needed to use it up) and that helped press down the rest of the mixture without sticking to the spatula and added a nice flavor. I will for sure make this again. Next time I might try another nut butter instead of peanut butter for a bit of variety and maybe press in chocolate chips with or instead of the coconut. Thanks for posting this. As a busy mom who tries to be frugal and healthy, this is going on my list of yummy quick snacks. ????
I used raisins instead of dates, also I added some toasted coconut. They were awesome.
Glad to hear it!
Too sweet for me! I think next time I’ll try skipping the maple syrup and adding more almond or peanut butter
I have been making these for the past one month . Just love the taste . My daughter said she is never eating another store bought health bar . I added cranberries and dark chocolate. Love the taste . Bars are pretty moist. I keep it refrigerated.
Great additions! We are so glad your daughter is a fan :D
These are great! I couldn’t find dates easily at the grocery store I went to, so I replaced them with pitted prunes and that worked really well…my toddler loves them and he’s less constipated :-)
Thank you for this amazing recipe. My son is vegan and I’m grateful for this recipe. Like others, they taste amazing – I toasted the oats and the almonds as suggested. My almonds may have gotten a little too toasty and it didn’t matter.
My dates were slightly old so I soaked them for almost 30 minutes in hot water, then chopped them and put them in the food processor. I ended up using my hands and mixed all the ingredients together after pouring the warm peanut butter/agave on them. I used half the agave called for which results in a less sweet bar that works great for me.
I used the parchment paper to line the 8 inch pan as suggested, evened them out after i pushed them into the pan by putting another piece of parchment over them and then rolled a glass acrossed them to press them into the pan. Then I put an ice pack over them and left them in the freezer for about an hour.
The result was a delicious granola recipe and unfortunately not a bar as I was hoping. That’s fine by me as it’s so good and I’ll hopefully eat less of them. I was able to cut them but then when I moved them, they fell apart. I see many people have this problem and from the comments I’ve read. If anyone has ideas for how to make these stick together, I’d love them.
I’m thinking of rolling them into smaller energy balls to see if that will help and will let you guys know.
I just made these and there soo good. My only problem is that when I went to cut them after freezing they all separated and fell apart except two.
Did I do something wrong? I was expecting them to stay together so they would be actual bars. I just let the rest crumble and put in the freezer for granola now
Hi Mona! In the future, let them thaw a bit before cutting and that should help!
These bars are the best. Easy to make, healthy and taste great. Will make these again.
Yay!
I love your recipes. I tried reading the comments before asking my question, but there are sooooo many, so I will ask it anyway. I am looking for ways to reduce sugar intake (even natural sugar), so I am wondering if there are other ingredients to use as a binder to eliminate the honey or maple syrup?
Hi Doug! We recommend keeping the honey or maple syrup as a binder, but you could replace a dried fruit with slightly less sugar, such as unsweetened cranberries or cherries? Hope this helps!
Hi! I absolutely love these bars, and would like to take them as snacks on a week long camping trip. Will they last without refrigeration? We can likely put them in a cooler for most of the time, but would love it if they didn’t need the cooler. Thanks!
As long as they’re in an airtight container, they should be good!
Love this recipe! What a wonderful one. My go-to granola bar recipe cz its healthy and delicious! Made it on the weekends for meal prep. I soemtimes experiment on adding different nuts and more seeds, this time i tried to make it grain- free using sunflower and pumpkin seeds. It’s still in the process, am excited abt how its going to turn out. :) Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe! Lots of love :)
We are so glad you’re loving this recipe and are finding ways to customize it!
These bars are so delicious and easy to make! Toasting the almonds and oats REALLY changes the flavor game; wouldn’t have them any other way. I do have a question though… The bars are incredibly sweet, and I was wondering if I could eliminate the honey or substitute it with something that isn’t quite as sweet? Or substitute some of the dates to make the recipe a little less sweet?
Hi Kim! Scan the comments above for suggestions!
What about shelf life?How many month we can say for this product?
Hi Tural! Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. We kept ours in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn’t necessary.
These are delicious. Thank you for sharing :) I made these yesterday and am trying my hardest not to eat the full batch in one go!
These bars are lovely!! I added pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, dried coconut and put 1/3 cup maple syrup and they turned out perfect!
Gave these my best shot! The dates i used were very determined not to blend! I broke my food processor and then decided to do the hot water thing with dates which worked. I blended them in my NutriNinja. The rest of the ingredients worked out fine – but 19 grams of sugar is almost the whole day’s safe reccommended amount of sugar (24g) in the diet! I wonder if there is any way to make these healthier?
Look forward to trying them.
If I followed your recipe and watched your video and the bars are not seeming to stick together enough to form bars (even after cooling in freezer), do you have any suggestions to fix this? I love this recipe and the idea of minimalism when baking and really want to make these to work for me.
I rolled my granola into balls for easy serving. Worked great!
I am trying to find a sandwich replacement for my son’s lunch as he decided he doesn’t like sandwiches anymore. Store bought have either a ton of sugar (Cliff Bars), a bunch of ingredients I can’t pronounce, and the RX Bar, which seemed better, has cashews, which he is allergic to (no other nut allergy…just cashews). I have heard great things about the KIND protein bar and saw that it had less sugar than others and I could pronounce everything, but he didn’t like it because the nuts are whole…”too nutty”. I have been searching for recipes to make bars at home, and These 5 ingredient bars look amazing…any ideas though on how to cut down on the amount of sugar? I know it is natural sugar, but 19g seems like a lot, when I also pack him other fruits and things in his lunch. I am growing more and more desperate to find real food to pack for lunch!!
Hi Kelly! You can absolutely cut back the amount of sugar in these bars! Check the comments above for tips! :)
We make this recipe a lot and find it’s easy to switch up as we wish! I melt the nut butter and honey together to make a liquidy base before blending it with the dates in my Vitamix. Keeps it simple. Also – I just made it using prunes and raisins instead of dates, and it worked great and is delicious. Thanks for such an awesome recipe Dana!
Just made these. Doubled the recipe, used pitted prunes, added 2 scoops chocolate peanut butter protein powder, used almonds, cashews and hazelnuts (coarsely chopped in food processor), and sunflower seeds. Was able to put it all on a cookie sheet, cover with plastic wrap and used a rolling pin to flatten out and compress bars. They’re in the fridge now cooling and hopefully solidifying. Can’t wait to try them. Sooooo much versatility to this recipe. Thank you!
Woot woot! We hope you enjoy them, Nicole!
Would oat bran work for this recipe?
Its worth a shot! I’d replace some of the rolled oats. Let us know how it goes!
This was excellent – easy to make and totally delicious. I put a generous pinch of salt and it really brings out the flavour. I didn’t chop the almonds and didn’t toast them either. My oven isn’t working so I lightly pan-browned the oats for quick while. Like some others I also don’t have a food processor (is it a miracle I’m able to make anything?) but I had medjool dates which I soaked in hot water for a little bit, drained, squeezed excess water out and then squished them by hand. It all worked out well. I also threw in some dried cranberries. So tasty – and if you do the math, they are cheaper than the granola bars you buy in a box, not to mention healthier.
