Chocolate Chip Cookie Energy Bars

These Chocolate Chip Cookie Energy Bars are a healthy blend of natural ingredients. They’re gluten-free, vegan, and naturally sweetened.

If you’re like me and love the classic chocolate chip cookie, then you’re going to love these energy bars. They taste like the sweet, buttery cookie, only they’re healthy, full of protein, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup and dates.

My dad was recently diagnosed with being borderline diabetic, so I set out to make him a snack he can feel good about. When I tell you the guy is picky, I mean it. That being said, I handed him the bag of bars and purposefully forgot to mention the ingredient list.

I love dates, but I know they can be a little intimidating for the date newbie, so I walked away after I handed him the bag before he could ask me how I made them.

The next day I received a text from my mom telling me how much he loved the bars. So much, in fact, he ate three bars in one sitting. Sure, that’s a lot of bars, but there’s no reason to feel bad; after all, they’re healthy and full of good-for-you ingredients.

These bars make a great grab-and-go breakfast and mid-afternoon or post-workout snack.

Print Recipe

Chocolate Chip Cookie Energy Bars

These protein packed energy bars are gluten-free, vegan, and naturally sweetened. They taste like a chocolate chip cookie.

Yield: 1 (8-inch-by-8-inch) square pan

Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes

Prep Time: 4 hours 10 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Line a 8-inch-by-8-inch square baking pan with parchment. 
2. Add cashews and old-fashioned oats to the bowl of a food processor; pulse until they become a fine crumb.
3. Add the dates, almond butter, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Pulse until the mixture looks like wet sand and begins to form a ball. 
4. Add the mini chocolate chips and pulse until just combined. 
5. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. Cover the pan and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours. Cut the bars into slices. Individually wrap or place them in an airtight container between layers of wax or parchment paper and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 

All images and text ©One Sweet Mess.

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