Thinking back to ten years ago when Alex and I first started cooking, the food landscape in America was almost unrecognizable. We had never heard of quinoa. No one we knew ate kale. No bake energy bars hadn’t been invented yet. Heck, there wasn’t even Pinterest or Instagram. In 2010, we decided to start a website to record some of the vegetarian “real food” recipes we were making at home. At the time, not many people we knew were into cooking or real food. But gradually these ideas started to catch on.
What are Medjool dates?
Around that time I made my first raw brownies in our tiny galley kitchen, using a recipe adapted from the blog My New Roots. It was an “ah ha” moment for me, realizing how delicious the simple combination of Mejdool dates and nuts could be. (No sugar? No flour? This is incredible!) What are they? Medjool dates are large, caramely types of dates that are used in fruit and nut bars and raw treats. That first use of them began a long love affair with all things no bake energy bars and bites. They’ve caught on like wildfire; you’ll see recipes all over the internet these days. And of course, a few companies have come along and become household names (Larabar!) using the simple equation of blending dates and nuts into a tasty treat. A few other recipes with Medjool dates:
Raw Brownies Superfood Pecan Energy BarsCacao Nib Snack BarsCherry Vegan Energy Bars Chocolate Peanut Butter BuckeyesGlowing Green SmoothieBrownie Ice Cream SandwichBerry Brownie Yogurt ParfaitHealthy Chocolate Milkshake
No bake energy bars: a whole food plant based (WFPB) treat!
When we started A Couple Cooks, never did I think it would be around for years. We started it with the raw passion of spreading the love of real food and the joy of home cooking. Most of my first posts were enthusiastically praising the flavor of foods I’d just discovered: kale, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, quinoa, and fruit and nut bars like these. Never did I dream that in a handful of years, these foods would start to part of the American consciousness. And that terms like whole food plant based (WFPB) would become part of our lexicon. It’s been incredible watching people all over the country come to love the flavors of real food too.
How to make these no bake energy bars
So! Here’s a simple recipe for cashew no bake energy bars. Like many no bake energy bars, the recipe uses Medjool dates, the large variety with a caramel flavor that’s becoming common in grocery stores. Here’s how to make this recipe:
Blend. In a food processor, combine the dates with cashews, almonds, cinnamon and vanilla. Process until a sweet dough forms. Roll. Spread the dough on a sheet pan and press it into an even layer. Use a small glass to roll over the top to make it perfectly flat. Freeze, then cut. Freeze for 15 minutes to set the dough. Then cut it into bars.
Pumpkin spice variation
The cinnamon and vanilla makes these no bake energy bars have a delicious, nuanced flavor that’s incredible satisfying! If it’s fall, you can also make a seasonal pumpkin spice variation on this bar that’s extra tasty. Simply substitute the cinnamon in the recipe with 1 ½ teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice. It’s a cozy way to celebrate the season!
This no bake energy bars recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.
Looking for healthy snacks?
We reach for healthy snacks on the regular. A few of our other top healthy snacks: 5 from 1 review **For a pumpkin spice variation, substitute 1 ½ teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice for the cinnamon.
Vegetable Hummus Tortilla RollupsHomemade Za’atar Pita Chips5 Ingredient Classic Homemade HummusChipotle Vegan Queso DipHomemade Popcorn on the Stove
Looking for vegan recipes?
Vegan recipes are becoming part of our everyday, though we typically eat vegetarian. Here are a few of our recent vegan recipes:
Creamy Vegan Pasta MarinaraHomemade Sopes with Black BeansSimple Chickpea Curry with Tart CherriesGreek Nachos with Cilantro DrizzleRefried Bean TacosChocolate Brownie Spelt Vegan PancakesTart Cherry Cardamom Baked Oatmeal
Last updated: January 2020
