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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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This is a really good recipe. These bars taste great! Good job!
YAY! Thank you tons!
Hi there, can’t wait to make these! Wondering if they would freeze well?
Thanks!
11 hours????? typo, I am sure. Can’t wait to try 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!
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!
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.
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 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!
That picture of milk is exploding of beauty in its own way!
Thank 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!
These bars are gorgeous and that splash milk photo is incredible!
Thank you, Laura! That means so much coming from you!
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!
I love your pictures! And these look so good!
Thank you so much!
I want to start making my own bars like this and your recipe sounds amazing. Great job 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thank you!
These look delicious! Love the photos too 🙂
Thank you, Amanda! Means a lot!