Healthy Homemade Take 5 Bars
These homemade, Healthy Take 5 Bars hit every note: chewy caramel-like dates, creamy peanut butter, crunchy pretzels, roasted peanuts, and a smooth chocolate coating. They taste so indulgent but are made with simple, wholesome ingredients — no dairy or refined sugar!
Ingredients
- medjool dates, pitted *i used about 12
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup or honey *optional! Just if you want a sweeter peanut butter layer
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of sea salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- crunchy pretzels (gluten-free if needed!) *i used about 12 small pretels
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
- 1 cup chocolate chips (dark, semi sweet, milk, etc!)
Instructions
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Pull apart the dates and remove the pits. Open the dates up, sort of butterflying them, and press them down in the bottom of the pan to form the bottom layer of the bars. I like to place a piece of parchment paper of them and use the bottom of a glass to really press them down to form a sturdy layer.
- Add a layer of pretzels on top of the dates.
- Mix together the peanut butter, vanilla, sea salt, and coconut oil until smooth. Fold in the peanuts, then spread this mixture over top of the pretzels.
- Melt chocolate until smooth. I like to heat mine in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring between each, until smooth. You can also use double boiler method. Pour over the bars, spreading evenly.
- Chill. Freeze for at least 3-4 hours before slicing into bars. It's important to let the bars freezer for a good few hours as this is when they become gooier and caramel-like!