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Chewy Coconut Oat Granola Bars Stuffed with Chocolate Date Caramel

It’s like a granola cookie sandwich stuffed with chocolate caramel. 

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Oh so reminiscent of an ice cream sandwich, except minus the ice cream and cookies.  But the sandwich part is dead on.  It’s the granola bar of all granola bars.  And it’s chewy, which is the mark of anything delicious.  Except for like crispy, fried cheese that sneaks out of your grilled cheese in the pan and turns into the most crispy perfect thing.  But for everything else, chewy is where it’s at. 

I think I choose to start nearly every sentence with a conjunction word (i.e. and, but) because I specifically remember my 6th grade English teacher telling me not to.  Gah I hate grammar.  (I actually just spelt grammar as grammer…thank you, spell check).   

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So these are kinda like the granola bar version of better-than-crack brownies because they have chocolate and peanut butter and layers.  Practically the same thing.  Practically.  I was gonna name them better-than-crack granola bars but that’s inappropriate and Andrew told me it sounded trashy.  What a party pooper.  So we’ll just stick with the super long 10 word title. 

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There’s probably some rule against having long recipe titles.  I never really went through a rebellious phase…maybe this is it.  Maybe this is the time to get a tattoo too…not.  I do wanna get my ears pierced so I can blow my moola on some expensive Kendra Scott earrings.  I had my ears pierced in middle school, but they reacted to all metals except solid gold.  Like the freaking expensive stuff.  So I just let them close up. 

But back in the day there wasn’t Kendra Scott.  And now there is.  That changes things.  Not all trendy things are good.  But black bean brownies are good and those are trendy and for seriously those earring are gorgeous so they totes should be trendy too.

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I always find granola bar pictures to be boring.  But I figured that since chocolate is the farthest thing from boring that’d help the aesthetically pleasing aspect of these bars.  This month’s Recipe Redux theme was bars & bites.  I made cookie dough bites last week so I figured I’d switch it up and make some bars for this week.

These thick, chewy bars make the perfect snack or dessert.  But I’ve even had them for breakfast.  These are better than a granola bar…they’re like oat-filled blondies with chocolate. 

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Chewy Coconut Oat Granola Bars Stuffed with Chocolate Date Caramel

Yield: 9-12 bars

Ingredients:

DRY INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

3/4 cup nuts or seeds (I used a mix of pistachios, sunflower seeds and pecans)

1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/3 cup ground flaxseed

1/4 teaspoon salt

WET INGREDIENTS

1 banana, mashed (~1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons)

1/3 cup coconut oil, soft

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

CHOCOLATE DATE CARAMEL

1/2 cup dates, pitted & packed

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

2 tablespoons salted peanut butter

 

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into dry and completely combine.
  2. In a separate microwave-safe bowl, place chopped dates and cover with water. Microwave for 3-4 minutes, or until water is boiling. Allow dates to sit in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain off water. Use the back of a fork to mash the dates. Melt dark chocolate chips and stir into the mashed dates. Stir in peanut butter.
  3. Line a 8x8-inch dish with wax paper. Press half of the granola bar dough into bottom of the dish. Spread the chocolate date caramel evenly over the granola bar layer. Top with another layer of the granola bar dough. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Cut into 9-12 granola bars and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for longer.
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chewy oaty chocolaty love.

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42 comments

  1. hello delicious Kylie! Haha I was trying to post right at midnight too..looks like you beat me! :p I LOVE making date caramel sauce though, and the added melted chocolate..oh my!
    xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.

  2. Love the added “stuffed” layer! I have to make your recipe just so I can make the date caramel sauce. Yum!

  3. Wow kylie!! This is truly a treat! Love the stugged granola bars!

  4. YUM! These are my cup of tea! Delicious.

  5. Haha! I actually just got two extra ear piercings (taking care of it is a pain but that’s another story) to celebrate a huge moment in my life – becoming an RD! – and you’ve just given me all kinds of ideas. I’ve actually never heard of Kendra Scott…tell me I’m not living in a cave. Anyway, you are one talented lady. These stuffed granola bars sound heavenly! The filling…mmm…where my dates at?

  6. Perfect for back to school! Great photos. :)

  7. These look AMAZING! Love the date caramel idea!

  8. This looks soooo good! This is definitely on the list of things to make for lunchboxes, although at a nut free school I’ll see how they go with tahini and seeds instead of nuts (might make a secrete nut batch for me though) – great recipe

  9. Oh my gosh these sound insanely delicious! Oats, coconut, chocolate, nuts and caramel are pretty much my all time favourite flavours and all together in one mouthful just sounds to good to be true. I totally know what I am going to be doing tomorrow afternoon. I think I might need to make my long run tomorrow morning extra long in anticipation of my lack of self control around these bars =)

  10. Stuffed with chocolate date caramel? YUM. That middle layer of chocolatey goodness looks amazing. And granola bars can be so dry, but not these. I haven’t used dates in baking, but need to give them a shot. Can’t wait to try these.

  11. These seem TGBT. Too good to be true. Can’t wait to make them…I’ve actually never cooked with dates before!! Two (dumb) questions: where do you get your dates and do they come pitted……?

    • Hey! Dates come with pits in them. You just have to pull them open and take the pit out. Super easy! I buy mine at Kroger or HEB…not sure what grocery stores you have around you!

  12. Yumm, that chocolate layer in the center looks divine! I know how you feel about beginning sentences with conjunctions. I can picture my 8th grade English teacher frowning at me whenever I do that!

  13. OMG. Like, drool on the computer. I want to dive into a pool of these and never get out. Pinning!

  14. Date caramel – one of the best indulgent-yet-not foods to have ever happened. Just like these stuffed bars seem crazy good yet they are crazy healthy, too, huh? I’ll take a dozen, please. Plus those Roberta Drop Earrings because you’re right, Kendra Scott has some amazing ones. Now I wish I hadn’t let my ears close up again, either.

  15. totally loving the look of these granola bars.. pinned!

  16. You are the queen of bars and bites! Love your post :)

  17. Oh my, these look amazing and take granola bars to a whole new level, love the idea of adding the filling!

  18. these look amazing!

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  20. You could have just stopped after the first sentence and I would have been sold. YUM.

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  22. Saved! Will be making these in the very near future. Looks absolutely delicious!

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  24. Wow, what an interesting recipe. The chocolate date caramel really intrigues me. Gonna have to give this one a go.

  25. These look like the most perfect, moist granola bars! Wow!

  26. Hey Kylie, I am planning on making these today. I was going to use pistachios or cashews…or both. Should they be chopped or whole? Thanks!

  27. Sorry, one more question! Could quick oats be used or are rolled oats necessary for texture?? Thanks! :)

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  29. I make granola bars weekly and these seem just like the ones I love (banana lover as well) but with the addition of the chocolate AHHH can’t wait to try them this week! 

  30. Hi, thanks for the lovely recipe. Did someone already try this recipe with a dehydrator ??

    Thanks !

  31. Goodness gracious I am so happy that I stumbled upon your blog! All of our recipes looks absolutely divine! I love your story and your mindset with food!

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  33. These look exactly like one of my favorite treats from a local bakery . . . that cost $4.95 a pop – so excited to try to make my own!

    What would you suggest as a replacement for the banana? Applesauce, pumpkin? Thanks so much!

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