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Chocolate Honey Oatmeal Date Bars

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Raw Chocolate Honey Oatmeal Date Bars with almond milk

~ raw, gluten-free, nut-free ~

No dehydrator required I repeat, no dehydrator required! I hope you could hear me singing that from my rooftop. Haha, Though I LOVE my dehydrator, and it is a fantastic tool to have in the kitchen, but I do appreciate a quick and easy treat that I can pull together in a matter of minutes. And if I do, I am sure you do too.  :)

Thick, chewy, chocolatey goodness. That sums it up really! Oh gosh, I got all caught up in the fact that you don’t need a dehydrator that I almost missed the fact that they are nut-free!

Don’t get me wrong, nuts are yummy, nuts are healthy, but many people are either allergic to them or have a hard time digesting them.  So, having a treat that is raw, gluten-free, and nut-free can be a real victory.

Raw Honey, Not Vegan

Today, I am going to b-r-i-e-f-l-y talk about raw honey.  I know you are busy and want to get on with making this bar, but I wanted to point out a few things about honey.  The type of honey that you use can alter the success of these bars. I used raw honey that is super thick. If you use honey that is runny, it will change the texture of this recipe. I will provide a link below to the one that I use.

If you can, local honey is best. It is believed that ingesting local raw honey helps build up immunity to the local pollen, alleviating springtime allergies. Modern food-processing techniques often involve filtering honey for clarity and superheating it to avoid crystallization and extend its shelf life.

These processes can dilute much of the nutritional and health value of honey. Filtering might remove minerals, for example, and superheating honey partially destroys its vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes. The definition of raw honey is debatable.

Still, generally, it means honey that is strained (run through a screen to remove large particulate matter like chunks of beeswax), and not heated above ambient temperatures that could occur within the hive (generally nothing higher than 100 degrees). Buying local honey is better for the environment and also helps support your local community! I hope you enjoy these bars. Many blessings, amie sue

raw bar stacked with a jug of almond milk - Raw, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free Chocolate Honey Oatmeal Date BarsIngredients:

yields 16 bars

  • 3 cups rolled, gluten-free oats, soaked & dehydrated
  • 2 cups shredded dried coconut
  • 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
  • 1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt
  • 1/2 cup cold-pressed coconut oil, melted
  • 1/2 cup raw honey
  • 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted

Preparation:

  1. Warm the coconut oil and honey to a liquid by placing the jars in a large bowl and surround the jar with hot water.
  2. While the coconut oil and honey are melting, put the shredded coconut, cacao, oats, and salt in the food processor, fitted with the “S” blade.   Process until everything is broken down and mixed.
  3. Add the melted coconut oil and honey, process until everything is mixed, and then while the food processor is running, drop the dates down the chute one at a time.  Keep processing until the batter forms a ball and sticks together.
  4. Line an 8 x 8″ pan with plastic wrap and place the batter on the pan. Press firmly and evenly. Cover and place in the fridge or freezer to firm.
  5. Remove and cut into desired shapes and sizes.
  6. Keep stored in the fridge for 7 days or several months in the freezer.

The Institute of Culinary Ingredients™

  • Raw honey isn’t vegan, but I still use it now and again.  Read (here) why I like to.
  • Dates are a fantastic ingredient for raw food recipes,  click (here) to read why.
  • What is raw cacao powder?
  • What is Himalayan pink salt, and does it matter?  Click (here) to read more about it.
  • Are oats gluten-free?  Yes, read more about that (here).
  • Are oats raw?  Yes, they can be found.  Click (here) to learn more.
  • Do I need to soak and dehydrate oats?  Not required but recommended.  Click (here) to see why.

48 thoughts on “Chocolate Honey Oatmeal Date Bars

  1. Kelly Holden says:

    Hi Amie Sue, your recipes are always so amazing and I can’t wait to make this one! Just one (or 2!) quick question(s) – I can’t get raw rolled oats where I live in the UK, but can get raw oat groats. Would these be a good substitute, as everything gets broken up in the food processor anyway, and if so, how much would you recommend using? Thank you xx

    • amie-sue says:

      You should be able to Kelly, just make sure you blitzed them to more of a powder so they are not hard and chewy. Oh, and I would soak and dehydrate them first since they can be a bit tough on the digestive system. Use the same measurement. Good luck! amie sue

    • Jasmine says:

      You can get raw rolled oats online in the UK. Also activated ones that have already been soaked and dried. Just type into google.

