Fitness / January 15, 2024

Chocolate Energy Bars (No Bake)

Want a breakfast that works with your on-the-go lifestyle? Need a post-workout pick-me-up? With these Chocolate Energy Bars you get all that and more!

Chocolate Energy Bars (No Bake) top shot

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Ever have those days when you just can’t get going? When even the thought of eating exhausts you? You want something that’s not only full of energy but delicious. These chocolate energy bars are for you.

Sure, there are other ways to get a convenient boost throughout your day. Slow-Cooker Steel-Cut Oats Energy Bars and Almond Joy Energy Bites are just two examples. And while they are healthy and tasty, these CHOCOLATE energy bars have, well… chocolate. They seem so indulgent—perfect for those days when you’re overcome with lethargy—but are totally healthy, which brings me to the next section…

Are Chocolate Energy Bars Healthy?

Yes, they are. They are packed with protein, healthy fats, and fiber, and are naturally sweetened by the dates and coconut flakes. And dark chocolate lacks the amount sugar of its milk counterpart while also serving as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. These bars are ideal for those on vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo (if you’re okay with oats) diets.

Is Dark Chocolate Good for You?

Dark chocolate can offer numerous health benefits that milk chocolate can’t. I’ve already mentioned that it serves as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, but it can do more. It may be good for your heart, helping to lower LDL (i.e., the bad cholesterol). It stimulates the release of endorphins, which make you feel good. It has a little caffeine, which will give you a little pick-me-up and mental awareness. It dilates your blood vessels, which promotes good blood-flow. The key is to choose a chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content. Generally, the higher the number, the healthier the chocolate. Of course, don’t forget that this is still chocolate so regulate your consumption.

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup hazelnuts
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup pecan nuts
¼ cup coconut flakes
1 ½ cups dates, pitted
¾ cup cacao powder
¼ cup hemp seeds
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ cup dark chocolate, melted

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend

Add the hazelnuts, rolled oats, pecan nuts, and coconut flakes to the food processor and blend until it forms a coarse crumb.

Add

Add the pitted dates, cacao powder, hemp seeds (set some aside for sprinkling later), and sea salt to the food processor. Blend until the mix gets sticky.

Line

Line a 6×6-inch dish with plastic wrap. Add the dough to the dish. Press the dough down into all the corners and flatten it out, compressing it a little as you go.

Drizzle

Drizzle on the dark chocolate and sprinkle on the hemp seeds.

Chill

Refrigerate the bars for 30 minutes or freeze for 10 minutes to let the bars set, then cut into bars.

DEVOUR!

Tips & Tricks to Making Perfect Chocolate Energy Bars

Use high-quality ingredients. If your nuts and fruit aren’t fresh, you’ll be able to tell with every bite.
Want to increase the sweetness? Think about using honey, monkfruit, or maple syrup.
Want to increase the protein? Add protein powder. You can also add nut butter, which, as I note below, also acts as a binding agent.
Pulse the blender so you can control the chunkiness and maintain the range in texture.
Warm your cutting knife under hot water so that the bars don’t stick to the blade.

Chocolate Energy Bars (No Bake) close up shot

FAQs

how do i melt the chocolate?

If you’re worried about burning the chocolate, you can do the double boil. There are actual double boilers you can buy, but if you don’t have one, just boil water in a pot then put a metal bowl on top of it. Try to find one that fits it snugly so steam doesn’t sneak out. Place the chocolate in the bowl. The steam will melt the chocolate evenly and mitigate the odds of burning it.

is cacao the same as cocoa?

There is no standardization when it comes to labelling so you may see these words used interchangeably, but there is, in fact, a difference. Both come from the same seed but cacao is unprocessed and unroasted; it is the bean in raw form. Cocoa, on the other hand, has been processed and roasted, resulting in a slightly sweeter version. It’s the cocoa powder you use when baking and cooking. We use cacao here because of its health benefits.

what else can i garnish the bars with?

Have you tried edible flowers, like pansies or violets? If that’s not what you were thinking, you can use your leftover sea salt, honey, dried fruit like apricot or cranberry (or chop up some leftover dates), or citrus zest.

I’m having trouble keeping my bars together.

If your diet allows, use a nut butter (peanut or almond). It will act as a binding agent and add protein to the mix. Also, press FIRMLY down on the bars as you put it in the pan.

what else can i add to the bars for flavor?

Citrus zest (e.g., orange and lemon), as well as cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract would all complement the chocolate.

Other Energy Bars To Try

Energy Quinoa Breakfast Bars In The Slow Cooker: Let your slow cooker make a breakfast that is gluten-free, dairy-free, and loaded with fiber.

Cookie-Dough Energy Bites: Made with rolled oats, coconut, peanut butter, and honey.

Pumpkin Protein Bars: Not just for fall, these bars taste just like pumpkin pie.

Sugar-Free Keto Low-Carb Granola Bars: Low in carbs and sugar but loaded in taste.

How To Store Your Chocolate Energy Bars

Store them in an airtight container or wrap them in plastic/aluminum. You can keep them in the fridge for up to a week or freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge or at room temperature before you break a tooth trying to bite into one.