Yay! Thanks so much for sharing your recipe changes, Amna! We’re glad you enjoyed them!
Thank you for this recipe! I followed all the instructions and just added chocolate chips the very first time, it was awesome! Made it again within days, added chocolate chips and apricot this time… can’t wait to eat it! Simple, easy and way better than any store brought granola! Toasting the oats and almonds is essential!
Yay! Thanks Helen!
Thank you for this recipe! So easy to make & using ingredients I already had in my cupboard. The flavour of the roasted almonds is so delicious! I just added some chocolate chips & chia seeds. Can’t wait to make these again & experiment with new additions, I think dried cranberries/pistachio next…
do these hold together well? thanks
This uses extra dishes; try toasting oats and almonds in a skillet, adding soft dates whole and crushing/mashing over low heat, then adding the pb and honey to soften and combine. Scrape into the mold pan, greased or lined with parchment, press, and chill.
These are amazing — love them! Kids & adults love them — super tasty & love the simple ingredients!
Hello from lovely Bristol, UK.
This is an excellent recipe, so simple to make!
I am a fan of apricots so I swapped dates for apricots, it worked just fine! Today I will do a second batch with a couple of modifications: I want to put 3/4 apricots and 1/4 raisins and see what happens!
However, I have a couple of questions:
1) In the nutritional value section (at the end of the article) there’s not specific weight for the numbers provided, but the only information given is “per bar”. This is too generic and slightly confusing. Could you please elaborate a bit?
2) Is there a way to reduce the sugar levels without messing with the mixture consistency?
19g of sugar “per bar” seems slightly high for a bar of this type.
Thank you so much!
S.
Just made this tonight. Toasted the almonds & oatmeal & added dried cranberries- and I used Sukrin instead of honey. Wasn’t sure how it would work, but it was delicious!!!
I made these yesturday they were so quick and easy to make and they are simply delicious! I choped the almonds up a little more so it’s easier for my toddlers to eat them, and they love them too, so a big win in our house!
Hi Dana,
I’m planning to make this but I’m not a big fan of dates and I don’t have them on hand. What do you think about subbing it with dried figs and apricots? I’m just worried that the consistency will not hold the shape.
Hoping to hear from you soon. I would like to try to make them this week!
Thank you,
Karla
Hi Karla! I think that soaked figs would work well!
I just made Alton Brown’s seedy date bars, but I’ll be going back to these. Much less fussy, less expensive, and very satisfying. These are a great grab-and-go snack; I actually look forward to eating these. I like to pulse the toasted nuts and oats, set those aside, and then blend the dates. These are really versatile, and you can easily sub what you have on hand. I like to use walnuts and toss in some cinnamon and ground ginger. These will have a regular presence in my freezer. Thanks for sharing (and for including weight measures on your recipes)!
Thanks Erin!
Yummy! Love them, thanks for this. They are so easy to make and taste ssooo good. I will keep this recipe for ever. Thanks. Got any more ideas, I wouldn’t mind hearing about it. When i want chocolate I just add chocolate chips. They are good either way!
I am turning to a Whole Foods diet, hopefully forever. I need as many recipes as I can get. This sounds super yummy!
Hi
I tried this recipe today
It tastes amazing but the problem was it was very sticky because of dates and not hard bar like in the pics .. make gand and container dirty .. is it ok?
I make this recipe often! I just love it. I have found that you can get away with 3/4 cup of whole dates, but one cup of dates that you then put in the food processor works well. It takes a while to mix everything together to evenly spread the stickiness of the dates, but once you do, I think just about everything should pull away from the bowl. The food processor can be very sticky afterwards, though! Then I put them into a glass 8×8 baking dish and set them in the freezer for about 20 minutes. I leave mine in the freezer until I’m ready to pack them up for lunch, because they do become soft and have a tendency to fall apart at room temp.
Hi Fatma! You could try keeping them in the freezer for longer next time to try and firm them up?
I made these and they were great. I used cashews instead of almonds and honey instead of maple syrup. I put the roasted oats and cashews into the food processor with the dates to give the bars a smoother, softer texture. I used the microwave instead of the stove to combine the PB and honey. The bars turned out to be delicious! Thanks!
I really like these to go with my homemade fruit and Greek yogurt smoothies that are not super huge. Or a snack. A great recipe!
I added dried skim milk to mine to make it bind better, and sprinkled and pressed some sesame seeds onto the tops to make them less sticky.
If you make it with everything raw like I do, this recipe is more like a muesli protein bar than a granola bar.
I made these for my oldest daughter who is in the process of having her thyroid problems diagnosed. She requested energy/snack/granola bars that were gluten free.
Because we live in a very rural area, I had to order some things online and wait for them to come in, after I did some research online, too.
I used both my food processor for the figs and prunes, and my blender to chop the almonds.
I toasted the almonds and oatmeal in the oven.
I substituted dried figs and prunes for the dates and they turned out very well! Of course, we had to test them before sending to my daughter. Will definitely make them again and may try some of the add-ins just to change them up. I think I might try baking them a bit next time. (She lives 300 miles away. I have to mail stuff to her. Thank goodness for Priority Mail!)
Can add honey in to it?
Yes! Just sub for the maple syrup.
Wow these are great! Have been trying to find healthy and less expensive substitute for Kashi trail mix bars. I did add some dried cranberries and apricots. Thank you sooo much!!
Just wanted to say, thank you very much for posting this recipe. I just can’t get enough of them! They are a bit of a bicep workout to get together, but the flavour is worth it lol. I’m going to try and experiment with other add-ins in hopes that I might be able to make a nut-free version for school lunches, but in the meantime it’s a great bar for the whole family outside of school :)
I prefer to buy unsalted almond butter so how much sea salt can I add to balance out the sweetness in this recipe?
Thanx!
Hi! I would add about a pinch of salt!
Thank you!!
I made them last week and added about that much and they were dee-lish!
I’m going to try with real maple syrup next instead of honey and a sprinkle of unsweetened dark chocolate chips.
So glad I found this recipe…
Thank you so much!
Hi, can i use quick-cook oats for this recipe? Thanks!
Hi Linette! Yes you can!
I’ve tried it! It’s very yummy and after freezing it’s perfect hardness. But softens very quickly at room temperature. Is there a way to tweak the recipe so it stays harder even at room temperature? Thanks!
Love this recipe, such a great, simple alternative to sugar-loaded supermarket bars.
I make a double batch every couple of weeks and change up the mix ins to combinations of different nuts and seeds, coconut flakes, chia seeds and dark chocolate but they always turn out great!
The whole family love these bars. The first time I made them i didn’t have any dates so used prunes which every body loved but then tried dates and they are even better. I have to make at least two batches a week.
I made these yesterday. I had no issues with it being crumbly but found it easier to press down in the pan once it had chilled in the fridge for about 20 mins.
I kept to the recipe except for adding a pinch of sea salt and some vanilla. I drizzled 7O% chocolate over the top.
It is REALLY good! Thanks ?
