Vegan Date Sweetened Chewy Granola Bars [GF, Oil-Free]
Healthy vegan date sweetened chewy granola bars with strawberries and chocolate chips! Easy, 8 ingredients, gluten-free, oil-free, no bake, and the perfect snack!
Equipment
- You will need: a food processor, an 8x8 baking dish and parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates, packed
- 2 & 1/2 tbsp canned unsweetened full-fat coconut milk use the thick cream on top!
- 1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 & 3/4 cups rolled oats certified GF if needed
- 1/2 cup freeze dried strawberries, broken into small pieces plus extra for topping
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips plus extra for topping
- 1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt
- shredded unsweetened coconut, for topping
Instructions
- First, line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. Next, check your medjool dates. You want to make sure they are plump, moist and sticky. If they feel dry and hard & look wrinkled: soak them in hot water for 10-15 minutes, drain the water, and proceed with the recipe.
- Add your medjool dates, coconut cream and vanilla extract to a food processor and pulse for a minute or so until you get a thick caramel like texture. Make sure to stop every so often and scrape the mixture off the sides of the food processor and down toward the blade.
- Next, remove the blade and add the rolled oats, salt, freeze dried strawberries and mini chocolate chips (you can also transfer everything to a large bowl and mix). Stir very well until everything is combined and the mixture is sticking together. I like to mix AND press down into the mixture with a rubber spatula so everything sticks.
- Take out the granola bar mixture with your hands, squeeze to stick together and place in the baking dish. Press down with your hands or a spatula in a tight, even layer. Top with shredded unsweetened coconut and extra freeze dried strawberries and mini chocolate chips (gently press the toppings into the bars with a spatula or your fingers so they don't fall off).
- Freeze for 20 minutes, cut into bars and enjoy! Store the bars covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
- See above for substitution information and FAQ