Five-ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Bars are an easy, no-bake recipe for healthy snacking! These bars are vegan and naturally sweetened.
Well, I should have seen this one coming. Since giving dates an inaugural whirl in these no-bake coconut almond bars, I've been brainstorming different flavor combinations to mix up next.
These bars are made with five ingredients (dates, PB, peanuts, unsweetened cocoa powder, and ch-ch-ch-chia seeds) and are made in just a few minutes all thanks to your food processor.
Ultra quick snack-making for the week just so happens to allow you more time on a Saturday afternoon to watch Forensic Files and Google how to become a forensic pathologist.
Is it typical for weird obsessions to blossom in your mid-twenties?
Say yes, please.
One obsession (beyond that one) for me has become podcasts. Do you listen? I have a few different kinds on my Stitcher list depending on my mood. Blog ones get me excited about blog things, inspirational entrepreneurial ones to calm my anxieties when I stress out that I haven't gotten my career all figured out by now (see: my forensic pathology search history), and I geek out with the ladies of Stuff I Missed in History Class multiple times a week.
My favorites though are true crime ones, which despite my propensity for getting agita about lesser things, don't bother me one bit. Funny how the mind works.
I do my best podcast listening in the afternoons at work, which happens to be the time I start thinking about my afternoon snack. Lately I've been digging low-sodium roasted almonds (which I use in this crunchy dark chocolate almond bark), but these chocolate peanut butter chia bars have cut the line and become my #1.
As is the case with a lot of no-bake bars, these do better when they've been stored in the refrigerator, but can hold up several hours outside of the fridge for a few hours. They'll just be a little softer.
And for the taste? The cocoa powder and peanut butter shines through big time. Any time I can get my chocolate + PB fix in a healthier way than plowing into a Reese's or four is a snack time win!
Recipe Note
- I suggest using a no-stir peanut butter variety in these bars. Even with a lot of stirring, I'm afraid the "natural" varieties would add too much oil.
Ways to Use Up Chia Seeds
Have a big bag of chia seeds and are looking for more recipes to use them up? Here are some of my personal favorites:
- Chia seeds are a really important part of my extra filling green smoothie. This smoothie will totally fill you up like a meal (and I don't take saying stuff like that lightly!).
- They thicken blended chocolate chia pudding beautifully. Soaking them before blending ensures they become nice and smooth.
- Add them to protein overnight oats.
More Chia Bars
If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating in the recipe card and/or a comment review below!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted whole dates (about 12-13)
- ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon peanut butter, I used creamy [see note]
- ¼ cup peanuts
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon chia seeds
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to food processor and process until the ingredients break down and become a mostly cohesive mixture. You will still have little pieces of peanuts remaining, and the consistency of the mixture should hold together when you press it together.
- Line a rimmed dish with parchment paper and press mixture into it, leaving your desired thickness. I used only about half of an 8" x 8" baking dish as I didn't have a smaller dish available.
- Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes before slicing. Store bars in the refrigerator.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
Food Safety and Nutrition Disclaimer
Kellie says
Did you use unsalted or salted peanuts and peanut butter?
Alyssa says
Either salted or unsalted will work depending upon your taste preferences as there's no separately added salt. The creamy peanut butter I use contains salt. I usually just use the peanuts I have on hand, which are often either unsalted or dry roasted and lightly salted.
Vanessa says
Thanks for shaing! Do they keep long enough to put in a Christmas cookie tin?
Alyssa says
Hi Vanessa, they should be just fine!
Mert says
Made this several times and our family of 4 all loves them.....to add a little extra mmmmm, try a little nutella on top
Alyssa says
Nutella sounds delicious on these! So glad you like them. 🙂
Laura says
Thank you for this recipe! I made these for the first time recently and really enjoyed them. Do you know if they freeze well? I would like to prep them for a family vacation (where an abundance of chips, cookies, and other goodies will be a strong temptation) pack them frozen and then defrost as needed. Thank you for your advice and for such a good and healthy treat!