Wow ! Wonderful..but I am not fond of any nut butters (almond, cashew or peanut). Any good substitution for that?
Hi! You could try a sunflower seed butter, tahini, or a soynut butter!
Thank you for your reply. I will try it soon.
Definitely 5 star recipe.
Delicious. Though must confess I slightly altered the method.
I used a piece of baking parchment to press down by hand without sticking.
Then baked for 12 minutes.
I also used mixed nuts instead of almonds. Thankyou for such an easy delicious recipe . I will take them on my travels for when nothing gluten free is available.
I made these without dates since my family and I prefer a chewy bar anyway, and they were perfect!
Pretty damn good recipe. I added dark chocolate chips to this and coffee extract. So good. Let’s do more recipes with coffee. Flavored coffee drinks, food and desserts. There’s a niche there ;)
I’ve made these twice and they are beyond amazing… To the point I rather not make them because I have no self contol and eat half a batch at once :D
One question though, whould this recepie work for granola? I would not toast the oats/almonds beforehand and just bake the mixture. Thanks for your thoughts :)
Hi! It should work, use this recipe as a reference!
Hello ! thank you very much for this recipe, i tried it yesterday and it is simply awesome! I added pecan nuts and raisins to the orgininal recipe, and tried with agave nectar too.
I just found them very soft, even after freezing for 30 mn, i don’t know if it should be like this ?
Anyway thank you for this super easy and tasty recipe !
Hi! Try leaving them in a single layer in the freezer for a little longer and they should firm up!
Ah those are just amazing, plus it’s so versatile! I looked at this recipe for plain guidance in terms of how to go about making granola bars, in terms of do I add oil, do I cook them etc, and it was exactly what I was looking for! I used sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, almond flour and chia seeds as my base. I also added some buckwheat flakes (full of fiber and SO healthy for you!), peanut butter and agave nectar. Basically I put it all except the PB and agave into the oven at 200 C (390 F) for like 5 minutes or so, then mixed in the peanut butter and agave, pressed it into a pan and off to the fridge it was! I love that you can pretty much use anything you’d like, and this is definitely a staple for me on the road to becoming vegan (currently vegetarian ^^ cutting out eggs and dairy after watching What The Health). It was also my first experience with agave nectar instead of sugar and honestly, it tastes so much better :)
Could you use tahini in this recipe?
We haven’t tried it and think it would change the taste profile quite a bit. If you give it a try, report back on how it goes!
I only had slivered almonds and not enough, so I added walnuts and some cinnamon. These are simple, easy and delicious. I will definitely make again.
How do you put them in the freezer? Wrapped individually? Just wondering how you wrap them? Im trying to cut down my use of plastic.
I recommend wrapping them in parchment paper and sealing with a sticker or tape! Additionally, you could place them in small containers for reuse!
I have made these quite a few times and every one that has tried them loved them. I do them with honey and sliced blanched almonds. I do toast the almonds and oats and everything else just like the recipe. They come out perfect every time. Delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
Delicious! Just a little too sweet for my liking :) But would definitely make it again with a bit less honey/maple! I also added some dessicated coconut ;)
Best and easiest bar recipe I’ve found for myself and my kids! (And I’ve tried a LOT of bar recipes!!)
These turned out beautifully for me. I added a little extra peanut butter and honey to the mixture , then spread melted dairy free chocolate on top after the bars were pressed into the pan. Everything held together perfectly. So much better than store-bought. It will definitely be adding these to the monthly repertoire. Thanks!
Great base recipe! I made the first batch exactly as stated, delicious. Then I played around with it…one batch I swapped the almonds for cashews, PB for almond butter and added dehydrated blueberries. Yum! Another I did half dates/half dehydrated strawberries for the base, swapped the PB for almond butter and drizzled those in chocolate. Another winner.
I love this recipe, and your photography is phenomenal! If you ever have a hard time getting your granola bars to stick together, I recommend one ingredient that works really well that I stir in after cooking the ‘syrup’: http://wholesomeinspiration.com/sweet-sticky-granola-bars/
I made these bars because my Dad felt like he needed something between lunch and his evening workout. And these bars have done the trick! Although they aren’t just being used for their original purpose, we are eating them at all hours of the day. Quick breakfast bite, on the go post workout snack, or snagging single bites then putting it back in the fridge (sister… and me, at least we are showing some control right?!). I would definitely recommend roasting the oats and almonds it truly does take the bars to the next level! These bars are SO delicious they have been requested for the 3rd week in a row in my house, and my boyfriend asked for his own container. Thank you Dana!!!
Excellent granola bars. Super!!! Thank you. I added roasted buckwheat and added cocoa butter to help it stick together. I enjoyed them so much. I did not succeed with the baked version. It turned into granola. I would like a tip on that. Thanks again.
Delicious recipe. I substituted whole pumpkin seeds for half the almonds and molasses for half the honey. (The only plant products I know of that have B12 are molasses and seaweed.) Ashley, I wish I had seen your comment with the coconut. Next time.
Amazing! I used raisins instead of dates, and almond butter instead of peanut butter, since I had those on hand. They were quick and easy to make, and best of all: hubby and kid approved!
This recipe is easy, delicious and makes the best breakfast bars. I eat one of these and it holds me for a good three hours. I did add 1/2 C chopped chocolate chips, a little more peanut butter (1/3 C) and subbed whole grain cereal for the almonds because I didn’t have any. These would be awesome with almonds – I just used what I had in the pantry and they turned out great! No bake and delicious!! Thanks so much for this recipe!
Thank you for this great recipe! I’ve made it several times now substituting or adding ingredients here and there. Today I used Nutella instead of peanut butter, added unsweetened coconut flakes and topped with mini chocolate chips (well, that’s every time ? ).
I always use my Ninja blender smoothie cup to make the date purée and then add it to the liquid ingredients to “melt” them altogether. Perfect! Thanks again!
I made these tonight and they are SOOOO GOOD! Thank you for this recipe. I’ve been having trouble finding a healthy snack bar to put in my daughter’s school lunch. I’ve tried several recipes and she didn’t like any of them. I gave her one of these tonight and she loved it and asked for a 2nd one! They are yummy and easy to make.
Awesome recipe…But one problem is there…My refrigerator will break soon… Opening it so many times to eat these little devils.
Hi Dana, I love these bars and make them often as portable breakfast on work days. At least 5 friends have taken the recipe!
Do you think pear concentrate would be a good substitute for the honey?
For some reason my 5 star review did not come up on my original post ?
Hi Tina! We haven’t tested with pear concentrate but I wouldn’t think it would hold the bars together enough. If you give it a try, report back with your results! Good luck!
Thanks for the 5-ingredient granola bar recipe. We added flax & chia seeds & used steel cuts instead of rolled oats. We also added Brazil nuts & walnuts. The nuts/dates/seeds mixture was delish! But the natural peanut butter & honey didn’t melt, instead became dry. When we pressed them to make bars, they were very oily. After several hours in the freezer, they didn’t harden but just stayed cold. Please tell us how to remedy the oily issue? Thanks!
