Date Snickers (Chocolate Covered Dates)

These chewy homemade date snickers are the perfect healthy alternative for when you are craving something sweet! Whip these chocolate cover dates up in less than 10 minutes then let the chocolate harden or freeze them for an extra chewy chocolaty treat!

Recipe Highlights

• Only 5 basic ingredients and 10 minutes needed
• All naturally sweetened with no added sugars
• Actually tastes like a healthy snickers bar
• Sweet, chewy and a little bit salty
• Each one is under 200 calories!
• Makes 15 and they last in the fridge for a week
• Freeze them for an extra chewy chocolate sweet treat
• You'll only need one as they are super filling
• Makes the perfect after dinner treat to keep cravings at bay like these Homemade Date Bars

You know that caramel nougat like centre of a snickers bar?  In this recipe that is replaced with the dates and peanut butter which do a pretty good job of recreating that sweet chewy filling. Snickers stuffed dates are the new and trending healthy sweet treat to make!

Check out these Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Truffles for another after dinner sweet treat.

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes

• Dates:  Medjool dates are the best type of date to use as they are soft, chewy and have a caramel like texture which is perfect for making dates snickers.
• Chocolate:  dark sugar free chocolate chips or a sugar free chocolate bar are ideal for melting to drizzle over the peanut butter centre.  You could also use milk chocolate chips if that is your preference.  I find the dark chocolate adds extra richness and is usually a little less sweet which is what I like.  Alternatively, you could use dark chocolate chips or bar but make sure to use semi sweet or one with a high percentage of cocoa (eg: 80%)
• Peanut Butter:  Using a natural peanut butter with nothing else added makes this a healthier date snickers.  To really get the ultimate snickers vibe, go for a natural crunchy peanut butter.  Its best to use a creamy slightly runny peanut butter as it will harden up in the fridge.  Plus, the creamy centre is a total winner.
• Coconut Oil:  use the coconut oil that doesn't come in liquid form as that won't be as effective.  The firmer coconut oil will help the chocolate to set and make the date snickers firm and chewy.  With such few ingredients in this recipe, there isn't really a substitute for the coconut oil.
• Sea Salt:  this helps to balance out the sweetness and gives the deliciously moreish sweet and salty taste and texture.  If you don't have sea salt flakes, you could skip the salt.  I don't recommend using a regular table salt as it doesn't have the same effect.

These chocolate covered snickers date bars are the perfect way to cut back on processed sugars but still enjoy your sweet treats.  They're really easy to make and dates are packed with fibre are low in fat and are naturally sweet, making them a nutritious and filling snack option.

Date sweetened snacks and treats are my favorite. Check out some of the ones I make as part of my regular meal prep: Chocolate Coconut Date Balls, Healthy Date Caramel Slice, Chocolate Black Bean Muffins, and Chocolate Date Cake.

How to Make

1. Melt Chocolate:  In a medium size, microwave safe bowl, microwave the chocolate chips for 1 to 2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds to prevent burning.  

2. Add Coconut Oil:  Add the coconut oil to the melted chocolate, microwave again for 15-20 seconds or until the coconut oil is fully melted and stir to combine.

3. Prepare Dates:  Gently open the dates where they have been pitted then arrange them on a large baking pan or tray that is fitted with parchment or wax paper. 
4. Fill Dates:  Fill the centre of each date with a spoonful of peanut butter. (You want to fill them as much as possible without the peanut butter coming out.)

5. Add Chocolate:  Drizzle the dates with the melted chocolate and sprinkle on the flaky salt.
6. Set:  Let them harden at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour or freeze until the chocolate hardens and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Peanut Butter Alternatives:  Any nut butter will work with these.  For example you could use cashew nut butter and add in your owned natural or toasted chopped cashews, or use Almond butter in the same way.  Each nut butter will give a different flavour to the date snickers.  I find using a crunchy peanut butter to resemble most closely the traditional snickers bar I grew up eating.
• Getting the Peanut Butter into the Dates:  Whilst using a teaspoon is the most obvious method, it can be a little messy however it is what I use and it works.  But if your wanting perfectly neat and symmetrical date snickers you could put the peanut butter into a piping bag, or a Ziplock bag with the end snipped off and pipe the peanut butter into the centre of each date.
• The Chocolate:  There are two ways to do the chocolate, you can drizzle it over the dates so they all get a random slathering of chocolate but are not entirely covered.  Or, you can use a toothpick to one by one dunk the dates into a bowl of warm melted chocolate.  Dunking can be half or full, depending on the look you're going for.  The choice is yours!
• Double the Recipe:  This recipe will make 15, so long as you're using 15 dates.  Its easy to double the recipe buy doubling the ingredients so you end up with 30 which is great for family get togethers, work parties and to have a stash of after dinner desserts.
• Storage:  Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 week.
• Freezing:  Freeze in an airtight container for upto 1 month.  Before eating, you may like to let it rest, covered on the bench for 10 minutes to let it soften a little.

Variations

• Nuts on Top:  Once the dates have the chocolate on them, add additional chopped, diced or granulated peanuts.  This gives extra texture and crunch.
• Nutty middle:  If using a smooth peanut butter why not add a single whole nut in the centre of the peanut butter before you add the chocolate.  The peanut butter should hold it in place.  Nuts you could use include macadamia, almond, hazelnut, cashew. You could even try a date snickers with walnut in the centre, or pecan  would work also.
• Coconut:  sprinkling a little desiccated coconut on top after the chocolate is on, but not yet hardened gives this date snickers a tropical twist.

FAQ

Date Snickers are the perfect bite sized after dinner treat, and they're not just for adults.  Kids love them too which is great because not only are they a healthier way to snack, but they also have no added sugars, are packed with fibre and will keep you fuller for longer.

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