These chocolate covered stuffed dates are made with real food ingredients and taste even better than an actual Snickers bar! Better yet they are gluten-free.
With the holidays approaching and our youngest daughter about to celebrate her second gluten-free Halloween, I decided to create a copycat Snickers recipe! I whipped up these chocolate-covered dates in under 20 minutes, and everyone was amazed at how much they tasted like a Snickers bar.
Are Medjool Dates Healthy?
You're probably wondering why dates, and are they actually healthy?
Yes they actually are! If you're anything like me you probably didn't even know what a date was until this recipe. Since my daughter has been diagnosed with celiac disease I've spent a lot of time researching healthier options for the whole family.
Here are some healthy facts about dates:
- Bone Health: The minerals in dates, such as calcium and phosphorus, contribute to bone health.
- Anti-Inflammatory: The antioxidants and other compounds in dates have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Rich in Nutrients: Dates are packed with essential vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6.
- Natural Sweetener: Dates provide natural sugars, making them a healthier alternative to refined sugars.
Jump to:
Why You'll Like This Healthy Snack
- Quick and Easy: This treat can be prepared in under 20 minutes with just a few simple ingredients.
- Delicious Flavor: This snack perfectly balances salty and sweet with semi-sweet chocolate, sweet dates, peanut butter, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Don't skip the salt, it really completes the flavor!
- Nutritious: Made with whole-food ingredients, these chocolate-covered dates are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Who doesn't want that in a candy bar?!
Ingredients
These amazing chocolate-covered dates stuffed with peanut butter are like a homemade Snickers bar, but made with wholesome ingredients. No additives in this recipe!
And the best part? You only need 6 simple ingredients, most of them you probably already have at home!
- Medjool Dates (pitted)- Costco sells a good size container of fresh dates for a low price.
- Peanut Butter- We prefer Justin's Peanut Butter but any creamy peanut butter will do.
- Honey Roasted Peanuts
- Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
- Coconut Oil-This will help the chocolate chips melt and make it thinner so it's easier to dip the dates.
- Sea Salt
See recipe card for quantities.
Step By Step Instructions
How To Make Copycat Snickers
STEP 1: Prepare The Dates & Peanuts. To prep the dates you want to take a knife and make a slit down the center of the date. Don’t go all the way through just enough so you can open it up and get rid of the pit.
After those are all pitted you can grab your honey roasted peanuts and put them in a ziplock bag. You will need to crush the peanuts, the best way to do this is with a meat pounder or a rolling pin. When the peanuts are crushed, set those aside for later.
STEP 2: Fill The Dates. Fill each date with about 1 teaspoon of peanut butter. To do this I found it easy to use a piping bag or ziplock bag and cut the end off to squeeze onto each date.
Next up, you’re going to sprinkle the crushed peanuts onto your peanut butter filled dates. Gently push the sides of the dates together to secure them.
STEP 3: Freeze. Once your dates are assembled, pop them into the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
STEP 4: Melt The Chocolate. To melt the chocolate chips you are going to need a small crockpot, a sauce pan & bowl or a microwave. I just happened to have a small crockpot so I set it to high and put all the chocolate chips in along with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
STEP 5: Dip In Chocolate. Line a container with parchment paper. Using a fork or toothpick, dip each date into the melted chocolate. Once all dates are covered in chocolate if there is any left, drizzle each one with leftovers.
Lastly, sprinkle with flakey sea salt and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Melting Chocolate Tips
If you don’t have a small enough crockpot available you have two other choices. You could either use a microwave safe bowl and combine your ingredients and melt in the microwave in 15 second increments, stirring between.
Or, you can use a bowl & saucepan. Place the bowl over a small saucepan with about 1 to 2 inches of simmering water. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil, stirring frequently. Once melted, carefully remove the bowl from the pot and (using an oven mitt) place the bowl onto a kitchen towel.
How To Store Chocolate Covered Dates
I would store your copycat Snicker dates in a airtight container for up to a week in the fridge. But, believe me if you are like us they only last maybe 3 days!
If you want to make them and freeze them they could last up to 2-3 months in a freezer container or bag.
If you make this recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe, and let me know what you think in the comments below! Take pictures, and share them with me on Facebook.
Recipe
Chocolate Covered Dates with Peanut Butter
Equipment
- Piping Bag or Ziplock Bag
Ingredients
- 12 Medjool Dates Pitted
- ½ cup Smooth Peanut Butter
- 2 tablespoon Honey Roasted Peanuts Crushed
- 1 cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
- Flakey Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoon Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Slice the dates down the center but don’t go all the way through just enough so you can open it up and get rid of the pit.
- Fill each date with more or less 1 teaspoon of peanut butter. To do this I found it easy to use a piping bag or ziplock bag and cut the end off to squeeze onto each date.
- Grab your roasted peanuts and put them in a ziplock bag. You will need to crush the peanuts, the best way to do this is with a meat pounder or a rolling pin.
- Sprinkle the crushed peanuts onto your peanut butter filled dates. Gently push the sides of the dates together to secure them.
- Freeze the dates for about 15 minutes.
- While the dates are freezing, melt the chocolate. To melt the chocolate chips you are going to need a small crockpot, a sauce pan & bowl or a microwave. I just happened to have a small crockpot so I set it to high and put all the chocolate chips in along with a teaspoon of coconut oil. SEE NOTES
- Line a dish or pan with parchment paper. Using a fork or toothpick, dip each date into the chocolate to coat evenly.
- Immediately sprinkle with sea salt before the chocolate drys.
- Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Notes
- If you don’t have a small enough crockpot available you have two other choices. You could either use a microwave safe bowl and combine your ingredients and melt in the microwave in 15 second increments, stirring between. Or, you can use a bowl & saucepan.
- Place the bowl over a small saucepan with about 1 to 2 inches of simmering water. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil, stirring frequently. Once melted, carefully remove the bowl from the pot and (using an oven mitt) place the bowl onto a kitchen towel.
- To store your copycat Snickers I would use an airtight container placed in the fridge for up to a week. But, believe me if you are like us they only last maybe 3 days!
- If you want to make them and freeze them they could last up to 2-3 months in a freezer container or bag.
More Delicious Treats
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