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No-added-sugar energy bars

A hand holds a chocolate almond granola bar with cranberries, stacked on a wooden board in a cozy kitchen setting.

By Tom · Updated

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  • Serves 12
  • About 50 min
  • Easy

These no added sugar energy bars are the perfect balance of healthy, and easy to make. Made with toasted nuts, seeds, oats, and naturally sweetened with dates and banana, they're ideal for pre/post workout snacks, meal prep, or even a quick breakfast.

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The recipe

No-added-sugar energy bars

These no added sugar energy bars are the perfect balance of healthy, and easy to make.

  • Serves 12
  • 20 min prep
  • 30 min cooking
  • Easy

Times and difficulty are our estimates from the method, not stopwatch figures.

Scale
12 servings
Measurements

Ingredients

Tick things off as you go — they stay ticked if you close the page.

A dotted underline means the amount has been rounded to something you can measure.

Method

  1. Step 1

    Preheat your oven to 180°C (fan).

  2. Step 2

    Spread the pumpkin seeds (50 g) and nuts onto a baking tray (keep the seeds separate if possible).Toast in the oven for 5-10 minutes, until lightly golden and fragrant.

  3. Step 3

    Add the pitted (100 g) dates and banana (1) to a food processor and blend until smooth. You're looking for a thick, sticky puree.

  4. Step 4

    Once toasted, roughly chop or crush the nuts. You can keep them chunky for texture or chop finer if preferred.

  5. Step 5

    In a large bowl, combine: Oats (50 g), toasted nuts and seeds, chopped apricots (60 g), dried cranberries (60 g).

  6. Step 6

    Add the date and banana (1) mixture and mix until everything is fully combined.

  7. Step 7

    Line a baking tin (approx. 30cm x 20cm) with parchment paper. Press the mixture firmly into the tin, making sure it's evenly spread and well compacted.

  8. Step 8

    Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges.

  9. Step 9

    Remove and allow to cool completely.

  10. Step 10

    Break the dark chocolate (125 g) into pieces and melt it gently in a bowl over simmering water ensuring the bowl doesn't touch the water.

  11. Step 11

    Pour the melted chocolate (125 g) over the cooled base and spread evenly.

  12. Step 12

    While still soft, sprinkle over some whole almonds and extra dried cranberries.

  13. Step 13

    Place in the fridge until fully set. Once firm, remove and slice into bars.

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Questions people ask

How long does no-added-sugar energy bars take?

About 50 min from start to finish, of which 20 min is prep and 30 min is cooking. That figure is worked out from the method rather than timed with a stopwatch, so give yourself a little more the first time.

How many does it serve, and can I change that?

As written it serves 12. Use the scale control on the recipe card to change it: every quantity in the ingredients and inside the method steps updates with it. Seasoning, and anything measured in pinches or splashes, is deliberately left alone.

Can I see the ingredients in ounces and pints?

Yes. The metric and imperial switch on the recipe card converts every quantity, rounded to amounts you can actually weigh or measure rather than to four decimal places. Your choice is remembered for every recipe on the site.

Is it vegetarian?

Yes, as written. If you are cooking for a strict vegetarian, the one to check is the cheese: several hard cheeses are made with animal rennet.