  2. Carol says:

    Hi Amie Sue

    You can’t beat quick, easy, delicious and healthy. How does it get any better than that?
    Thank you for sharing another one of your treasures.

    • amie-sue says:

      I agree Carol :) You are welcome and I hope that you enjoy them. Have a glorious and blessed day… I am going to aim for that, so we both might as well do it together. hehe Amie sue

  3. Rae says:

    Hi,

    These look amazing and I can’t wait to try them for my family! But cacao is not something I have found locally yet, can I substitute 100 percent cocoa, or dark Dutch cocoa? Thank you!

    • amie-sue says:

      You can Rae, just double check the ingredient list to make sure they are not adding or cutting the coco with undesired ingredients. They can be sneaky like that. And be sure to taste test as you create this recipe. Different forms of chocolate taste weaker or stronger so you might have to tweak things a tad. Good luck and enjoy! amie sue

  4. Andrea says:

    Hi. I can’t have oats or any other cereal grains. Is there any substitute that would result in the same consistency as this original recipe? Thanks.

  5. Kathrine says:

    Hi. I wondered, is your coconut oil measurement BEFORE or AFTER you melt it? Assume after, but good to get a confirmation. Thanks. Kathrine

    • amie-sue says:

      Hello Kathrine,

      Honestly, it doesn’t matter with coconut oil. Whether solid or melted it is the same in measurement, just different consistency. So when I measure out my coconut oil, it is always in solid form since my house is never warmed than 76 degrees. :) Enjoy and have a great day, amie sue

      • Helen says:

        Hello again
        I was about to ask the same question.
        I have always believed, as well as observed (and even measured) that coconut oil changes volume on melting. It takes up more volume as a semi solid than as a liquid.

        • Helen says:

          And, given the volume change, I always use the weighing scales for solid coconut oil, and stick to recipes which give the quantities in grams rather than cups as I find the solid oil to hard to measure…….
          Do you know, by any chance, the weight of the oil you used in this recipe….txt

          • amie-sue says:

            Hello Helen,

            No I don’t know the weight of the oil used in this recipe. I rarely use weight in my recipe unless I am requiring precise measurements such as with raw chocolate candies. amie sue

        • amie-sue says:

          Hello Helen,

          Coconut oil, whether in solid form or liquid, is the same in measurement (cups). When I use coconut oil, I place the jar in a bowl or sink filled with hot water to melt it, I then just pour out the measurement that my recipes calls for. Quick and easy. :) amie sue

          • Helen says:

            I like the no-fuss easy approach. If it’s good enough for an expert like you then it’s certainly good enough for me!

            • amie-sue says:

              Only the best for you Helen. :) I hope you enjoy the weekend, they sure do sneak up on us quickly don’t they?! Blessings, amie sue

  6. Annie says:

    OHHHH… do these look yummy!… I’m on my way back to the kitchen!… thanks Amie Sue

  7. JulieH says:

    Hi Ami,
    I just made these. They’re delicious! I’ll be the only vegan at a meeting tomorrow night and this is what I will be bringing to share. I can imagine these would also be wonderful as truffles (rolled into a ball and dusted with cacoa powder).

    • amie-sue says:

      How did it go Julie? And yes, these can be enjoyed in many different shapes and sizes. One of the great joys of raw desserts! Have a wonderful weekend, amie sue

  8. joyce says:

    Made this recipe last week. Took to a group. Rave reviews. Requests for recipe. This group is always amazed that raw can be so tasty. Thanks For all your hard work. Know that it is appreciated.

    • amie-sue says:

      I appreciate that Joyce. So happy to here that those around you are enjoying the raw recipes. :) I love it when that happens. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day, amie sue

  9. Sandra says:

    I can’t wait to make these bars! But, Can I replace the honey? And if so, with what?

