Super Healthy Peanut Butter Date Special K-Bars.
What’s wrong with me? Healthy on Fat Tuesday? Of all days.
I could have done doughnuts, things laden with butter, sugar and milk chocolate galore. But I somehow managed to pull out a no-sugar added, vegan and gluten-free (if you use gluten-free cornflakes) treat out of no where.
Really, I do not even know how I did it and to be honest I am amazed they actually tasted good, but they are even brother approved. Even with the dark chocolate. Kai did say the chocolate tasted a little different. Then he realized it was dark chocolate and the smile on his face over the fact that I actually made k-bars morphed into a very disappointed-looking face. What he did next though I have to say I am pretty proud of.
He grabbed some milk chocolate, melted it (who knew he even knew how to do this) and slathered it right on top of the dark chocolate.
I mean, I gotta say, he knows what’s up.
These bars took two attempts. The first attempt I thought was going to be awesome and the flavor was all there, but the peanut butter mixture made the corn flakes super soggy and chewy. Still good, but just a weird texture.
So I tried again.
Second time was thankfully the winner. I say thankfully because I have had so many fails lately it is insane. Fails + lack of organized thoughts = no fun, so I was happy to only have to try twice. Especially since my Monday also consisted of cleaning the fridge from top to bottom after spilling hot chocolate all over the inside of the fridge. Again, not very fun.
I do realize that cornflakes are not technically the healthiest cereal out there, but it’s just what I had on hand and what I always use for K-bars. If you want something healthier, go for it. I think pretty much any unsweetened cereal will work here. You can even add some oats and nuts too if you wish, but I was really trying to replicate my mom’s K-Bars.
If you are unfamiliar with K-Bars they are bars made with Karo Syrup (corn syrup), sugar, peanut butter and chocolate. They are amazing, but all the sugar is something that has always bothered me. I have tried a lot of things to make these bars a little healthier, but nothing has ever worked this good. It just amazes me because the only sweetener in these bars is dates. AND no one even knew they were there.
Incredible if you ask me.
I feel I should mention that these bars only happened out of pure desperation. I had two other posts in mind for today, but both failed and since my ability to organize my thoughts and life lately has been miserable, I was out of a post for today.
Kai was on my case about making something simple, something he loves, K-bars. So I caved, but of course I only half caved. Why not try to make them secretly healthy? I mean, one of my favorite things is messing with Kai, so I kind of get a kick out the fact that Kai is eating dates and not corn syrup… and he likes it. Still blows my mind.
Plus, I have also been trying to come up with less sugary chocolate treats. Well I love all the over the top treats, they are not for everyday and over here we eat chocolate everyday… for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so less sugary chocolate treats needed to happen. Gotta say, though I really want to make doughnuts next.
And doughnuts of the fried variety.
Now that would be a true test. If I can figure out a way to make doughnuts healthier, especially fried doughnuts, then I would really be on to something.
I think I’ll just take it one day (or week) at a time. Anyway, for today at least, the whole simple, less sugar thing is going very well.
Oh, and since dessert is oh so healthy, that just means Fat Tuesday’s dinner can be, well – FAT.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Super Healthy Peanut Butter Date Special K-Bars.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bars, peanut butter, special k
A no-sugar added, vegan and gluten-free treat
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed medjool dates pitted + chopped
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2-3 tablespoons almond milk coconut milk or regular milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4-5 cups corn flakes * use gluten free corn flakes for a gluten free bar
- 10-12 ounces dark chocolate chopped
Instructions
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Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
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Add the dates and salt to the bowl of a food processor and process until they form a thick paste. Add the peanut butter and 2 tablespoons milk, process until smooth and creamy. Scoop the mixture out and into a microwave safe bowl, microwave 30 seconds, stir and microwave another 30 seconds. Continue until the mixture is warm and melty. This took me 1 minute. Stir in the vanilla. If the mixture seems too stiff add 1 more tablespoon milk, but no more. If you add too much milk the cereal will become soggy.
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Add the cereal to a large bowl. Slowly mix in the peanut butter mixture until throughly combined. Press the cereal into the prepared baking dish in an even layer.
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Microwave the chocolate on 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until melted. This took me about 1 1/2 minutes. Spoon the melted chocolate over the bars in an even layer. Cover the pan and place them in the fridge for 1 1/2 -2 hours or until firm. You may also put them in the freezer for 30 minutes, but I find the fridge works best.
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Remove the bars 10 minutes prior to serving, cut and store in the fridge.
Recipe Notes
*You can really use any airy crunch cereal you prefer. I think rice krispes, chex, cheerios or any puffed cereal will work great.
See what I did there? I am looking out for you guys.
LAST DAY!
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Going to make these on the weekend. My kid will love them, I can tell already. He’s a bit odd, he loves dates (I use them as a treat) and dark chocolate so I think he’ll be over the moon to try one of these!
