Name: No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars (Vegan Gluten-Free)
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 200g medjool dates, pitted weight; 60g smooth peanut butter; 2 tbsp cacao powder; 1 tbsp plant-based milk; 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted; 1 tsp vanilla extract; A pinch of salt; 80g mixed nuts e.g. pistachios, cashews and walnuts, chopped; 30g dried cherries, or other fruit; 15g desiccated coconut; 15g crispy cereal; 1 tbsp chia seeds; 100g dark chocolate; 30g smooth peanut butter; 1 tbsp crushed pistachios; 1 tsp freeze-dried raspberries; Flaky salt

desserts

lunch & dinner

breakfast

Here I share my favourite vegan recipes that are not only delicious, but they are vibrant, wholesome and designed to nourish you from the inside out with vegan and vegan curious followers.

Hey!
I'm Amy

sweets & snacks

Scroll to Recipe

These deliciously chocolatey No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars are made without dairy or grains so are naturally plant-based, gluten-free and full of fibre and protein from nuts and seeds – the perfect snack.

I love making healthier delicious sweet recipes and these are pretty much “superfood” brownies, with a mix of different nuts, some chia seeds, medjool dates for fibre and sweetness, nut butter for healthy fats and a delicious chocolate top, they are the perfect snack that feels like dessert. These bars come together in 15 minutes or less and you can make them with whatever nuts and dried fruits you have at home. They are rich and chocolatey with a great crunchy texture and smooth chocolate top, ideal for meal prep or for whipping something up last minute.

A stack of three No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars — No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars

Why will I love these brownies?

These brownies are amazing:

Rich, chocolatey and decadent
Nutty, crunchy and crispy
Fruity, naturally sweet and chewy
With a dark chocolate smooth top
Packed with different nuts, seeds and fruits for plant diversity
Great for gut health
High in fibre and protein
Sweetened only with medjool dates
Contains no grains so are gluten-free
Naturally plant-based, egg-free and dairy-free
With protein crispies for extra crunch and protein
Like a chocolate fruit and nut bar in healthier brownie form
Ideal for meal prep snacks
Delicious for dessert with a cup of tea
Come together in 15 minutes or less
Use whatever nuts/seeds you have at home
Highly customisable

If you already love the sound of these bars, then skip ahead to the recipe card below. Or, first let’s discuss the recipe in more detail.

A few No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars — No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars

A few pieces of No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie — No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars

What ingredients do I need?

You can see the ingredients with weights in the recipe card below and see my favourite and recommended products in the “shop the recipe” section.

For the brownie base:

Medjool dates: the softer the better as they blend up more easily. But we soak them in boiling water first, so you can use a less soft date variety, too.
Smooth peanut butter: or try almond butter for a great taste, too. To make this nut-free, use tahini or sunflower seed butter.
Cacao powder: to make these really chocolatey. Make sure it’s 100% cacao (or cocoa).
Plant based milk: to help the dates and cacao blend up. You can use any dairy-free milk here like soya, oat, almond or coconut (from the carton).
Coconut oil: this helps the bars to set more firm.
Vanilla extract: for flavour.
Salt: for flavour.
Mixed nuts: I use pistachios, cashews and walnuts here, but you can try macadamia, almonds, peanuts or pecans, too. If you would like these to be nut-free, swap the nuts for a mix of pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
Dried cherries: or try dried blueberries, dried apricots or goji berries.
Desiccated coconut: to add flavour.
Crispy cereal: I use the Chia Charge protein soya crispies which are so good and boost the protein content while adding a crunch. You can also use puffed or flaked cereal.
Chia seeds: to add some fibre, omegas and crunch.

Close up of No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars — No Bake Fruit and Nut Bars

As for the chocolate top:

Dark chocolate: I love the Raw Halo oat mylk creamy buttons which are slightly dark but not too dark.
Peanut butter: as above.
Extra pistachios: for some colour and crunch on top. You can also use desiccated or flaked coconut.
Freeze-dried raspberries: to add a pop of colour and fruitiness on top. Or, try goji berries, too.

Are these gluten-free and nut-free?

These are naturally gluten-free as they contain no grains. To make these nut-free swap the peanut butter for tahini or sunflower seed butter and swap the nuts for pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Two No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars — No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars

A stack of No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars — No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars

How do I make them?

These bars come together in a few steps:

Add the dates to a bowl and cover with boiling water: to allow it to soften.
Drain the dates and add to a food processor: with the peanut butter, cacao powder plant milk, coconut oil, vanilla and salt.
Blend to reach a chunky, smooth paste: and spoon into a bowl.
Add in the nuts, seeds and dried fruits: and stir well to combine.
Press down into a lined dish: and chill in the freezer.
Melt the chocolate and peanut butter: and pour over the base.
Sprinkle over nuts and freeze-dried berries: and chill again.
Slice into bars using a warm sharp knife: and enjoy.

How long do they last?

These will keep for 1-2 weeks in the fridge in a sealed container or 1-2 months in the freezer.

A bitten No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bar — No Bake Fruit and Nut Brownie Bars

What other recipes can I try?

For other no-bake bars and snacks: