If you are bored of your regular breakfasts, or just need a new snack idea, these 5-ingredient breakfast bars are a great option to try. They are gluten-free, refined sugar free and will definitely give you a boost to start your day.
They only take 5 mins to prep and 10 mins to bake and if you put them in a mini brownie tin, each bar has lovely crispy edges too.
Why make your own breakfast bars?
Many shop-bought granola or breakfast bars contain high levels of refined sugar and most contain emulsifiers and additives too. You really don’t want to be consuming these on a regular basis.
By making your own bars, you are in charge of what you are putting into them. This ensures they are as natural as possible.
They are also cheaper to make! The pre-packaged bars are usually quite expensive, so making your own can be cheaper too. Especially if you bulk-buy your ingredients.
Can you make breakfast bars with only 5 ingredients?
You definitely can! By using ingredients that have multiple purposes it makes the process much easier. For example, the dates in the bars have a dual role. They help bind the ingredients together and they also provide the sweetness too. The nut butter is the same. It not only helps bind the ingredients together, it provides the healthy fats that make the bars more filling. This means these bars can be oil-free too.
Are these 5 ingredient Breakfast bars easy to make?
Many people can be put off from making homemade snacks as they can seem complicated (or have too many ingredients). Hopefully this recipe will change your mind!
They are super simple to make. You simply blend large medjool dates with peanut or almond butter until it is soft, smooth and sticky. Add nuts, seeds and oats and blend (or mix) to combine.
Bake for 10 mins and you are good to go!
Are these breakfast bars refined sugar free?
Yes they are. They obviously contain sugar from the dates, but it isn’t a refined sugar. Dates also contain fibre and key minerals, such as potassium and copper, so are a great addition to your diet, in moderation.
What ingredients do you need to make your own breakfast bars?
The recipe contains 5 simple ingredients:
- Medjool dates
- Peanut or almond butter
- Almonds
- Sesame seeds
- Oats
Medjool dates
I love using medjool dates in recipes like this. They not only provide natural sweetness and a chewy texture but also help bind the ingredients together without the need for extra oils. Dates are high in fibre and a good source of potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6. The natural sugars in dates provide a quick source of energy, making them perfect for these bars.
Peanut or almond butter
Both of these nut butters provide a great source of plant-based protein and healthy fats. Almond butter, in particular, is high in Vitamin E and is a good source of magnesium. When buying nut butters, it’s best to choose natural options without added sugar or fillers such as extra oils.
Almonds
Like the nut butter, almonds are rich in healthy fats, protein and fibre. They are also a great source of vitamin E, magnesium so good for your skin as well as your energy levels. Also fun fact – did you know that almonds have more calcium than any other nut?
Sesame Seeds
They little seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. They are one of the best sources of plant-based calcium. They are also contain iron and zinc as well as magnesium. They are a great source of healthy fats too.
Oats
A staple in most breakfast or granola bars, oats are a fantastic source of complex carbohydrates and soluble fibre, so will keep you full for longer and provide longer lasting energy.
What is the shelf life of the breakfast bars?
They will last for 3-4 days. I like to store in the fridge, as they stay hard. If you prefer a softer texture, then room temperature is fine too.
Give them a try and let me know what you think, in the comments below.
Recipe Tips for 5 ingredient Breakfast bars
- Choose the right dates: This recipe really needs large, soft medjool dates. If your dates are harder, try soaking in boiling water for 20 mins, then draining fully before using.
- Use a smooth, natural nut butter. My nut butter contain nuts and a little salt and that’s it. They are usually very smooth and runny. If your nut butter is a little harder, add some water as you blend, to get a softer consistency.
- Which oats to use? I used gluten-free rolled oats but most oats should work.
- Substitutions: If you don’t like sesame seeds, sub in any other seed or leave out completely. You can add a few more almonds instead. The same applies to the almonds, feel free to swap out for your favourite nut – just keep the quantities the same.
If you enjoyed these bars, why not try these other easy oat bar recipes:
5 Ingredient Breakfast Bars
Equipment
- Magimix food processor *affiliate link
Ingredients
- 1½ cups soft medjool dates pitted (about 225g)
- ½ cup smooth natural peanut butter (120g)
- 1 cup raw almonds (100g)
- 1 cup rolled oats (100g) GF if needed
- ⅓ cup sesame seeds (45g)
- Pinch sea salt optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan) or 350F.
- Add the dates and peanut/almond butter to a food processor and blend until it forms a sticky ball. It should be a very smooth, sticky paste. If not add 1-2 tbsp water and blend again.
- Chop the almonds into smaller pieces. Add to a bowl with the date mixture, oats, sesame seeds and salt, if using. Mix thoroughly. I use my hands to get it mixed well. It should be very soft and sticky and not a dry mixture. If dry, add 1 tbsp of water as you mix.
- Divide into 10 equal pieces and press down into a brownie or cupcake tin (greased and lined). Bake for 10 mins. Allow to cool and enjoy.
Notes
- This mixture is also good raw – it’s much chewier and more like an energy ball texture but it’s a good option if you want to try.
