If your sweet tooth has been whispering sweet nothings about chocolate bars and caramel dreams, this one’s for you. This Date Snickers Bar Recipe is basically your favorite candy bar leveled up with wholesome ingredients and way less guilt.

Chocolate-coated bars are sliced on parchment paper, revealing layers of nuts, caramel, and nougat. The surface of the chocolate has a sprinkle of sea salt, and cut sections show a rich, layered texture with visible nuts and caramel.

Think chewy dates, creamy peanut butter, crunchy peanuts, and rich, melted chocolate—all in one irresistible bite. These are the kind of snacks that disappear faster than my teen boys at the mention of doing dishes!

At our house, I’ve learned that the best part of trying new recipes is watching my teenagers hover in the kitchen like little food critics in hoodies. They ask questions like, “Is this healthy or just looks healthy?” or “Wait, there’s peanut butter in this?” before they proceed to devour half the pan.

These healthier date snickers didn’t stand a chance—they were gone before the chocolate even set.

Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!

A hand holding a slice of chocolate and nut bar. The bar has visible layers, including caramel, nuts, and a thick chocolate top. More bars are on a wooden surface in the background. The nails are painted with a delicate floral pattern.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This date snickers recipe is a total game-changer. You get that nostalgic, classic candy bar vibe without the sugar crash or mile-long ingredient list.

It’s made with natural sweetness, packed with healthy fats, and hits all the right textures: chewy, creamy, crunchy, and smooth. Whether you’re avoiding traditional candy bars, looking for a healthier alternative this recipe brings all the flavor with none of the guilt.

Five chocolate-covered snack bars filled with nuts, cut into slices and arranged on parchment paper. The surface is slightly textured, and there are a few scattered nuts around.

I love finding easy recipes like this that use real food ingredients I usually already have at home.

No mystery nougat layer or unpronounceable sweeteners here—just simple steps and naturally sweet goodness. It’s also a win when I can stash a few in the freezer (aka mom’s secret snack spot) for that 3 p.m. sweet craving.

Four bowls containing chocolate chips, dates, peanut butter, and peanuts are labeled. A small pile of salt is nearby. The background is a wooden surface. The text reads homemadeheather.com.

Ingredients

Medjool dates, pitted – the naturally sweet base and chewy “caramel layer” of this delicious treat.
All natural peanut butter – adds creamy richness and healthy fats, use smooth peanut butter or go crunchy if you’re feeling wild. I like to use Fatso Salted Caramel peanut butter in all of my recipes.
Salted peanuts – brings the crunch and a salty contrast to balance the sweetness of the dates.
Semi sweet chocolate chips – melted chocolate magic that pulls the whole date snickers recipe together. Feel free to swap with dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips.

A glass dish lined with parchment paper and weighted with a glass is on a wooden table. Nearby are a few scattered almonds, a piece of lace fabric, and a small bouquet of dried flowers.

Instructions

1. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Open and lay the dates in a single layer on the bottom of the dish.

A glass dish contains a rectangular block of date halwa with visible almond pieces. It rests on a wooden surface with a white lace doily and dried flowers nearby. Scattered almond nuts add to the rustic setup.

3. Cover with a piece of parchment paper and use the bottom of a glass to press the dates flat.

A glass baking dish lined with parchment paper with chocolate brownie batter spread evenly inside. The dish is placed on a wooden surface with a lace doily and some small flowers nearby.

4. Spread the peanut butter over the top of the dates.

A glass baking dish lined with parchment paper contains a nut-topped dessert resting on a wooden table. Next to it is a lace doily and a small sprig of dried flowers. Some nuts are scattered around.

5. Top with the salted peanuts.
6. Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at 30-second increments, stirring between each, until fully smooth.

A glass dish lined with parchment paper holds homemade chocolate bark sprinkled with sea salt. The dish is placed on a wooden surface with a decorative lace cloth and a few scattered nuts nearby.

7. Pour the chocolate over the ingredients, covering them entirely.
8. Top with sea salt or more peanuts if desired.

Sliced chocolate bars on a wooden board with visible peanuts and a sprinkle of sea salt on top, placed on parchment paper with a doily edge partially visible.

9. Freeze completely before cutting into bars with a sharp knife.

10. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Five chocolate and peanut butter bars stacked on parchment paper, with visible peanuts inside. The top layer is smooth chocolate, sprinkled with sea salt. Crumbled peanuts are scattered around on a wooden surface.

Tips & Tricks

Use fresh dates – They’re softer and easier to flatten, giving your bars that chewy texture that mimics a real caramel layer. If your dates feel dry, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes first.
Customize your filling – Got a peanut allergy? Swap in almond butter, cashew butter, or any seed butter you love. You can even add a teaspoon of maple syrup to your nut butter for a sweeter touch.
Get that chocolate taste just right – Use a double boiler if you’re not a fan of the microwave. Stir constantly for silky-smooth results.
Add a pinch of flaky salt – Right on top of the chocolate layer before freezing. It adds that gourmet finish and takes the flavor over the top.
Cut with care – Let the bars sit at room temperature for a few minutes before slicing with a sharp knife to avoid cracking the chocolate.

Four stacked chocolate bars on a wooden board. The bars have a chocolate and peanut topping, a peanut butter filling, and a thin dark base. Peanuts are scattered around. The background is a soft beige.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?
Absolutely! Crunchy peanut butter adds even more texture and that extra crunchy nut vibe. Just make sure it’s not too dry so it spreads easily over the dates.

How should I store these?
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month. They’re best enjoyed slightly chilled but not rock hard.

Can I make these without peanuts?
Yep! Try almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter, and top with chopped peanuts’ alternatives like roasted pumpkin seeds or cacao nibs.

Close-up of chocolate bars filled with peanuts and nougat, arranged on parchment paper. The bars are sliced to show the layers of chocolate, peanuts, and nougat, with a few scattered peanuts around them.

These homemade snickers are such a great alternative to the traditional snickers—with wholesome ingredients, fewer additives, and none of the guilt. Whether you’re sneaking a snack, packing a lunchbox treat, or fueling your teen before hockey practice, these dates snickers are the kind of easy recipe that feels like a win for everyone.

Love this date and chocolate vibe? Be sure to check out these date bites, this date bark or my coconut date bars.

Top view of Snickers-inspired date bars layered with chocolate, nuts, and dates on a parchment. Text overlay reads Snickers Date Bars and homemadeheather.com.

If you love these date snickers bars, please click the stars in the recipe card below to give them a 5 star rating.