    • amie-sue says:

      Hello Sandra,

      You can use any liquid sweetener. Just taste test as you go to get the right level since each sweetener is different. :) Blessings, amie sue

  10. Melissa says:

    can I use melted coconut butter instead of coconut oil?

    • amie-sue says:

      Hello Melissa,

      In this recipe you could. It will make it firmer which is fine but the flavor will be much darker and might need a bit more sweetener. Good luck and have fun! amie sue

  11. Narelle says:

    I made this the other day and I love it. It was my second ever raw recipe, and I was pleasantly surprised. Even my 15 year old carnivore son loves it.

    • amie-sue says:

      I love love love hearing that. :) It’s always a double blessings when kids and teenagers like the recipes… They never hold back what they really think. hehe Thank you for sharing Narelle. Many blessings, amie sue

  12. Helen says:

    We don’t have shredded coconut here in the uk. Buying it online from the US is very expensive. We have dried coconut flakes, and desiccated. I have been told that the US style shredded stuff has a different consistency and is moisture and that I shouldn’t use it to replace shredded coconut.

    Is this true?

    And can I use my dried coconut flakes instead?

    And given that they are so much larger than your shreds and therefore occupy a greater volume (per gram in weight), then how much should I use? (Cups or grams but grams prefered!)

    Many many thanks
    Helen

    • amie-sue says:

      Hello Helen,

      Shredded coconut is mostly dry, but it usually retains more moisture than full-on desiccated coconut. Shredded coconut comes in long, thin strips; flaked coconut comes in smaller, flatter pieces, and desiccated coconut is even finer and obtained through grinding. Again, as its name suggests, desiccated coconut has had most of the moisture removed from it while shredded and flaked varieties still contain some moisture.

      If desiccated is all that a person has, they could use it but many need to add in a tbsp of coconut perhaps to add a little moisture back in. You can use dried coconut flakes, first through them in the food processor to break then down to a shredded size, then measure out your 2 cups worth. I hope this helps, amie sue

      • Helen says:

        Many many thanks. I’ll use the flakes. They are not too dry – quite bendy – but very large so I’ll definitely process them. If I process to much I’ll just have to eat them …..
        Not so bad really!!

        • amie-sue says:

          You betcha Helen. Food never goes to waste around here either. hehe Enjoy and let me know how they turn out. Blessings and abundance, amie sue

  13. Helen says:

    Sorry, me again
    Dried dates or fresh!?
    Many thanks
    Helen

  14. ANTHONY CODEN says:

    YOU CAN GERMINATE ROLLED OATS TO NEUTRALIZE PHYTIC ACID

  15. iael says:

    thank you this was a great delicious recipe! :)

  16. uptownmama says:

    Amy sue, I want to try this recipe, but cant have dates. Is there another alternative. Thank you
    Cathy

    • amie-sue says:

      Good afternoon Cathy,

      You can use any dried fruit. If the dried fruit is really dry, rehydrate it in water until soft. Squeeze out the excess water and proceed. Keep me posted on what you try. :) Blessings, amie sue

  17. Jan Ogden says:

    Can hardly wait to try these!! Appreciate another recipe to add to all the amazing other’s!! Hope you are finally getting spring there…Still here in AZ waiting on the well driller. But still allot of snow in BC…Pecan trees are just finally starting to leaf out… Always love it when they come back on.. hugs and thinking about you!! jan

    • amie-sue says:

      I can’t wait for you try them too Jan. :) Goodness, still waiting on that well? I am sorry to hear that… but everything is in its due timing (as you know) … sending love, hugs and well wishes. hehe amie sue

  18. dawn says:

    i’m confused about how to measure a cup of dates. chop and put pieces in a measuring cup? pack whole dates into the cup?

    • amie-sue says:

      Hello Dawn,

      I keep them whole and just pack (smoosh) them into the measuring cup. :) Working with raw ingredients is very forgiving… so you would be ok with a little under or a little over. Blessings, amie sue

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