I’ve had quite a few kitchen failures lately too, it looks like you had a real win with these though. 🙂
Thanks Lily! Hope you love them!
Dates, Peanut butter and crunchy Corn Flakes? Count me in! These look awesome, and like the perfect snack Tieghan!
I know about kitchen failures. Ugh. yesterday..it was not a good day.
Pinned!
Thanks so much, Taylor!! Hoping for better days for the both of us! 🙂
I’d say these are perfect. Few ingrendients, easy prep, no bake, and healthy! Love the photography on this post Tieghan – having been playing with my new camera, but would love to discuss with you how you got started with photography and how you learned to take such great pictures!
Hey Kathy!! Just shoot me an email! I am happy to help! 🙂
Thanks Tieghan – I’m going to do that – as soon as I can get my thoughts together – thanks!
These bars!! Oh my gosh, Tieghan, these bars look absolutely amazing. Such a perfect snack. Loooove that shot with the milk! Don’t stress too much about the kitchen failures, we’re all there now and again.
Thanks Kelli! 🙂
Wow Teighan these bars look so delicious and I love how healthy you’ve made them! Even if it is fat Tuesday 😉 Okay and that milk picture – oh my gosh I’m obsessed! How did you ever catch that on camera? Well done!!
Thanks Chelsea!
I adore sweets with dates and dark chocolate. These look so good. I certainly know about kitchen failures, my family says I cook by smoke alarm.
Haha! 🙂 Thank you so much, Cheri!
Wow! I can’t believe these are so healthy–they look incredibly indulgent. That milk picture is great too, Tieghan!
THank you so much, Laura!
I literally laughed out loud about your brother and the chocolate….Wow, does that ever sound familiar! And these bars look great—I, myself am a HUGE fan of dark chocolate and dates so these bars are kind of perfect for me. pinned!
Thanks Sarah!! 🙂
Such a great idea! I can’t believe how it only requires a handful of ingredients to make something so indulgent looking. Your pictures are incredible, as always!!
Thank you so much!
Mmm … great idea! I love these kinds of bars with cereal and chocolate but usually the unhealthy kind, so great to have a healthy twist on them!
Thanks Helen!
This is such a brilliant idea wow! I cannot wait to try these on the weekend. I love how they’re so healthy yet you managed to make them look so sinful – your shots are gorgeous! xx
Thank you so much!!
Gees this is so amazing Tieghan! Did you work with some other recipes to develop this? I have seen mejool dates used a lot for this sort of this. Have totally been considering making something like this for a while! The chocolate is a MUST to balance out the good for you and just indulgent!
Thanks sophia!! I sort of based it off of a date caramel, but then that did not work, so I just kind of did my on thing!
These look amazing! I can’t believe they are healthy. And if there is chocolate and pb involved then they are a-ok for fat tuesday in my book!
Thanks Cate!
These look so delicious! I am not a big dark chocolate fan – can you use milk chocolate? Speaking of which, is it okay to use almond bark when recipe calls for chocolate and then chopping it? Love the idea of dates as the only other recipe I have that my family likes with dates is my late grandmother’s French Date Nut cake….
Yup! Milk chocolate will be great! Not sure about almond bark, I have never used it.
Thanks Ange!
I am definitely going to try to sneak dates into my family’s dessert–we’ll see how it goes! These do not look healthy at all, they look delicious!
Thank you so much, Lauren!
These look delicious! Love the photos too 🙂
Thank you, Amanda! Means a lot!
I want to start making my own bars like this and your recipe sounds amazing. Great job 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thank you!
I love your pictures! And these look so good!
Thank you so much!
THE SPLASHY MILK PICTURE!! I CAN’T EVEN… Such amazing photography, Tieghan! These better make it into the cookbook you’re bound to have (or are writing, who knows — and btw, I want you to remember us little people when you’re big and famous!) 😉
Thanks!!! Honestly you amaze me for all you comments. So sweet!! ANd your cupcakes!!They look amazing!
These bars are gorgeous and that splash milk photo is incredible!
Thank you, Laura! That means so much coming from you!
We love our Special K bars around here. Your healthier version has me intrigued, for sure!
Thanks Brenda!! I was shocked at hoe they turned out!
That picture of milk is exploding of beauty in its own way!
Thank you!!
I love that you just whipped these up because you needed something to post! Seriously, these bars look and sound amazing. Loving that they are healthy!! 🙂 And that milk picture-LOVE IT!
Thanks Jocelyn!
My friend and I just finished making these today and they are absolutely delicious! Just as delicious as any sugary, non healthy snacks 🙂
So happy you loved these!! Thanks!
I have made these 4 times now and can’t get PB to be runny enough for it to stick together. It comes out like granola. Kids inhale it, but what am I doing wrong? Would be nice to get it bar-like. Thanks!
