Fruit and Nut Bars
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Published Jul 10, 2020, Updated Jun 12, 2023
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These tasty fruit and nut bars are oil-free and contain no added sugar. They’re nutty, chewy, slightly sweet and make for a perfect grab-n-go snack!
Did anyone else grow up on fruit and nut granola bars? I won’t mention names but they are filled with so many crappy ingredients! Thankfully, I’ve created a homemade version that are just as tasty, super simple to make and muchhhh healthier!
Just like my granola bites, these fruit and nut bars are basically “Bird Food” in bar form. I love that they’re oil-free and contain no added sweeteners yet still taste incredible! Isaac said they were the best bars I’ve ever made! I’ll take that as a compliment because I think my tahini fig bars are quite good!
Ingredients Needed
- oat flour – you can buy this or make your own by blending oats! You can also use whole wheat or regular all-purpose flour if needed.
- old fashioned rolled oats
- medjool dates or prunes
- raisins
- dried apricots
- walnuts
- cacao nibs – cacao nibs are small pieces of crushed unroasted cacao beans. They’re unsweetened and have a bitter, chocolatey flavor. If you’re not sure about using these, you can always sub in chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
If you decide to try out the recipe, remember that they aren’t super sweet, but they are super versatile — I’m sure different dried fruits like cranberries, figs, dates, currants, cherries or blueberries would work great if you wanted to substitute ingredients.
And, I like that the cacao nibs don’t add any sugar, but I bet they would be spectacular with a few chocolate chips in the mix.
How To Make Fruit & Nut Bars
While you do need to bake these bars, they’re super simple to make!
You’ll start by chopping your prunes, raisins and apricots in a food processor until well chopped. Then in a large bowl, you mix the flour, oats, fruit mixture, nuts, cacao nibs and water – kneading together until a dough forms. If needed you can add more water to accomplish this!
Lastly, press into a pan lined with parchment paper and then cut into squares before baking (a trick to easier cutting after baking!). Bake the bars for 25 minutes and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Fruit & Nut Bar Stats
Like I mentioned, these granola bars are much healthier than packaged alternatives! But let’s break down the facts.
- Oats – Studies have shown that oats may help lower cholesterol, may prevent type 2 diabetes and help control blood sugar levels. They have a good amount of protein and fiber and are a great addition to your diet. (Source)
- Dates – Dates are a great natural sweetener! They are packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals and are high in antioxidants. (Source)
- Raisins – While I wouldn’t suggest living off of dried fruit, they are by no means “off limits”! They are a good source of fiber, iron and calcium as well as an amazing source of antioxidants. (Source)
- Apricots – Apricots are great sources of vitamin A and C and another great source of antioxidants! (Should I have called these “Antioxidant Bars”?!) They have been linked to improve eye, skin and gut health. A winning little superfood! (Source)
- Walnuts – Walnuts look like little brains which always reminds me how amazing they are for my brain! These nuts are high in omega-3 fats and have a crazy amount of antioxidants. They have been linked to heart disease prevention and cancer prevention. (Source)
- Cacao Nibs – Cacao nibs are a great way to get a hint of chocolate flavor without the added sugar. They are packed with protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and… you guessed it: antioxidants! (Source)
More Bar Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Baked Oatmeal Bars
- Chocolate Protein Bars
- Blueberry Crumble Bars
- Chocoalte Almond Granola Bars
- PB & J Bars
- Oatmeal Raisin Protein Bars
- Cranberry Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars
- Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Nut Free Granola Bars
- Crispy Chocolate Rice Cake Bars
- No Bake High Fiber Bars
More Fruity Recipes
Be sure to check out all of the snack recipes here on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Fruit and Nut Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup oat flour*
- 1/2 cup medjool dates or prunes
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup dried apricots
- 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped*
- 2 Tablespoons cacao nibs
- 2/3 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Cover an 8-inch x 8-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Place prunes, raisins and apricots in a mini-chopper or food processor and pulse until well chopped.
- Combine flour, oats, chopped fruit mixture, nuts, cacao nibs and 2/3 cup water in a large bowl and knead with your hands until a ball of dough forms.
- Press dough firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Cut into squares with a sharp knife before placing in the oven.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until baked through but still soft (don’t over-bake them or the bars will be dry and tough).
- Leftover bars should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should keep for 1-2 weeks.
Notes
- Whole wheat, spelt or all-purpose flour will also work.
- To save time on chopping your nuts, you can place them in your food processor or mini-chopper and pulse until well chopped.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ever since I got a food processor for Christmas I have been seeing a lot more recipes that require food processors! Thank goodness! I’m definitely adding this to my list of things to make! 😀
These are a perfect snack for those sprints between classes, thank you! I’m jealous of your class. It sounds like so much fun! I’m always looking to learn new techniques, especially if it means cutting back on buying processed foods and making my own goodies.
I made these last night because they looked soooo delicious and i’m always looking for no-sugar added treats for my office (theres a few diabetics and i try to bring in good for you treats for them)- but when I baked them they were still not really incorporated. I am wondering if the (very) small amount of water is a typo? I added 1/3 plus 2 T and it was not nearly enough to incorporate them all…but I am excited to try about because the baked bar that was falling apart WAS DELICIOUS!
Oh noooo Stephanie. I’m so sorry they didn’t turn out! The 1/3 cup of water is correct, however you really have to knead the dough with your hands for a good while to make sure all the ingredients are incorporated and the bars stick. If they are way too dry, you could try adding more water, but they turned out perfectly for me with the 1/3 cup + 2 T of water.
These look soooooo amazing! I made a rendition of my own granola bars this past weekend – have you tried dried apricot and cardamom? My recipe has honey in it, so it plays nicely with the other ingredients 🙂
Awesome recipe, looks so tasty, and wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing!
Homemade granola bars are sooo much better than store-bought! And I love how there’s no oil in these. I’ll have to try them next time!
Those sounds so good for you. I love finding snacks that let fruit shine without a lot of added sugar.
i am going to make this recipe this week with some different dried fruits. i have been trying to find something to replace my luna bars, which i think contain too many ingredients. thanks!
Home-made granola bars has been on my list for so long now, I need to get to it! I love having the control over the ingredients (and omitting things like sugar, oils, preservatives, etc.)
while I was reading the ingredients I immediately thought to myself that it was great/interesting that there weren’t any oils or added sugar! This sounds like a pretty easy recipe so I definitely will try it out. Thanks so much for sharing!