Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars sliced on a cutting board.
4.90 from 29 votes

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars that are the BEST healthy sweet treat! They're gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, and full of delicious ingredients. Whether you're making these for a healthy sweet snack at home or for a gathering, every bite is full of chocolatey date caramel melt-in-your-mouth goodness!

Prep: 10 Cook: 25 Total: 35
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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars

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Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars that are the BEST healthy sweet treat! They’re gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, and full of delicious ingredients. Whether you’re making these for a healthy sweet snack at home or for a gathering, every bite is full of chocolatey date caramel melt-in-your-mouth goodness!

Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Date Bar Recipe

This has become one of my new favorite evening snacks! You know, the one you save for after the kids go to bed and you look forward to all day…that’s these date bars for me! Goodness, they’re delicious. Made with rolled oats, almond flour, oat flour, coconut oil, dates, and date or coconut sugar, these healthy bites are full of better-for-you ingredients. And the chocolate chip and walnut topping just really takes things to another level!

My number one tip for these date bars: let them cool and set in the fridge. They tend to be a bit crumbly when they’re warm, so I like to let them completely cool in the fridge, then cut them into bars and let them set again.

While they do tend to be a little bit crumbly, they’re 1000% SO good (trust me on this one) and I know you’ll love this recipe!

You’ll Also Love: Date Snickers (Peanut Butter Yogurt Dates)

Stack of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars healthy recipe.

What You’ll Need

Oatmeal Bars

Date Filling

Toppings

  • Vegan Dark Chocolate Chips -Or chocolate chunks.
  • Chopped Walnuts
Ingredients for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars recipe.

How to Make Healthy Oatmeal Date Bars

These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars are so easy to make for a fun, wholesome dessert! Here’s how to put them together:

1. Soak the Dates

Soaking the dates helps to soften them before blending. Even just 10 minutes of soaking while prepping the other ingredients makes such a difference!

2. Make the Oatmeal Bar Mixture

Stir the ingredients for the oatmeal bars in a large mixing bowl. Pour a little more than half of the mixture into a baking pan (opens in a new tab) lined with parchment paper and press down to create a crust!

3. Blend the Date Filling

Blend the soaked, pitted, and chopped dates with water, vanilla, and creamy almond butter.

4. Layer the Bars

Pour the date filling over the oatmeal mixture in the pan, then evenly sprinkle the remaining oatmeal mixture on top. Add chocolate chips and chopped walnuts!

5. Bake

Bake the date bars at 375 degrees F for about 25-30 minutes.

6. Let Cool & Slice

Let cool completely, and if you have time, let the bars set in the fridge for 30 minutes. This is optional, but it helps them to set up as they can be a bit crumbly! Slice the bars and enjoy.

RELATED: Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Cups

Tips for the BEST Date Bars

  • Date bars tend to be a bit crumbly when they’re warm, so I like to let them completely cool in the fridge, then cut them into bars and let them set again. It isn’t required, but definitely helps!
  • Use a small cup blender for blending the date filling for best results. I like using the bowl attachment on my Vitamix, (opens in a new tab) but even something like a baby bullet works great!
  • Add a dash of flaky sea salt over these bars for extra flavor!
Angled close up of stacked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars.

How to Store

Date Bars are best kept in the fridge! To store, place the sliced bars in a large rectangle airtight container in a single layer and add the lid. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days! They can also be frozen for up to 3 months and then thawed the night before when ready to enjoy.

Close up of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars.

More Healthy Treats You’ll Love

Love the recipe? Rate it below and sign up for my FREE 7 Meal-Planning Secrets To Making Wholesome Dinners (In 30 Minutes Or Less) course!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars sliced on a cutting board.
ServingsServes 16
4.90 from 29 votes

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars that are the BEST healthy sweet treat! They're gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, and full of delicious ingredients. Whether you're making these for a healthy sweet snack at home or for a gathering, every bite is full of chocolatey date caramel melt-in-your-mouth goodness!
Prep: 10 minCook: 25 minTotal: 35 min

Ingredients

Oatmeal Bars

Date Filling

Toppings

  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (or chocolate chunks)
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Soak the dates while prepping the other ingredients.
  3. Mix the oatmeal bar ingredients together.
  4. Remove the date pits and chop.
  5. Blend the date filling ingredients until smooth.
  6. Line an 8×8" pan with parchment paper.
  7. Press a little more than half of the oatmeal bar mixture into the pan.
  8. Add in the date filling and spread over the oatmeal mixture.
  9. Sprinkle the remaining oatmeal mixture evenly over the date filling.
  10. Top with chocolate chips and walnuts, then lightly press into the filling.
  11. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
  12. Let cool completely, then cut into bars. Enjoy!

Watch Me Make This

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Bar | Calories: 166 kcal | Carbohydrates: 14 g | Protein: 3 g | Fat: 12 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 0.03 mg | Sodium: 118 mg | Potassium: 97 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 7 g | Vitamin A: 8 IU | Vitamin C: 0.04 mg | Calcium: 32 mg | Iron: 1 mg

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8 Comments

  1. Silvana

    I don’t have date sugar or coconut sugar. What can I replace it with? I have regular sugar and 1:1 stevia.
    Thank you!

    1. JOL Team

      Hey Silvana, you can use regular sugar in this. Enjoy!

  2. Terri Degiano

    These bars are so good. I would definitely make these again.

    1. Jar Of Lemons

      Thanks so much, Terri. I’m glad you enjoyed this date bars!

  3. Nathalie

    Do you keep water in the date fillingafter soaking

    1. Christine

      No, go ahead and drain it!

  4. Chloe

    This recipe is DELICIOUS. The flavor is so good. The oat part crumbles a little bit at first but once it firmed up in the fridge that problem was solved! I think next time I’ll double the oat topping because it’s scrumptious. Thanks for the recipe!

  5. Nisha

    Love all the ingredients in this recipe, am sure it tastes awesome!