Part of my weekly routine, thank you for the fantastic recipe!!!!
I love these granola bars. They are super easy and healthy. I could not recommend them more
I made these bars exactly to the recipe using maple syrup and oven roasting the almonds and oats for a potluck. First the flavor was great and I was asked over and over for the recipe which being so simple I could recite easily. I put them in the freezer for about an hr and then the fridge overnight to set them, this worked pretty well. At the potluck I had left some on a napkin in my front seat since they wouldn’t all fit into my container, I made a double batch, and when I came back out to my car after about 5 hrs they had dried a little bit and could now much more easily be handled. So I think after they are made do not store them in the fridge or freezer but on the counter to let air dry and stay firmer.
This 5-ingredient granola bar was delicious! I was somewhat apprehensive at first to try it because I’m not a granola (or peanut butter) fan at all, but I was looking for a healthier alternative for my kids. So, hesitantly I gave it a try (expecting an unpleasant outcome)…but I am quite impressed at how everything came together with only 5 ingredients. The best is that there is a sweetness to it without any added sugar! Plus, it was easy-peasy to make! My kids love it, I love it, and my husband (who is a salty chips kinda guy) loves it too! Thanks for this incredible recipe!
These are SO freakin’ good!
I made them the other day and can’t stop eating them. I actually think the flavor and texture improves after being in the fridge for a day or two. I will definitely make these often. Thank you for sharing your recipes!
These bars are totally delicious. Made them a few weeks ago and put them in the freezer for easy snacking. Well, I ran out and was desperate for some more yesterday. My dates were a little dry so I soaked them in water before putting them into my magic bullet. For anyone doing that, MAKE. SURE. TO. DRAIN. DATES. WELL!!!!!
My bars looked ok but when I tried one, it was too wet :(
They taste not too bad so I’m trying to eat them still but I don’t want anyone else to have such a painful experience when these granola bars are super amazing!
You have been warned. You’re welcome.
Has anyone tried baking these bars?
Ruth, check the other comments! It looks like others have tried baking them! Good luck!
I made these delicious bars for my family several times. My son specifically is gluten and dairy free and I could not find granola bars ready made. Just curious, any idea how many calories in a say 2 x 2 inch bar?
Hi Terry! Hmm I’d suggest cutting the nutritional info in half for that size and it should give you a pretty good idea. Hope this helps!
Can i use raisins instead of dates?
Hi! Check the comments for suggestions as others have tried this! Sultana raisins seem to take the place of dates very well. Good luck!
Mmmmmm so good! I really loved these bars. I used sunflower butter and honey, which was da bomb. I also couldn’t seem to mix my “date dough” and ingredients, so I blended it all together and it was SO GOOD. Next time I would add the almonds (or other nuts/seeds) in at the end so the bars look like the pictures above. If you make the bars, they are kinda like a crossover of a Larabar and a KIND bar which is amazing BTW). :)
Wonderful granola bars! All my friends want the recipe! Just one thing – the recipe takes soooooo long to open on my tablet. Maybe a few less of the gorgeous photos?!
Hi there,
I love this recipe! My only issue is that the bars tend to fall apart. Is there anything I can add to avoid that?
Hi! If your granola bars are falling apart, you’ll want to add more dates! They’ll help bind the bars! Good luck!
Thanks for the recipe! These bars are great!! I made them to have as a post-swim snack when I get sooo hungry.
I don’t have a food processor but I cut all the dates up by hand and mixed by hand extra vigorously and it still turned into a nice smooshy mixture. Also, just because I was a bit lazy, I didn’t heat the agave or peanut butter and again just mixed them straight in. It all worked out good!
Yum! I followed the recipe exactly and they turned out perfect! Toasting is definitely the way to go. So excited to try more add ins on these, I think some sesame seeds would be good too.
Hi, I made this with instant oats and cam out very well. However I want to reduce the sweetness, what is my option to keep the stickiness and taste but reduce the sweetness??
Please advice
I wonder if the rolled oats can be substituted for steel cut oats?
Yes that will work! You may find that the texture is a little different but that won’t affect the recipe! Good luck!
Has anyone got any suggestions for a diabetic friendly granola bar? So no honey and no dates. I want oats and nuts but I need something to combine it other than honey/banana/other sugary products.
Hey it’s a great recipe. Big fan of granola bars. Wanted to ask what would be the shelf life of the bars if made in a large batch size?
cheers
Hi! 1-2 Months in the freezer! Up to 2 weeks at room temperature!
These were amazingly delicious and pretty easy to make. They taste so much better than any granola bars you would buy in the store (and healthier too!). I make my own peanut butter with my food processor that I used in this recipe. I forgot how good the combination of honey and peanut butter is! I pulsed my almonds a couple times in the food processor so I wouldn’t have to hand chop them. This recipe does create a lot of dirty dishes but it’s worth it. It also makes quite a few bars so it should last me a while. Thanks!
I tried making these bars for the first time 3 weeks ago and it turned out so delicious, this has become our go to snack, dessert, breakfast?. I have been making these every week ever since I discovered this recipe.
Love love love this recipe~ Thanks a million??
OH. MY. GOODNESS. I must confess that I started making these and realized I only had a few tablespoons of honey and no agave or maple. Even though I upped the peanut butter, my result was more of a granola than a granola bar. But boy oh boy is it addicting stuff! I have never been a huge granola person, but this will become a staple in my cupboard/freezer!
PS: This was my first time working with dates, and the tip to add oats to the food processor was very helpful.
I’ve made these the last 2 weeks they are great! My family love them. I’m currently in the stages of starting my own blog, its a diary of the things I cook at home and the recipes that I use. Todays entry is about these granola bars, I’m adding a link to your recipe. I just added a little more peanut butter and a little more maple syrup and they came out perfectly! Love your website.
This recipe is fantastic just as is. Of course I experimented a little after making a couple batches exactly per recipe. I did toast oatmeal. This is my method for getting my husband to get a little fruit and some good fiber every day. I make him take one with his lunch to have a snack later in the day. I am so happy he has promised me not to use the vending machines at work.
I made a batch for two friends with rave reviews too.
Tried again, with dates this time. They made all the difference – they are so wonderful and i’m so proud of myself haha thank you for sharing! Also added some cranberries and dark choco chunks. yummm :)
Yay! So glad to hear it worked out for you, Alicia!
These are really good! I had a couple issues with mine, namely that processing the dates actually killed my food processor. I’m guessing through a combo of too many dates at once and a cheap food processor. So I had to cut the dates by hand, and that may have been one of the reasons the bars at the end didn’t really stick together. But silver lining: I now have really good granola! I added cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice to the peanutbutter part, and it was super tasty. Reading through the comments had been really helpful too, so I’ll probably take some of the advice here when I try again. Thanks for the recipe Dana, I can always count on your blog of vegan recipes that are easy and dont use exotic, hard-to-find ingredients.
