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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.
Super Healthy Peanut Butter Date Special K-Bars.
Servings: 20 Bars
Calories Per Serving: 221 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remove the bars 10 minutes prior to serving, cut and store in the fridge.
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.
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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 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!
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!
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!
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!!
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!
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!
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!! 🙂
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 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 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!
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! 🙂
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!
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! 🙂
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!