Alyssa says
So glad you like them, Laura! They should freeze just fine -- smart thinking planning ahead for a vacation. I'd wrap them individually before freezing to prevent them from sticking together in the freezer. Enjoy! 🙂
Nancy says
I've started making my own bars and can't believe how much better they taste! These sound fantastic - all the goodies I love!! Have added it to my list for my next batch of bars!!
michele says
My sister made these for me and I was sure Id not like them....So many healthy things ? Boy was I WRONG! They are delicious and now I cant quit making them. Seriously, they fill me up and I cant get enough of them!
Nina says
I'm making these tomorrow! One question though, do you think I could add some seeds to boost the nutrition without ruining the texture? If so how much?
Thanks!
Alyssa says
Hi Nina, I've never added extras into this recipe before, but I'd imagine you could try decreasing a tablespoon of the peanuts and/or a little bit of the chia seeds to make room for an equal quantity of seeds to play it safe? Or depending on the seeds, maybe it might work better to press them into the tops of the bars once the mixture is pressed into the pan. Let me know how it goes!
steph says
thanks for the recipe. i made them - so easy, and delicious. remind me of eat mores
Safiya says
These look so yummy! I dislike chia seeds though Can I make this recipe without them?
Alyssa says
Hi Safiya, yes you can! Omitting them won't change the texture/flavor at all.
Sara Jibb says
Thank you for the recipe! I just tried these without the chia seeds, subbing pecans for peanuts, and they are delicious. I doubled the recipe and rolled into 24 balls. Approximately 90 cals each. Thanks again!
Alyssa says
So glad you like them! 🙂
Jacque says
That is what I was thinking of doing thanks Sara.
Paulina says
These are so good, I had to double the recipe b/c both my daughter and husband love them! I make bars for my daughter and roll some into ball shapes for my husband so he can just pop one into his mouth during long bike rides. So perfect! Thanks again for sharing.
Alyssa says
Glad your family loves them, Paulina! That's a great idea about forming into balls for a mid-workout boost. 🙂
Sam says
Just wanted to say 'thank you' for posting this recipe. These bars (and the many variations of them!) have become my staple, go-to snack. I've always got some in the fridge, or at work. Such an easy make too. Thanks again!
Alyssa says
So glad you love them, Sam! They're definitely heavy in my snack rotation, too.
Angi says
These are really awesome bars. I made them to take on a hike with friends and they loved it. It is so easy to make, I just substituted almonds for peanuts and I loved the texture.
Just awesome sauce bars these are!!!
Alyssa says
So glad to hear it, Angi! They're definitely a great snack to fuel you up. 🙂
Monique says
Good morning Alissa,
just wondering how many bars this recipe makes
Alyssa says
Hi Monique, this recipe will make eight bars. 🙂
Alaina says
Hi there! I don't have any peanuts, can I replace it with pistachios? I do have peanut butter
Alyssa says
Hi Alaina, I've never made these bars with pistachios before. I would assume they'd work texture-wise, but I'm not sure if the pistachio flavor would mesh with the peanut butter/chocolate. Let me know if you give it a try though!
Alaina says
Ah okay! Good point. I might just buy some peanuts then :). I'll let you if I make it with pistachios though! Thanks!
Trisha says
Hi Alyssa, I was just wondering how long these would keep in the fridge... Are you able to freeze them? I made them lastnight and I love them. Thanks so much!!
Trish
Alyssa says
Hi Trish, so glad you love them! I've never tried freezing them before, but they do stay in the fridge for quite awhile. Mine have lasted just fine for at least a few weeks. 🙂
Amanda says
Made these last night and am having one for breakfast now. Yum! I used cashew butter and almonds, and topped it with unsweetened coconut and cacao nibs. 🙂 They are a little crumbly but not too bad. Will definitely be checking out your other bars as well!
Alyssa says
Happy you enjoyed them, Amanda! I love the idea of the coconut and cacao nib topping. Another date-based bar on my site that I can't get enough of are these Apple Cinnamon Chia Bars (https://www.mysequinedlife.com/2016/09/06/apple-cinnamon-chia-bars/). Slightly different ingredients but generally the same texture as these bars. Same method too! 🙂