I am so glad I found this non-bake recipe. Baked granola bars need more liquid sweetener to hold together and mine never cut nicely into bars. As I didn’t have an 8×8″ pan (rather 10×12″) I added another cup of oats, 1/4 cup toasted sunflower seeds, another 1/4 cup (well, a bit more poured out) PB, and chopped raisins. Also added 1/2 cup ground flaxseed. Skipped the extra agave. These are fabulous and versatile. I didn’t have luck adding oats when processing the dates – still had to be chopped by hand. I toasted the nuts and seeds in a pan and warmed the PB and agave in the microwave. Maybe I’ll try soaking and/or warming the dates as others have suggested. They will chop more easily if very cold too. And as we have dates galore here (Israel) these bars will be a staple in our household. Thank you SO much Dana.
Just made these while they are delicious they have trouble holding together anything I can do to save them ?
Hi Nikki! Some people have had issues with crumbling so refer to the comments/replies for more indepth feedback. But for the most part, they’re crumbling for a few reasons:
1) Your dates were too dry – FIX: soak them for 10 minutes then drain before blending.
2) Your peanut butter wasn’t a natural brand or was very thick. Mine was drippy because of the oils. FIX: Use a more natural brand (just peanuts + salt) next time.
3) You may have used slightly too many dry ingredients. FIX: Be sure to pull back on those next time to make them more sticky.
4) You didn’t press hard enough. FIX: One reader had the idea of putting parchment paper down and then using a book to really press down hard. That’s one of the biggest keys is pressing hard enough to make sure it all conforms/sticks together.
Hope that helps!
Forgot about the dates at the grocery store. Added an extra large dollop of heated pb and maple syrup to make a drizzle over the top to try to make up for the sticking. Also added some granola and stuck in the freezer. Still rather crumbly, though. Either way, Delish!
Fantastic! Added a little coconut oil to the warm peanut butter/honey mixture. Toasted the nuts and oats. Added golden raisins, a few pecans…a little vanilla and almond extract. A little dark chocolate, which melted in the hot roasted oat nut mixture (also helped hold bars together). Added a dash of kosher salt. These are beyond fabulous. And hubby loves em! We’re not vegan, GF or anything else, just looking for healthier alternatives. Thanks for a great, very customizable recipe!
I used my mini food processor because it seemed silly to pull out the big Cuisinart for 1 cup of food. But next time, I will! The little motor did not like the dates. And they were so sticky that they pulled the blade up and it just stopped working.
I used chunky (natural) peanut butter, because that’s what I had, and honey.
I ended up mixing with my hands, because there’s no way the dates were going to break up and disperse evenly with a spoon.
The end result seemed sticky, but dry. But sticky. If that makes any sense! The mix is tasty, and I have high hopes that they will solidify nicely.
Next time I might try figs instead of dates, just because I like figs.
Hi there! Can I use regular peanut butter in this recipe? I can’t find natural peanut butter here in Italy! Thanks :)
Hi! Yep, you can! Happy cooking!
I bought granola bars that are all natural and vegan when there was a sale at the grocery store. My husband fell in love with them. The sale ended, and I am way too cheap to spend $5 on a small box of granola bars, so I decided to give this recipe a try. The texture is great. There is lots of flavour. I added a few chocolate chips. These are husband approved!
Excellent! Didn’t modify at all! Used honey. Great snack for high intensity workouts! Can’t wait to see how they will hold up in hot weather outside!
What tips are there to make them hold their shape better ?
Best recipe ever! I’ve made them with and without toasting the oatmeal and almonds, toasting definitely improves the flavor. The last batch, I soaked the dates in very hot water for about 10 minutes. It plumped them up nicely and made them much easier to chop and make into a paste without using a food processor. I’ve added coconut, flaxseed meal, swapped muesli for the oatmeal. The recipe is very versatile. A solid 5 stars.
I saw granola recipe an hour back.it sounded so easy, yummy n crunchy that decided to make it.very easy n came out well.I have loved the taste n munching. Have even finished quarter of it n my hubby is yet to come.
Thank you so much for simple and nutritious recipe.
I would love to make these granola bars but do not currently own a food processor. Is there another way of dealing with the dates, such as with a vitamix?
You could try a vitamix but I’ve personally had bad experience with them in a vitamix – the motor always goes out. I’d recommend just chopping them finely!
Three times a charm! Increase the following for total amounts: dates 1-1/3c, agave 1/3c, peanut butter 1/3c; process dates 1/3c at a time with a sprinkle of oats each time so they don’t ball up (either food processor, vitamix or knife); toast oats & almonds 300F for 10-12 minutes; use a large glass bowl place dates across bottom wait until toasted oats & almonds are finished & agave & peanut butter are softened (not boiled & don’t let cool down) – place oat/almond mixture top of dates – evenly place agave/peanut butter mixture top of oat/almonds – use wooden spatula to slice & mix completely through mixture – use parchment paper for a 8×8 square glass pan – place & press (must press) the mixture into the pan – if you have a silicone mat use that to press your mixture if not use another piece of parchment paper – if you don’t want your chocolate chips (1/4c) to melt, wait until mixture is mostly pressed into pan then place & press them afterward using silicone mat or parchment paper – cover mixture with cling wrap & place in refrigerator for 2 hours.
I made these and the flavor is amazing but I followed the recipe exactly and ended up with granola that you would put on yogurt, not bars. They just did not stick together. I subbed maple syrup for honey to make it vegan and used GF oats. Did anyone else have this problem and if so, how did you fix it? Thanks!!!
Hi Megan! Add more dates next time!
I make these every week with almost half of the honey the recipe calls for and find that if my dates are not really moist or if I haven’t soaked them then the mixture is really crumbly. Also, it’s important to press the mixture down really really well – I use a small loaf pan and find it easy to pack the mixture really well in there. Also, let the mixture thaw for 10′ or so before you cut it. Hope you have better luck next time!
I make these for my daughter’s volleyball tournaments – we try to keep the food and snacks healthy so they can have energy all day. These are just perfect for a long day.
Michelle
SOOOOO delicious! It’s a such a treat to eat these! I have been making these for awhile now and don’t know why I waited to leave a comment until now! This recipe is very easy to sub various nuts, seeds, and fruit. Can get enough of them!
Thank you so much for this great recipe. I decided yesterday that I was cutting out store bought protein bars and then I found your site and this recipe. I made it with toasted pecans and steel cut oats and it is awesome. I only hope that I don’t gain weight from it:) I am a world record holder in wide grip pull-ups and I think this will be perfect fuel before my long training sessions.
I made these this morning and turned out crumbly. I did add dried fruit to them. Should the dates be soaked first then put in the food processor, or is it possible that I didn’t chop(processs?) them fine enough?
Love love ,love these !! Took some to work they were all moaning and groaning.
I wanted to ask, as my kids do not like the taste of peanut butter, any suggestions on what I could substitute ? I am referring to the granola bars.
Any nut or seed butter, especially almond butter and sunflower seed butter. Try these for example!
I have just made them. They are amazing. Instead the whole portion of honey I opted for half honey, half coconut oil. It’s the most wonderful thing :)
Beautiful, I just put mine in the freezer can’t wait. I used cashews/almonds and some pumpkin seeds, coconut, cranberries and a bit of sea salt flakes. I also added a teaspoon of coconut oil to the nut/honey mixture to loosen it a bit. Off to look at the rest of your site. Thank you so much ????
