This healthy candy bar recipe is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth and provide your body with fiber, protein and omega 3 fatty acids so you can feel your best!
Total Time: 20 minutes Servings: 36
$9.15 Recipe / $0.25 Serving
Managing My Sweet Tooth
I’ll be the first to admit that I have a sweet tooth. Since you are reading this post, I’m assuming you might have one too? Something I’ve learned over the years with my love of sweet foods, is that trying to avoid them when the craving hits usually leads to me eating 5 other foods items only to come away disappointed and ultimately eating the sweet thing I was craving. Can you relate to this?
Since learning this, rather than avoiding sweets when I am craving them, I allow myself to eat them. In addition, to ensure that I come away feeling both satisfied and physically well, I like to pair the sweets I’m craving (ahem…chocolate) with other nutrients my body needs. This healthy candy bar recipe was created with that in mind.
Healthy Candy Bar Recipe Ingredients
The best part about these candy bar bites is not only are they delicious, but each of the ingredients provide your body with several amazing nutrients.
Dates
The dried dates in this recipe give these candy bar bites a chewy, caramel texture. They also offer provide:
- Fiber to fill you up and keep you regular
- Potassium to assist in heart health
- Magnesium to regulate your nervous system
- Copper to aid in making connective tissue
- Manganese to help metabolize the food you eat
- Iron to create blood cells
- Vitamin B6 to support a healthy immune system
Peanut Butter
The peanut butter in this healthy candy bar recipe pairs perfectly with the chocolate and dates. It also offers:
- Monounsaturated Fats to help raise your good HDL cholesterol levels
- Protein to build strong muscles
- Fiber to help prevent cancer
- Vitamin E to support healthy skin
Chia Seeds
The chia seeds in these healthy chocolate, peanut butter, candy bar bites add the perfect crunchy texture. They also provide:
- Protein to support weight loss
- Omega 3 fatty acids for heart and brain health
- Fiber to help regulate blood sugar levels
- Calcium to build strong bones
- Iron to improve sleep quality
- Magnesium to improve your mood
- Phosphorus to help repair body tissues
- Zinc to boost your immune system
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine) to fight off depression symptoms
- Vitamin B3 (niacin) to boost brain function
You can find chia seeds in the rice aisle, baking aisle, or health section of most grocery stores. You can also find it online like here or here.
Dark Chocolate Chips
The dark chocolate (or semi-sweet) chocolate chips in this recipe add that special craving-beating element that sometimes only chocolate can do. It may surprise you, but dark chocolate also offers your body some great nutrients:
- Iron to reduce fatigue
- Copper to protect cells from damage
- Magnesium to improve your exercise performance
- Manganese to reduce your risk of developing diseases
Unsweetened Coconut
Coconut flakes are an optional part of this healthy candy bar recipe, but I love the extra crunch and flavor they add. I recommend using unsweetened coconut flakes because the dates and the chocolate add plenty of sweetness on their own. Why add more sugar when it’s unnecessary, right? Coconut also provides your body with:
- Fiber to prevent colon cancer
- Manganese to act as an antioxidant and fight off diseases
- Copper to help make red blood cells
- Magnesium to improve sleep quality
- Selenium to protect against heart disease
How to Make Them
These healthy chocolate, peanut butter candy bar bites are super easy to make.
Start by chopping your dates into small pieces then smashing them firmly into a parchment lined 9 x 12 pan. I like to put another piece of parchment paper on tops then use my hands to smash them down. The parchment paper keeps my hands clean and does not stick to the dates.
Next, spread your peanut butter on top of the smashed dates. If your peanut butter is hard to spread, put it in the microwave for 15 seconds to soften it.
Third, sprinkle your chia seeds on top of the peanut butter.
Next, place your chocolate chips and coconut butter into a microwave safe bowl and warm them for thirty seconds. Take them out of the microwave then stir them thoroughly. Repeat this process for 2 to more 4 times until the chocolate chips blend smoothly into a chocolate spread. Be careful not to over microwave them. Stirring them thoroughly in between each microwave session, especially after the third time, can prevent you from microwaving them more they need.
Once the chocolate chips are melted spread them evenly over the top of the chia seeds. The chia seeds will start to mix in with the chocolate and peanut butter a little bit, and that’s okay.
After the chocolate is evenly spread, add the unsweetened coconut flakes if you are using them. After this final step, place the pan in the freezer to harden for 10 to 20 minutes. This makes them easier to cut. Next, cut them into the 36 pieces, or whatever amount or size you desire.
These keep fresh in an air tight container in the fridge for about a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Healthy Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Candy Bar Bites
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Chop the dates into small pieces, then evenly smash them into the bottom of 9 x 13 pan.
- Spread the peanut butter over the top of the smashed dates. (If your peanut butter is difficult to spread, warm it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it before spreading).
- Sprinkle the chia seeds evenly over the top of the peanut butter layer.
- Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave them for 30 second then stir thoroughly. Repeat this process until the chocolate chips are melted.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate chips on top of the chia seeds. It's okay if the chia seeds start mixing into the chocolate.
- If using, sprinkle the unsweetened coconut flakes evenly over the top of the chocolate layer.
- Place the pan in the freezer until the chocolate and peanut butter have hardened enough to cut through (about 10-20 minutes).
- Cut them into 36 individual sized pieces (or according to your desired size) then store them in the fridge for up to a week or the freezer for up to three months.
