ByHolly Lee
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Caramelly, chewy dates filled with creamy peanut butter and dipped in a luscious dark chocolate…I think these Date Snickers Bars are what dreams are made of! You’re going to love this whole-food remake of the popular Snickers candy bars made with only three ingredients.
When Halloween rolls around, Snickers are one candy I’m trying to sneak from my kids without them noticing. 😉 I don’t keep a lot of candy around the house normally–we just don’t need constant access to candy when we are working on fitness goals and the kids have a hard time not constantly asking for it.
My husband is a type 1 diabetic (theautoimmune type of diabetesthat used to be referred to as juvenile diabetes). That is one reason why we are sugar-conscious in our house.
Most of us don’t realize what a gift our pancreas is. Let’s just say keeping your blood sugar in check without your body doing what its supposed to do isn’t easy, and monitoring your diet and sugar consumption is part ofdisease management.
All that said, sometimes there’s a place for sugar-free treats, sometimes there’s a place for full-fledged sugar treats using the real thing, and sometimes there’s a place for recipes like this one utilizing whole-food natural sweetness from simple ingredients.
These date snickers are my husband’s favorite treat when his blood sugar is dropping. These caramelly covered dates in chocolate coating really rival a real Snickers bar! I keep an airtight container of this fun treat in the refrigerator for him for easy access!
Loaded with healthy fats and even a little fiber, these are great treats to satisfy your sweet tooth.
First of all, who doesn’t love a Snickers bar? These are a great alternative to the traditional candy bar, and this delicious treat has no added sugar! Second of all, it’s always fun to find a way to make your favorite candies in a way that supports your fitness goals while still tasting great.Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Dates are SUPER sweet and are the perfect whole-food replacement for caramel and nougat. Plus the peanut butter-chocolate combo is always a winner! The salty-sweet flavors are the best part of these homemade candies.
Ingredients
You just need three things to make these wholefood 3-ingredient snickers dates! But I’ve included an optional fourth ingredient if you wanna get crazy. 😉
Dried Dates– I prefer to use deglet noor dates for this recipe. Deglet noors have more of a carmelly, buttery taste and are firmer medjool dates. If you have texture issues with medjool dates, you will much prefer the deglet noor. Dried dates are usually found with the other dried fruits in your grocery store.
Creamy Peanut Butter– You can use your favorite peanut butter for this recipe. I prefer to use an organic natural peanut butter. The organic Kirkland brand has been one of my go-to brands of peanut butter for awhile, but you can use whatever kind you have.
Chocolate Chips– Use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips–whatever you have on hand.
Sea Salt or Flaky Salt– This is the optional fourth ingredient. Sprinkling a little sea salt on top of the finished date snickers is a nice touch, but its not required.
Instructions
These easy homemade snickers made with dates are simple to make.
1. Melt Chocolate
Melt the chocolate chips in a (microwave-safe) small bowl, heating them in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until the chocolate is smooth. Shorter microwave intervals are best for melting chocolate so you don’t burn it.
2. Slice Dates
Slice each date in half the long way with a sharp knifeas if you were slicing a hot dog bun.
3. Stuff & Dip
One at a time, fill each date with a spoonful of peanut butter (only about 1/2 tsp of peanut butter will fit in each date unless your dates are very large), depending on the size of the date, then place the stuffed dates in the melted chocolate. Use a fork to help you turn and coat each one. Remove the date snickers bar from the chocolate and set on a piece of parchment paper.
4. Optional: Sprinkle with Sea Salt
Sprinkle a pinch of flakey sea salt on top of the dates for a nice touch.
5. Refrigerate
Place the assembled date snickers in the refrigerator to harden for at least 20 minutes.
6. Store
Keep these date snickers in an airtight container. I prefer to keep mine in the refrigerator, but that is not required. These date snickers will last for up to 5 days.
Let this sweet treat fully harden before you try to handle it too much. If you accidentally slice the date all the way through, the peanut butter will help hold it in place until the chocolate can harden over the cut.Quick Tips
Swaps & Variations
- If you don’t like peanut butter, cashew butter or almond butter would be amazing substitutes.
- If you have a peanut allergy, make this nut-free by using sunflower seed butter!
- If you want to have fun with the toppings, crushed peanuts or toffee bits would be great on these.
- If you want a big batch, this recipe is easily doubled and tripled! Merely scale the ingredients up as needed.
Serving Suggestions
This easy recipe is great as a snack or quick grab-and-go dessert.
Nutritional Information
Nutritional Disclaimer: These facts were calculated to the best of my ability using the stats from my chosen brands of ingredients. Your date snickers may vary. Dates come in different shapes and sizes.
I find with the brand of dates I buy, I can only fit about 1/2 tsp of peanut butter inside each one. That means my stats are for smaller dates and using 2 tbsp of peanut butter for the whole recipe.
If your dates are larger and you use more peanut butter, your stats will be different from mine. With all that said:
The full recipe makes 12 homemade snickers. For one date snicker, the nutritional info is as follows:
- Calories: 73
- Protein: 1 gram
- Fat: 4 grams
- Carbs: 11 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
Recipe Notes
Store in an airtight container. I prefer to refrigerate these for the best taste and texture, but you don’t have to. These treats are good for up to 5 days.
Related Recipes
Try out my blueberry protein crumble for a sugar-free dessert! Or perhaps my sugar-free yogurt fruit salad is more up your alley.
These low-calorie protein balls are also a delicious choice–almost like a no-bake cookie! Plus my marshmallow protein cereal bars are a real treat.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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3-Ingredient Date Snickers
These easy, healthy treats taste almost exactly like a snickers! They are so delicious and perfect for a little afternoon pick-me-up.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Refrigerator Time20 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: date snickers, healthy treats, homemade snickers
Servings: 12 date snickers
Calories: 73kcal
Author: Holly Lee
Cost: $5
Ingredients
- 12 dried deglet noor dates
- 2-4 tbsp peanut butter
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Optional
- sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, heating them in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until the chocolate is smooth. Shorter microwave intervals are best for melting chocolate so you don't burn it.
Slice each date in half the long way as if you were slicing a hot dog bun.
One at a time, fill each date with about 1/2-1 tsp of peanut butter, depending on the size of the date, then place the stuffed date in the melted chocolate. Use a fork to help you turn and coat the whole date. Remove the date from the chocolate and set on a piece of parchment paper.
If desired, you can sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top of each date snicker for a nice touch.
Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to harden
Video
Notes
Store in an airtight container. I prefer to refrigerate these for the best taste and texture, but you don’t have to. These date snickers are good for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.1mg