These are absolutely delicious and so quick and easy to make. I used brown rice syrup in place of the sweetner and my bars stayed together perfectly. I made them to take on a road trip and they kept their shape, stayed fresh and never got gooey even in a warm car. These are in high demand at my house now!
i just made and put them in a fridge. i tasted the dough a bit. oh yummy! crunch and sweet! they will be really good snacks and a quick meal. thanks!!
Delicious! I made the mistake, though, of putting the chocolate chips in too soon. The almond butter and honey hadn’t cooled enough and I ended up with melted chocolate chips mixed in, giving the granola bars a distinctly chocolate taste. They were good, but the next time I’ll wait to put the chocolate chips so that I get a chocolate treat in some bites and not just the chocolate flavour. I also added toasted sesame seeds and I used cinnamon honey. Very delicious.
Finally an oat bar that not only tastes great but was firm. I made the basic recipe and added my own extras ( craisins and cacao nibs) and for decadence drizzled home made chocolate over the top. Delicious.
Thank you so much for this recipe. I have an 8 year old niece with a lot of diet restrictions and I’ve made her these granola bars three times now. She LOVES them! They come together easily and it’s nice to be able to make them together. Sometimes I’ll melt some dark chocolate and drizzle it on top before freezing. She gobbles them up either way. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I have made this recipe over and over and just love it. I cut the bars to about a 2×2 square and have it with my cuppa joe in the morning. My spin is using half & half peanuts and almonds. I also prefer toasting the rolled oats and the nuts. These bars really take me, who is lookin’ for a bite to eat every hour of the day, from morning to afternoon without snacking.
I tried this recipe and the taste was great, however, it couldn’t keep together. I had to add more melted peanut butter and honey. Please tell me where I went wrong.
Thank you
Marie
This is the second time I made these granola bars and my oh my are they so yummy! They are very easy to make and fun to add your own spin on ingredients. I added coconut flakes, flax seed, chia seeds and goji berries! Next time I think chocolate chips are a must. Thanks!
I just made these last night and they are awesome!! I used a trail mix I had with almonds, walnuts, cranberries and a few other small seeds. I also added a scoop of vegan protein powder and it boosted the protein to 9.5 grams per bar. I’m looking forward to making these every week!! Thank you!!!
I love this but I used raisins and dried cranberries instead of dates and I also added ground fax and chia seed..it turned out excellent! I will be making this a lot! It was loved by all!
Just made these. Added some shredded coconut as well. Didn’t toast the oats but hope they turn out well.
I love this recipe! It’s quick and easy, also taste great.
My god this recipe is phenomenal! Was not sure but it is insanely good. I’ve altered to 1/3 cup of peanut butter and 1/3 honey since I was adding another 1/2 cup of shaved coconut and 1/2 cup of dried cherries. Yum yum yum… Can’t wait to make my next batch. Although I sub to salted peanut better to unsalted. Still great! Thank you for the recipe!!
just made these- and they’re so good! i used peanut butter and maple syrup, and pan toasted the oats beforehand. thank you!
I just made these and they came out delicious. Thank you for the recipe! I used what I had in the pantry which included prunes and pecans as substitutes for the dates and almonds. I toasted the oats and pecans and used a no-sugar PB. Fan-Tas-Tic. Thank you for the recipe! Oh, I added about a 1/4 tsp. of vanilla too!
I have dried unsulphured apricots sitting in my pantry going nowhere fast. I might try a batch with those next!
(Not so secretly hoping that these will help with my toddler’s BMs! Ha!)
Ha! Great substitutions Caroline, glad you enjoyed!
Hi Dana!
I was wondering how long these bars last in the refrigerator/freezer?
Thanks
Hi Vineetha! In the refrigerator, they should last a few days and in the freezer, a few weeks!
The bars can last about 5 days in the refrigerator, or at least the ones I made. I found that if you leave them out they go all soft so I kept my bars in a container in the fridge for about a week and they were good the whole time.
Wow, so great! Instead of dates i used dried figs i had just recently made. I also added pumpkin seeds which i ground up in my coffee grinder. Chia seeds, flax seed, chlorella and spirulina were also added! I love finding recipes so simple like these and adding a little extra of my things laying around. I wanted to add coconut but i have never liked the taste more less the texture. Thanks for this great recipe!!
This was the first time I made this. When I added the honey-peanut butter mixture to the rest of the ingredients, I was worried it wasn’t enough because I had trouble incorporating everything thoroughly. I added a little more of the honey-peanut butter mixture. It worked out great, but they are more chewy than crunchy. The next time I make this, I will follow the directions precisely, but this ended up being a happy accident because now I can get my granola on in two ways.
I just made these and OMG they are addictive!! I used only half the amount of honey and about 1 tablespoon more peanut butter than the recipe says and they were YUMMMMMMY! Making these again!
Hey Dana,
I love this recipe and have tried it many times before and I absolutely love them, and was just wondering if you can use crunchy organic peanut butter as well?
Thank you
How would you make these grain free? By taking oats our…what’s a good sub? Could you add white beans (slightly massed) to this?
What a great recipe! I’ve just baked them and my son loves them. I was looking for a healthy and filling snack for my son at school. These bars are exactly what I need. Thank you!!!
I second BJ’s comment, wow was absolutely my first thought when I tried these granola bars! I could not believe I made such a tasty treat with only five ingredients. I made them for my kids and they nearly at the whole casserole dish! I might have to use this as leverage over them going forward if they behave :).
I made these for the first time and…….Wow! So easy, so good! I like cranberry and my husband likes raisins so I made two batches. It was a bit of work to get the date paste blended in, but I kept chopping it in until it was well mixed. I never had a problem with them not sticking together and I followed the receipe to the letter. I think the secret is in getting it pressed down really good. The glass trick works like a charm. My only question is this….have you ever made them with a layer of chocolate on the bottom?
Is there a less sweet alternative to using dates? Or do you think it will hold together if I use less? I’m not a huge fan of the taste of dates and I think I would prefer them a little less chewy. Otherwise, these would be perfect. I brought them for my friends and I to hike up Mt. Washington and it was the perfect mid-hike refuel.
I have been making these for over a year now and love them. I add toasted coconut and dries cherries. In place of the Peanut Butter I use powered peanut butter (this reduces the calories a great deal) but, till fabulous flavor. I also mix the nuts up. I use the same about of nut but, I use a mix of toasted nuts.
Hi I love the recipe although I haven’t made it yet because I want to know being a type 2 diabetic could I substitute something else for the dates.thanks so much.
I’m excited to try this recipe! And I agree that I make things homemade to avoid processed foods, but as a Trader Joe’s fan I do want to say that they don’t have high fructose corn syrup in any of their products so that is a false statement. (The only product in the store that does have it is Orangina. Looking forward to eating these!
Hello,
I want to try this recipe but I have a couple questions.
The peanut butter I have is not salted, just natural, should I add salt?
