These gluten-free peanut butter date bars are officially on my list of my favorite no-bake, refined-sugar-free sweet treats to have stashed in my freezer for a sneaky afternoon snack!
An Easy Gluten-Free Dessert Recipe
I wasn’t always a gluten-free dessert girlie. Growing up, boxed brownie mixes and candy corn were my two favorite sweet treats (aka the more sugar the better)! Healthier dessert recipes weren’t even on my radar until I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2020.
Gluten-free desserts became a staple for me after I started following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to help manage a few of my symptoms. These healthier, refined-sugar-free ingredients are nourishing, satisfying, and surprisingly delicious! After I started getting used to this new style of eating, it became a fun challenge to re-create a few of my old favorite sweet treats with these healthier ingredients.
Having a few easy, tried-and-true refined-sugar-free dessert recipes in my rotation is also arguably necessary for this new busy stage of life for me. Between moving, graduating grad school, and starting a new job this month, it’s truly a game changer having some of my favorite gluten-free peanut butter date bars stashed in my freezer after long days. Before I started creating healthier desserts, I had the impression that they would be complicated and annoying to make. Instead, I’ve found that a lot of these gluten-free, refined-sugar-free dessert ingredients are actually much easier to work with than traditional flour and sugar since you don’t have to worry about over-mixing gluten or waiting for anything to rise.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Date Bars
No-bake desserts are my favorite category of recipes to make during the hot, busy summer nights! I never find myself wanting to spend a lot of time working over a hot oven or stovetop and I DEFINITELY find myself very short on time to be making complicated recipes. Summer months are meant to be spent outside in the sunshine with family and friends, right?!
Because of this, I usually go for RXbars, Larabars, or D’Vash bars when I want a quick healthier gluten-free sweet snack. Trust me when I say that I definitely waited far too long to make my own! I wish I had made my own no-bake gluten-free, refined-sugar-free date bars much sooner.
What You’ll Need
- Pitted Dates
- Natural Peanut Butter
- Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- Pecan Flour
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- Sea Salt
- Cinnamon
- Parchment Paper
- 8.5″x4.5″ pan
- Large Food Processor
How to Make Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Pecan Date Bars
Step 1: Combine the pecan crust ingredients into the bowl of a large food processor. Pulse on high until a thick mixture forms and press into an 8.5″x4.5″ loaf pan lined with parchment paper evenly. Place in the freezer while making the date filling.
Step 2: Combine the date filling ingredients into a large food processor. Blend on high until a cohesive, sticky mixture forms.
Step 3: Transfer the date mixture to the pan with the frozen peanut butter pecan crust. Evenly spread the date mixture over the surface of the crust.
Step 4: Melt extra peanut butter and coconut butter to drizzle over the bars. Place in the freezer for at least 2 hours to chill before slicing. Serve cold, but not frozen and enjoy!
More of My Favorite No-Bake Recipes
- No-Bake Paleo Hazelnut Cacao Bars
- No-Bake Gluten-Free PB&J Bars
- No-Bake Ginger Coconut Cookies (Gluten-Free, Refined-Sugar-Free)
- Wired Peanut Butter Energy Bites (Gluten-Free, Refined-Sugar-Free)
- No-Bake Paleo Pumpkin Pie (Gluten-Free, Refined-Sugar-Free)
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Date Bars (No-Bake, Refined-Sugar-Free)
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Freeze Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 bars 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
The easiest healthier, gluten-free, refined-sugar-free peanut butter date bars with a decadent, nutty pecan crust. The best part: no baking needing! Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Refined-Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free, Refined-Sugar-Free.
Ingredients
Pecan Crust:
- 1 cup pecan flour
- 1/3 cup natural creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
Date Filling:
- 170 g (about 10 large) pitted dates
- 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup pecan flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
Optional:
- 3 tbsp natural creamy peanut butter, melted
- 3 tbsp coconut butter, melted
Instructions
- Prepare an 8″x8″ baking pan by lining it with a sheet of parchment paper and set aside.
- Add all of the “Pecan Crust” ingredients into the bowl of a large food processor in the order listed. Pulse on high until a thick, cohesive mixture forms (about 45 seconds).
- Transfer the crust mixture to the prepared baking pan and press it down evenly to cover the bottom of the pan. Place in the freezer while you prepare the date filling.
- Add the pitted dates into a bowl with warm water for 10 minutes to soften. Place the softened dates into the bowl of a large food processor and pulse on high for about a minute.
- Add the remainder of the “Date Filling” ingredients to the food processor and pulse on high until a smooth, sticky mixture forms.
- Transfer the date mixture to the pan to cover the surface of the partially frozen pecan crust, spreading evenly. (Optional) Drizzle the surface of the date mixture with melted peanut butter and coconut butter.
- Place the pan back into the freezer for at least 2 hours to chill completely before slicing. Serve cold (not frozen!) and enjoy
Notes
Any nut flour will work in this recipe; using pecan flour simply adds a nuttier, buttery flavor profile to the dessert.
- Category: Easy Snacks, Something Sweet
- Method: No-Bake
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 16
- Fat: 28
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 8
Keywords: Gluten-free, refined-sugar-free, date bars, healthy snack, healthy dessert, grain-free, dairy-free, no-bake dessert, no-bake recipe, easy snack idea, healthy snack idea