Breakfast Recipes

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Caramel Snack Bars

These Vegan Date Caramel Bars are the best grab-and-go snack for all lovers of oatmeal bars, chocolate, and caramel. Easy…

  • Ready 50 minutes
  • Serves 9
  • Prep 15 minutes
  • Cook 35 minutes
Jump to the recipe
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Caramel Snack Bars

These Vegan Oatmeal Date Caramel Bars are a wonderful thing. They are a bit like Carmelita Bars, but with some shredded coconut added on top which makes them even better!

If you have not tried date caramel before, be prepared to fall in love. Date Caramel is basically just softened dates, pureed with a little liquid like a splash of non-dairy milk, some maple syrup, and a bit of fat ( like almond butter). What comes out of the food processor is just so similar to cooked caramel that you can replicate all your favorite non-vegan chocolate bars with it. These Date Caramel Bars are basically Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Snack Bars with a caramel layer in the middle  – just so good!

vegan oatmeal date caramel bars on a wooden board
freshly baked vegan carmelita oatmeal caramel bars in a baking pan

MORE HEALTHY VEGAN GRAB-AND-GO SNACKS:

Ingredients:

For the base

  • smooth almond butter mixed with maple syrup, non-dairy milk, vanilla extract, and oil as wet ingredients
  • rolled oats and  flour (I use all-purpose flour but you can use gluten-free) as dry ingredients
  • baking soda for a bit of a rise
  • salt
  • chocolate chips or chocolate chunks because we want chocolate in both layers

For the date caramel:

  • soft dates (soaked in hot water for 15 minutes) – Medjool dates are easiest to blend and have a wonderful caramelly taste.
  • almond butter or any other nut or seed butter that has a neutral taste
  • salt – so important! Don’t skip it as it helps intensify the caramel flavor
  • maple syrup for the perfect drippy texture
  • non-dairy milk to make it all smooth and creamy. Any plant-based milk will do

Toppings

  • shredded coconut – go for the good stuff – you are looking for small shreds that are super fresh and white.
  • chocolate chips – vegan dark or semisweet chocolate
ingredients needed for making vegan date caramel oatmeal bars

Tips

  • Agave syrup or brown rice syrup can be used in lieu of maple syrup.
  • You can use any other nut or seed butter for the date caramel but I recommend you take something neutral-tasting like sun butter or cashew butter.  Peanut butter would be too strong in taste.

How to make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Caramel Snack Bars

vegan date caramel oatmeal cookie bar ingredients being mixed in a small white bowl

In a bowl, add the almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and oil. Heat the non-dairy milk until it’s hot and then add to the bowl. Mix until all of these wet ingredients are well combined.

wet ingredients for vegan date caramel oatmeal bars being mixed
oats and flour being added to wet dough to make vegan oatmeal bars
chocolate chips being added to vegan oatmeal bar base
vegan carmelita oatmeal batter with chocolate chips in a mixing bowl
vegan date caramel oatmeal bar batter being added to a square baking pan
oatmeal bar batter in a square brownie pan
vegan date caramel being spread on oatmeal batter to make vegan date caramel oatmeal bars

Take the baking pan out of the oven and spread the date caramel all over. Even out with a spatula.

chocolate chips and shredded coconut being spread on top of oatmeal cookie base and date caramel to make caramel bars

Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan and cool for another 10 minutes before slicing.

a square baking pan with vegan caramel oatmeal snack bars

How to store these Vegan Oatmeal Date Caramel Bars:

vegan oatmeal date caramel snack bars topped with shredded coconut and chocolate chips on a cutting board
vegan oatmeal date caramel snack bars on a wooden board

Recipe

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Caramel Snack Bars

These Vegan Date Caramel Bars are the best grab-and-go snack for all lovers of oatmeal bars, chocolate, and caramel. Easy & delicious oatmeal chocolate chip bars made completely from scratch in no time, layered with creamy homemade date caramel.

  • Serves 9
  • Prep 15 minutes
  • Cook 35 minutes
  • Total 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup smooth almond butter
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup non-dairy milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 3/4 cup oats
  • 3/4 cup flour (I use all-purpose flour, use gf blend or oat flour for Glutenfree)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/3 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips or chocolate chunks

For the date caramel:

  • 10-11 soft dates (soaked in hot water for 15 minutes)
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup non-dairy milk

For topping:

  • 1/4 cup shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. 1

    In a bowl, add the almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and oil. Heat the non-dairy milk until it's hot and then add to the bowl. Mix until all of these wet ingredients are well combined.

  2. 2

    Then add in the oats, flour, baking soda, salt, and chocolate chips and mix well.

  3. 3

    Line a 8 by 8 inch pan or a similar baking dish with parchment paper and press this mixture into the baking pan. Even it out with a spatula. Put in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180C) for 15 minutes.

  4. 4

    Meanwhile, make your date caramel. Drain the dates and blend with almond butter, salt, and maple syrup. Add 2-3 tablespoons of milk initially and add more if needed. Blend until it’s a smooth mixture.

  5. 5

    Take the baking pan out of the oven and spread the date caramel all over. Even out with a spatula.

  6. 6

    Top it with the coconut and chocolate chips and put it back to bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden to preference.

  7. 7

    Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan and cool for another 10 minutes before slicing.

  8. 8

    The bars will keep in the counter for a day and in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Notes

To make this gluten-free, use a gluten-free blend or oat flour. to make this Oilfree just omit the oil from the base

Nutrition

  • Calories307 kcal
  • Carbohydrates38 g
  • Protein6 g
  • Fat16 g
  • Saturated Fat5 g
  • Cholesterol2 mg
  • Sodium141 mg
  • Potassium269 mg
  • Fiber4 g
  • Sugar20 g
  • Vitamin A37 IU
  • Vitamin C1 mg
  • Calcium96 mg
  • Iron2 mg