Can the oats and almonds be toasted on the stove in case I don’t want to light the oven?
Tks. Marie
Add a little salt to taste! Yes! Toast away. Good luck!
I made these for me and my daughter last night and they were absolutely amazing! We ate them as kind of a late night snack while watching a movie, I think I might make them slightly sweeter next time, but I’m for sure going to keep this recipe in my back pocket for get togethers with friends. Great job and thanks for providing us with such a stellar recipe.
This is a great recipe! I added 2 teaspoons of cocoa and some raisins and it was super yum. Mine were actually really sticky and gooey. I made them yesterday and there are only 2 pieces left as my whole family loved them. Thanks for the great easy recipe.
Hi! I am thinking of making these for my camping trip, but am not sure how they’ll do in warmer temperatures, especially with the peanut butter. Have you had any experience with that? Do they hold up in a warm backpack for example? THanks!
Really pleased with this recipe. I have been making homemade granola bars for a few years now but using brown sugar and honey as the glue. I knew I could find something better and tried this recipe. Fantastic. So much happier using dates. Now it’s time to experiment using some of the ideas from the other people here. Thanks.
Is it possible to bake the bars after the mixture is made so on a hot day they won’t just turn to goo?
I made these bars earlier this week as a snack for my boyfriend when he gets home from work and he loves them. I used brown rice syrup instead of honey and added 1/2 cup of coconut to the mixture. I also put a thin layer of chocolate on top since he wanted chocolate granola bars. I am curious though would I be able to use dreid cranberries instead of dates if i soaked them for 10 minutes?
just made these and they’re so easy and delicious!!!!
Sooooo good ! Easy, delicious and good for you ! Thank you ?
5?
Loved this! Didn’t have all the right ingredients on hand so modified with pecans and added sea salt– delish! My toddler loved it!
Yay! Thanks for sharing, McKenzie.
Delicious recipe, I made a couple of times already it’s a big hit!
I sometime mix half almond half Macadamia nuts and coconut flakes…
Yummy in my tummy!
Wow, AMAZING and so dam easy! I hate dates, oats and peanut butter but followed the recipe ‘as is’ – the only sub I made was Agave syrup for honey (didn’t have any). Oh and I added raw chia and hemp seeds. YUM YUM YUM!!!! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the good recipe, I made it as written and it was very good! I look forward to playing with substitutions for different flavours!
Dear Dana,
I used 1 jar of cherry preserves and double the oats, a few handfulls of chocolate chips, 1/4 cup of previously frozen fresh blueberries ( because of liquidy ), eyeballed the drizzle of agave, three spoons of chia seeds, three big spoons of Skippy peanut butter & two cups of loosely banged up almonds. Gave it all a really good blend up with a spoon and flattened it all in a 12-1/4″ x 8-1/4″ x 1-1/8″ lined pan. They are still soft enough to eat with a spoon after frozen, but the taste is very pleasant. Can easily be eaten with a little ice cream or a glass of milk – a nice snack all around. Wish that I could share images!
Tasted good, but was just a bunch of crumbs :( I would have added more dates or liquid ingredient.
These looks perfect for that extra energy you need when you are out walking in nature or doing other exercises. Packed with natural carbs and fats!
I’ve just made these after needing some extra fibre as pregnant and struggling with toilet.
They are amazingly tasty. Could only eat half a square as so lovely and rich. My taste buds are thro the roof mind. I think I might try substitute some of the honey for mushed bannana. Then freeze them to give them a longer life. Thank you for sharing such a scrummy receipe.
This looks like a great recipe. If I wanted to keep the bars longer for no more than a month. What’s the best way to store them? I wonder how Cliff and Kind bars are able to have a longer shelf life.
great recipe. I make them weekly! To cut down on sweetness, I subbed half the dates for prunes and some of the honey for molasses. I also ground the almonds more fine to make them kid friendly!
Super!I made them and its just super!thanks for this recipe! :D
Hi Dana!! I just made this recipe like an hour ago lol and they were DIVIBE!! I added Turkish apricots to mine and cut out the honey, but everyone in my family loved it!! It tastes so natural and yummy and so much better than regular granola bars!! So natural and now I don’t feel guilty eating them because there is no processed sugar involved!! You are an angel for creating this recipe!! Much needed!! :))
I just made these granola bars b/c I needed something to take with me on a long bike ride. Let me just say, they did not disappoint! I made them according to the recipe, but also added: pecans, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and dark choco chips. I would have posted a photo of them on IG, but they were devoured before I could. Will def. be making these again VERY soon!
p.s. I also prefer the toasted flavor of the oats and almonds, so good call there ;-)
Easy to make and taste fantastic. I also add a tablespoon each of flax, hemp and chia. Thank you for sharing a wonderful recipe.
It’s funny that you say that about prunes, I actually just made them a few days ago according to the recipe but prunes instead of dates because it’s what I had in my pantry. They worked out great, this is such a better option than store bought Granola bars.
Made these a few days ago. They tasted superb! The only nut butter I had was Nutella, so that was what I used. I had raw almonds & cashews, so I roasted them with the oats until lightly browned. The granola bars got finished so fast and I’m going to make them again. I’m running out of dates, so I’m going to replace it with prunes. Let’s see how it goes…
Im currently in a place where I have to improvise almost every recipe, Can I use quick cook steel
Cut oats? Also sorry if you’ve already answered this, I
Have limited data here, takes too long to load every comment
These bars are amazing. These are my go to breakfast everyday. I have modified the recipe a little to suit my needs and add some nutrients: I have added Dried Cranberries, Cocoa Nibs, Toasted Flax Seed, Himalayan Pink Salt and Puffed Rice. Cranberries for some chewy texture, cocoa nibs for the antioxidants, flax for the omega-3’s, Himalayan Pink Salt (coarse ground on top) for the electrolytes and 84 minerals, and the puffed rice (homemade “rice krispies”) for some very obvious and satisfying crunch.
Anyone know how to adapt this recipe for someone who doesn’t use grains or added sugars?
Skip the honey, use more dates, and sub the grains for all nuts or hemp seeds!
I made these last night for the first time and they were AMAZING! I pan roasted my oats for just a few minutes (watch them carefully or they’ll burn!), and I used freshly ground almond butter, added in some dried cranberries I had on hand, a dash of cinnamon, and a pinch of sea salt. I highly recommend trying a little sea salt, it makes a great compliment to the sweetness of the dates and honey. Thank you for making such a simple and delicious recipe. I will definitely be making these again. Probably this week since we already ate half the bars!
I am on a low sugar/low glycemic diet. Is there a way to make these with less dates or substitute something else in place of the dates?
Hi do you have a diabetic version or recommendation? Can I make them without honey or only use 1/2 of the dates? I can add dried cherries as a alternate. Thanks in advance.
This recipe looks amazing! But can I do it without peanut butter or almond butter ?
Wow! These bars were FANTASTIC!
