What do you get when you put a hungry Sonora in the kitchen? Either a complete disaster, or this: Cinnamon Raisin Healthy Date Bars, a sweet and salty snack that melts in your mouth and makes you wonder, is this even healthy? And to answer the question, yes, yes it is. AIP Diet Snacks can in fact taste this good.
Quick snacks are HARD to find you’re living on the AIP diet. The snack aisles with endless options have almost nothing you can eat, and you find yourself thinking, “I guess I’ll just eat this cucumber or something…” I remember the feeling. And let me tell you, I love snacking. One snack I missed when I first started the Autoimmune Protocol was granola bars. I used to live off of granola bars in college, they were easy for on the go. You could throw it in your purse or backpack and never go hungry!
When I transitioned to AIP I stopped buying snacks because I didn’t know what to buy. Which was really a bad idea, because when I got hungry I would open the fridge and find nothing easy to eat which left me frustrated, hungry, and angry. Hangry is not a good place to be. After experiencing this scenario multiple times, I decided that operation Snacks at the Ready was a go.
Cinnamon Raisin Healthy Date Bars quickly became part of my weekly snack routine. These healthy AIP Diet snacks are small but mighty. This snack takes the combination of coconut, raisins, dates, and coconut butter. They are PACKED with nutrients and just downright delicious. Did I mention that these are AIP, vegan, whole 30, and paleo? Can I get an amen for a healthy snack!?
Tips on Making Cinnamon Raisin Healthy Date Bars
Do I need to use Medjool dates in these Healthy Date Bars?
I highly recommend using Medjool dates over using other types of dates because they are much thicker and make a smoother date paste. You can use other types of dates, but you will probably want to at least double the amount of dates in the recipe.
Can I substitute nut butter for coconut butter?
If you are on a strict AIP diet you need to use coconut butter. If you have reintroduced nut butters into your diet you can substitute that for the coconut butter. I would recommend using cashew butter instead, but really any kind will work.
Why do I boil the dates?
This helps to soften the dates and makes them easier to blend smoothly. If you don’t want to boil them on the stove top, you can easily throw them in the microwave and microwave for 1-2 minutes until they have become soft. They will become slightly lighter in color and the skin will begin to come off.
How to make Cinnamon Raisin Healthy Date Bars
Start by softening the dates. Put them in a sauce pan with water that covers them (or bowl if using the microwave method). You can boil them in a sauce pan on low heat for about 3-4 minutes, or you can throw them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes on high. Once the dates have softened, remove them from the water and place them in the food processor.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor along with the softened dates. Blend the ingredients on high until a paste starts to form. This should take about 1-2 minutes. Once the ingredients are well blended and stick together. Remove from the blender and form into small energy bites, or press the mixture into a loaf pan.
Sometimes I roll them into bites (makes 10-11) or I will form them in a loaf pan and cut them out (makes 5 large bars or 7 small bars). I typically do the loaf pan because it’s faster.
Store the energy bites in the refrigerator in an air tight container.
These healthy date bars are great as an AIP diet snack or to satisfy your sweet tooth. I often eat these when I’m looking for a sugar fix. They are also surprisingly filling. Typically one recipe will last me through the week
If you liked this recipe, you should check these out!
Cinnamon Raisin Healthy Date Bars
Ingredients
- ¾ Cup Dried coconut
- ¼ Cup Raisins
- 3 Medjool Dates 6 California dates
- 3 Tablespoons Coconut butter or Nut butter
- 1 Teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1 Pinch Salt
Instructions
- First cover dates in water on medium high heat and bring to a boil in a saucepan this will take about 3-4 minutes. Or in a microwave safe bowl cover dates in water and microwave for 1-2 minutes until dates are soft.
- Meanwhile, add the rest of the ingredients to a food processor.
- When the dates are soft, add them into the food processor and begin to blend.
- Blend on high for 1-2 min until the dates and raisins form into a paste and the mixture starts to clump together
- Once it is well blended, press into loaf pan or form into bites then store in the refrigerator