What kind of peanut butter are you using? That is the only thing I can think that might cause the peanut butter not to melt.
I’m having a similar problem…had to scrap the first batch a few weeks ago as it never got runny and made the cereal really soggy, but I assumed it was because I tried using chopped dates as opposed to whole medjool dates. Then my grocery store FINALLY had them again (the bulk bin has been empty every time I’ve looked since then…) so I tried again. Better…and no soggy cereal…but still not very liquid-y. I melted another half cup or so of pb and added that. They’re in the fridge now, so we’ll see how they turn out. The extra pb seemed to help a little.
Btw I used Skippy Natural creamy. Which melts fine on its own…just not so much with the dates! My food processor is also a little one, so maybe it didn’t have enough power to process everything smoothly enough?
It’s an easy fix to add more PB. I did the opposite- I used a lot less cereal and that helped some. Thanks! I also keep them in freezer. MY kids can’t get enough!
Great tip!! Thanks!
Hey Emily, I would recommend trying a non-natural PB. Maybe Jiff organic? And make sure your process everything until it is super smooth. Hope that helps and let me know if you have any more questions. Hope you love these! THANKS!
Well, they sort of kind of hold together…and regardless, they’re SUPER delicious. My husband wants me to figure out a way to make the bottom part into some kind of breakfast bar type thing. Find something a bit healthier (but just as tasty) as regular ole cornflakes, and add pb and dates. Yum and healthy.
Ok i’m new to trying to eat healthy. What are the dates for? Sweetness? To hold it together? I have a box of special K cereal that would be awesome in bars but trying to avoid sugar, so marshmellows and karo syrup is out.
Yup sweetness and to hold them together. Hope you love these!
Hello, I love your site, you are so talented for such a young woman!
these look absolutely delectable and I can’t wait to make them.
This is the first time I’m commenting. Do you think it would be okay to use raisins in place of dates? would I need to use more …. I went to the store twice now and forgot the dates hoping to make these for my 2 yr old son as a breakfast alternative cause he won’t eat the cereal itself but loves granola bar type things. I also bought semi sweet by mistake. 🙁 Wondering if I can salvae this before my next shopping trip.
Hey Autumn! Thank you so much for your kind words!!
Unfortunately, you really need a super moist and sticky fruit like dates to make these work. I do not think raisins will work. So sorry! Let me know if you have any other questions!
11 hours????? typo, I am sure. Can’t wait to try these.
Hi there, can’t wait to make these! Wondering if they would freeze well?
Thanks!
This is a really good recipe. These bars taste great! Good job!
YAY! Thank you tons!
I’m excited to try these out. Being completely honest- I’ve never had a date in my life! So we will see how it goes 🙂
I hope you love them Tessa!!! Let me know!!
These were a waste of super expensive ingredients. I followed the recipe to the t. The amount of cereal mixture barely covers an 8×8 pan let alone a 9×13. The pb never melts with the dates and I have a super powerful processor and normal microwave. The pics are nice but if recipe does not turn out remotely close to pics who cares about nice pics? Totally crumbly wet cereal mixture with solid chocolate on top. Don’t waste time or money!!!
Hi Allison, I am really sorry that these did not turn out for you. If you have any questions about the recipe, please let me know. Tieghan
Thank you for the revcipe. Can you warm ingredients over simmering water don’t have a microwave. so what can you use instead of peanut butter?
Warming over water will be great. Almond butter can be used in place of the peanut butter. Thanks!
I was skeptical that a healthy version of my favorite bars existed…but it does! Yummmm!! Thanks for the recipe!
Yay for healthy! Thanks Shana!
Hi Tieghan!
Followed your easy recipe, precisely, and love the results! Opted for low-sugar vanilla almond milk, and used Kashi whole-grain flakes. My husband took some into work today and I will probably mail a small container of these to my daughters at their university. Great knowing we can have a sweet, decadent treat without a lot of added, refined sugar. Already looking forward to Tea today but had to enjoy a smidge of your bars with breakfast coffee, first! Fantastic!
That is so great! Thank you Laura!
Hi, have you used date sugar in any recipe for a natural sweetener? If so, how did it turn out?
I have not, but I love using dates in place of sugar, so I do love the idea. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
I finally tried this today, but in a vitamin because I don’t have a food processor. Can you describe the texture the dates and peanut butter are supposed to have? Should it be pour-able like melted marshmallow? Or creamy and thick? I had to mix by my fingers because it wasn’t liquid-like. They’re in the fridge cooling, but they didn’t look right. Maybe that was the mixer? Can you describe the texture before mixing in cereal? Thank you!
Hey Jenny! The peanut butter should be thick and creamy, you might add water to help loosen it up if it is hard for you blender to mix. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan