It’s a date!
When I found that Date Snickers existed, I waited about a year to make them, and I regret not making them earlier. I probably wouldn’t have binged on anything if I had made them earlier, because these guilt-free sweet treats are delicious but also fulfilling.
It’s like turning the most-wanted halloween candy and maturing it. This new candy, without the sugary nougat or caramel, has taken over. It’s addictive in a non-addicting way. That is, I eat one, I feel good, I feel full, and when I run out of Snickers, I immediately make more because I need them to be in the freezer. After the first time I made them, I was so eager to make more that I accidentally spammed the grocery app and ordered the same grocery order three times, leaving for a pantry stacked with peanuts, chocolate chips, and dates. But, it’s ok because these have ingredients have gone to good use.
Now, these three times haven’t been the same. The first time I made the Snickers, I used whole chocolate-dipped dates. The next time I made them, I smashed the dates into a bar. And the last time I made it, I smashed the dates even more and used homemade peanut butter. Personally, I enjoyed the last type best; they had the perfect ratio of layers and were not overly sweet or hard to eat.
Ingredients:
10-15 pitted Medjool dates
6 oz peanut butter (I use homemade or unsweetened)
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp Sea salt (optional)
½ cup crushed peanuts (optional)
Steps:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking oil.
Cut each pitted date down the seam (the crack where it was pitted). Do not cut all the way through.
Open the dates like a butterfly. On the baking sheet, line them up so they slightly overlap. Create a rectangle with the dates.
Place another piece of parchment on top of the date bar and lightly press. Take a rolling pin and roll the dates so they are flat. Peel the parchment off.
Take the peanut butter and place it in a bowl. If your peanut butter is stiffer, place in the microwave in 30 second intervals until runny.
Pour the peanut butter onto the bar and evenly spread.
Place the sheet in the freezer for 15-30 minutes, or until the peanut butter is firm.
Place the chocolate chips in a bowl and microwave for 30 second intervals. Continue stirring between each interval until the chocolate is completely melted.
Pour the chocolate onto the bar and evenly spread.
Optional: top with sea salt or crushed peanuts.
Place the bar back into the freezer.
Once set, run a knife under hot water. Cut the bar into smaller ones.
Enjoy!