I’m no chef, but these bars were simple enough that even I had success with them. I used almond slices and added coconut, both of which I toasted. After smashing up the dates in a food processor, I added them to the peanut butter and honey mixture on the stove. This mixed well and helped to make the dates more pliable for mixing and pressing into the pan, which was very easy. Everything ‘set’ perfectly and I was able to cut the mixture into squares, but they were still chewy and incredibly delicious and healthy. My kids are waiting for me to make more! Thank you so much for a terrific recipe!
Delicious? Check.
Super simple? Check.
4-year-old loves them? Check.
Used agave as suggested and loved them. A new snack staple.
(reminder to anyone adding any form of chocolate: wait for the mixture to cool down first; which i knew, but forgot)
Thank you!
Can I substitute the dates for anything?
Made this on the weekekend, great recipe. Tastes great.Thanks for sharing .
Unfortunately these did not work out for me. It might be because of all the substitutions I made due to my daughters allergies (nut allergies). I used sesame seed butter and fruit instead of nuts. They did not harden like a bar at all. Even when I left it in the fridge over night.
I’m getting ready to try this recipe however I’m really looking for something that is just like Millville peanut butter energy bars my husband and I love them but don’t love what’s in them! They are a soft bar and it seems like the interior of the bar has more dates. They could be baked I have no idea… any thoughts?
Is it possible to substitute the date paste for dried strawberries or strawberry paste?
These are delicious. I’ll be making these over and over. Thanks for the recipe!
Love these! Super easy to make! I only had dried chopped dates on hand instead of the nice fresh sticky ones, so I added about a Tablespoon of coconut oil. Also mixed in some walnuts because I didn’t have enough almonds on hand. My son is allergic to peanuts, so used an almond/coconut butter instead of the peanut butter. They came out great!! Love that this recipe is flexible and will be my “go-to” for snack bars – so much better and affordable compared to a store-bought version. My boys are taking them on their wilderness survival camp-out this weekend – if they last that long! :)
These bars are delicious! But mine won’t set, I can’t even slice them into neat bars like on your photo’s. I had to pack them separately in plastic wrap to store them, they are so moist and sticky they would otherwise glue together. I don’t understand what went wrong, since I followed the recipe to the letter. Could the problem be in the conversion from cups to grams? ‘a cup’ is simply a unit of measurement that doesn’t exist here.
You go girl love them i added figs and dates they are to live for thes are my snack. Of choice 5 star
I MEAN HOW MANY DAYS IN A RUCKSACK ? LOOKING FOR A CHEAP NUTRITIOUS FOOD SOURCE FOR HIKING . LIGHT TOO .
HOW LONG WOULD THESE LAST ON A HIKE ???
I tried to twitter you but I don’t know if you will see it, do you have more diabetic friendly alternative to dates or anything in the date/raisin/fig family? These things tend to be high in carbs. Would LOVE to try these, but wondering if there is a different base? thank you so much!
Mine didn’t want to stick together :( I wonder what I did wrong lol..
yay! I’ve just made them and had to put them in the freezer or they would have disappeared…they have all the perks: fast, easy, almost no bake…I used cheapo dates, but they were very moist and worked fine (medjool would make them even more delicious, if that were possible, that is!), I used my own peanut butter and added more chopped peanuts instead of almonds (I’m a peanut addict!). As even my dates had collected into a thick ball, I put them in the pan with the honey and pb on a very low heat, in order to make it easier to mix the lot. I did toast the oats and that was a wise choice. These bars are delicious and I believe lots of seeds and spices could be incorporated successfully! Thanks a million!
Hi!
Do you think I can make them without the honey? I’m trying a no sugar diet and would like to put only dates. Would it work? Thanks à lot for the receipe!
Once I tried putting less honey in, and unfortunately it didn’t work quite well. I think the honey helps it stick together better. However, that time I put some coconut oil in and it was perfect. I think it would work quite well in your case too.
So, coconut oil as a substitute for the Honey?
Thanks!!!!
I’m pretty sure dates are packed with sugar. That is what makes them so yummy. ?
I can’t wait to make this. Sounds great.
Dates have sugar, but they do not spike your glucose levels in your body like regular sugary foods do.
Actually, although dates have many health benefits, they are calorie dense and high in fructose. They are also very high on the Glycemic Index so they should be eaten in moderation.
Love these bars! I’ve tried so many granola bar recipes and this is by far my favorite. I added sunflower seeds, raisins, vanilla, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. I wish I had toasted the oats first, though, as the raw oats are a bit too chewy for my preference. But I will definitely make these again and again!
Wow Ive got to say these are amazing! I used almond flakes instead of almond and found no trouble. My only complaint is they were quite dry. I’m a child and can make this, so I am sure you can
Thanks for the recipe!
Hello, this recipe looks fantastic! But I had a couple of questions:
– What do you think of replacing the dates with figs?
– Doesn’t the peanut butter give you loads and loads of processed sugars? At least, the peanut butter I can buy at the store is almost pure sugar. Could you perhaps give me the name of the brand you use, so I can see if it’s available in my country? (I looked for almond or sunflower butter, but I can’t find those either)
Thank you!
Which country are you in Ruth? I’m an American living in Germany, and I buy my peanut butter at health food stores because the horrible ones you find at the regular grocery stores (“USA peanut butter” with the embarrassingly cheesy flags all over) have lots of sugar. If you’re in germany/Europe I could recommend some brands. ..
Woops sorry, I totally forgot to mention that I live in Belgium. I’m afraid my tiny speck of a village has no health food stores, but there is talk that one is going to be opened soon in the next town over. Some recommendations would be a great help, thank you!
Hi Ruth,
Do you have a food processor? If so, you can make your own peanut butter! It’s really simple. This page has a couple recipes, but know that the only thing you have to do is roast the peanuts and then grind them. If you add salt or sweetener, do it to suit your taste! I wouldn’t add any honey to the PB because this granola bar recipe already calls for it, and it’s sweet enough with the one helping of honey and the dried fruit. Good luck!!
http://www.inspiredtaste.net/21318/how-to-make-peanut-butter-three-ways/
Is safe to put dates in the food processor if they are pitted?
I put my dates in the blender and it seems to work fine.
Sorry – I just read in the recipe NO bake !!! I am liking this even more now :)
Just wanna double check that it is 350 you bake the granola for? It says to roast the almonds @ 350…. I assume that temperature stays the same to bake the bars?
I made this with the paleo 14 day, but used just dates, cranberries, almond, dark chocolate, and coconut. I’d freeze them, cut, and place in baggies. It’s hard chopping the dates. So I did a double batch. The calories are surprising, but not to bad I guess. Going to try this one soon. Thanks
Ever since I found this recipe a year or so ago, I have been making them batch-after-batch. Always have them on hand. They turn out best if recipe is followed exactly, otherwise they are too dry or too moist. I toast the oats and almonds first for nicer texture and flavor.
I was thinking..
Can you add frozen raspberries?
Honestly, I think that would be really cool. I might add frozen blueberries next time. Thanks for the idea!
You’d probably be best off using dehydrated fruit so the water in the fresh berries doesn’t make the bars soggy once they thaw.
how long will the granola bars last if they are vacuum sealed.
-JISELLE WILSON