- These really need soft medjool dates. If your dates are hard, try soaking in boiling water for 20 mins, then draining fully.
- I use a very runny nut butter. If your nut butter is a little harder, add 1-2 tbsp of water as you blend, to get a softer consistency.
- You can use any oats for this recipe. I used gluten-free rolled oats but any will do.
- Once baked, they will last for 3-4 days.
When are the oats blended? Am I making oat flour before mixing that into the dry ingredients? Do I add the oats at step 2?
Hi there, the oats aren’t blended. You add them with the almonds and sesame seeds after you have blended the dates and nut butter. Hope that helps.
thank youuu so much fo this recipe, its so simple and amazing for fast mornings!!
Amazing, glad you like them.
These bars are delicious and easy to make
Thank You
Glad you like them! Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know.
Can I use a blender instead of a food processor?
You can definitely try! You might need to soak the dates first and blend in batches. For best results, I’d recommend a food processor.
Thank you,I will try this with my 8 yr old grand daughter.
These are amazing. I blitzed cranberries with the almonds and added drizzled dark chocolate on top. I also cooked them in mini patty pan tray for a smaller treat in the afternoon.
Those additions sound lovely! Glad you liked the bars.
Is it 281 calories for each little bar or for 10?
Yes it is. They are actually quite thick and very filling!
Really? Can you please clarify? 281kCal is a lot of calories so is it for the entire recipe or each bar? Very delicious and very filling.
Hi Lois, it’s 281 per bar. They are supposed to be filling as it’s a breakfast recipe with calorie-dense whole-food ingredients like nuts and nut butter. Hope that helps.
Could I use ordinary dates instead, if so how many please
I have only tried with medjool. I use about 250g of dates. If you use other dates you may need to soak them first.
Could you use buckwheat instead of the oats ?
Hi Denise, you could use buckwheat flakes for sure. I haven’t tried with buckwheat groats.
This looks delicious! Just making it now. It’s not coming together in a lump in order to divide up. I’m scooping it out by the spoonful. Am I doing it correctly? Thank you!
It should be a really soft mixture. Try adding a little water as you blend the dates and nut butter so it comes together easily.
Darn! They fell apart when I took them out of the tin. They were still warm. Was that why or should they have had more moisture in the mix? Thank you!
Probably needed more moisture in the mix. I add 1-2 tbsp of water as I blend the dates (if they are a little harder you’ll definitely need this).
I enjoy these breakfast bars so much I make double batches. Thank you, looking forward to trying more delicious recipes!
Amazing, so glad you like them.
Thank youuu I really didn’t expect them to taste so sweet without adding any sugar but they taste AMAZING for a healthy snack. It definitely took me more time than 15 minutes ro make them but I still like it🤍🤍🤍
Yes they are surprisingly sweet just with the dates. So glad you liked them.
These are so yummy! I used regular dates but added 4 tbsp of hot water when I blended them . I also cooked for a further 6 minutes as I thought they oooked a bit anaemic. It all worked out beautifully. Thank you
Glad you liked them x
How do you know if they are cooked enough
They will be crispy and slightly brown on the outside but still soft in the middle.
A tablespoon of sugar is about 12 grams, a medjool date has 16 grams of sugar. This recipe calls for 12 dates, of course its going to be sweet, there is almost 3/4 cup of sugar in there. I am dipping mine in dark chocolate, hope to enjoy them tomorrow for breakfast
Can these be just made into bars without cooking?
I’ve made them a few times. Added flax and mixed chopped nuts. Not quite as many oats as I like them sticky.
I make them into parchment muffin liners and freeze for when I have to drive and need a snack.
Thank you for the recipe.
Yes, they can definitely be eaten uncooked. They would need to be refrigerated though as they’d be quite sticky. Let me know how you get on xx
These were really nice. I used cashews and walnuts as well as pumpkin seeds to the sesame seed mixture.
Can you add protein powder to these?
Glad you liked them! Yes, you could add some protein powder. Just reduce the oats by the same amount.
I also used a brownie pan as easier and quicker 😆. I now make these weekly… the family love them. Thank you
Amazing! Glad you like them x
I loved these , they didn’t taste overly sweet and tasted great. I had a 250g mixture left over of oats, nuts & seeds and this worked perfect once I had the consistency right of the blended dates & peanut butter, mixed in the dry mixture with my hands and it worked a treat . Will definitely be making these again . Will maybe try and make a proper sized bar rather than using the cup cake cups in the baking tray and maybe add some protein powder to make a real protein packed bar .
Glad you liked them – loving the idea of adding protein powder too.
Can you freeze these?
I haven’t tried freezing them but I’m sure they would freeze well.
Yummy… added coconut too. Next I’ll try chocolate chips 🤪.
If I bake them longer will they get crunchy?
Glad you liked them! Yes they should be a little crunchier if you bake a few more minutes.
Can I substitute any other nuts for the almonds? My daughter is allergic to them
Yes you can. Most nuts would work.
How do you store them?
Just in an air-tight tub. They’ll last for about 4 days (a bit longer if you refrigerate).