Date Bar Recipe (Gluten Free)

My Date Bar Recipe makes the perfect snack prep for the week, so you’re not actually reaching for a candy bar. Sweet, chocolatey, and packed with bananas, you can prep them in minutes and get the best little sweet treat made with low-processed ingredients!

Basically, this recipe is a candy bar made with good-for-you ingredients, including a simple 2-ingredient date caramel that is super versatile and incredibly delicious. I love these for an on-the-go bite, an afternoon wake-me-up or an after dinner sweet something.

Here’s a round-up of my favorite Gluten Free Desserts for more inspiration. If you try this Date Bar Recipe and love it, check out my Banana Bread Bars, these Medjool Date Protein Balls and my Strawberry Crumble Bars.

Why you’ll love this gluten free recipe

Honestly, I love that this Date Bar Recipe is naturally sweetened with bananas and dates and without any refined sugar.

They have that rich and fudgy chocolate flavor without feeling too heavy.

Made with simple ingredients you probably already have in the pantry. Yay! They are also a great way to use up spotty bananas.

I love that this low mess recipe leaves me with very few dishes.

They are customizable with endless flavor variations and toppings.

I make them and freeze them so I can eat them whenever. This is such a great freezer prep recipe.

Ingredients and substitutions

Bananas: I make this recipe to use up almost overripe bananas. You’ll need to mash them, so they should be on the softer side.

Peanut butter: Any good quality nut butter works. Use a natural brand with no added sugar or salt if you want to control the sweetness.

Cocoa powder: Just a good dark cocoa will work.

Date: I love using soft, tender Medjool dates in this recipe. They are so easy to work with.

Chocolate chips: Go dairy free and vegan if you want to keep these as vegan date bars.

Directions (step by step)

Make the Date Bar Recipe base: Mix together the mashed bananas, peanut butter and cocoa powder.

Layer in the date bar filling: Load up the loaf pan and bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes.

Make the date caramel: Add your dates to hot water and soak them for 15 minutes. Drain and blend them until silky smooth.

Top the gluten free date bars: Cool the baked layer and then top with caramel spread and sprinkle over the warmed chocolate chips and spread them out.

Expert tips and tricks

It’s a pretty simple recipe to be honest but here are a couple of hacks I use to get them as perfect as possible:

Make sure your bananas are very ripe so they will mash easily and create a smooth base layer.

I blend my soaked dates until silky and then add water slowly so that I get the perfect consistency.

You can let the baked bars cool completely before spreading the date caramel to prevent it from soaking in.

Storage and meal prepping 

You can store this Date Bar Recipe once sliced, in an airtight container for up to 5 days. They can be kept at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Freeze individual bars or the whole batch for up to 2 months; thaw them in the fridge before serving them.

If you want to make any of the elements ahead, prepare the base and caramel separately. You can then assemble them on the day you want to serve them.

Variations

Dairy free: To make these dairy free, use dairy free chocolate chips for the topping!

Mocha: Stir in some instant espresso powder into the base layer before baking it.

Salted caramel: Sprinkle over a little flaky sea salt before adding the caramel date layer.

Coconut: Stir shredded coconut into the caramel or just sprinkle it on top.

Date nut bar: Fold chopped nuts like walnuts or almonds into the base.

Granola toppings: Sprinkle granola over the caramel layer.

FAQs

Can I make these date bars without bananas?
Yes, you can swap out the mashed bananas for unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin puree. The texture won’t be exactly the same, though.

What type of dates work best?
Medjool dates are my favorite because they’re soft and naturally caramel-like, but Deglet Noor dates also work. You’ll just need to soak them for longer.

Can I make these bars nut-free?
Yes, use sunflower seed butter or tahini as an alternative to nut butter.

Do I have to bake the bars?
Yes, the base needs baking to set, but you could try a no bake date bars version by chilling the mixture in the fridge or freezer until firm.

Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of vegan?
Yes, any chocolate chips will work in this Date Bar Recipe.

How can I make them sweeter?
For a sweeter version, add in some maple syrup, honey (if not strictly vegan) or an extra date or two to the caramel.

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