Pistachio No Bake Snack Bars

Sweet and salty, these Pistachio No Bake Snack Bars are a wonderful way to satisfy all your cravings! At just 140 calories each, they are the perfect snack that come together in under 5 minutes if you want to eat it straight from the bowl, or 30 minutes after a quick trip in the freezer! The choice is up to you!

Why you need to make these Healthy Snack Bars

Maker beware – you may eat the entire batch of Pistachio No Bake Snack Bars in 2-3 days. That is totally normal when they taste as good as they do and are SO easy to make!

If you’re looking to add a new nut to your rotation of almonds, walnuts, and peanuts (well they’re a legume, but that’s not the point!) then look no further than pistachios! While you may be more familiar with them in their salty, shelled form like on my party tray, pistachios make a welcome inclusion to these healthy granola bars filled with other wholesome ingredients like dates, oats, chocolate and dried cranberries (and they’re gluten free)!

What You Need to Make this No bake granola bar Recipe

This simple list of ingredients starts clockwise from the upper left:

• Oats
• Salt
• Pistachios
• Low sugar cranberries
• Vanilla extract
• Pitted dates
• Dark chocolate (center)

Ingredient Tips

• Pistachios: This recipe was developed with raw, unsalted pistachios. That being said, if you only have roasted and salted available, go ahead and use them for these snack bars but do not add any additional salt to the mix.
• Dates: I prefer Medjool to other varieties but any will do (and don’t use any other dried fruit here for the base). Just make sure they’re pitted before adding to the food processor!
  • Be sure to heat the dates as per directions for a super smooth date paste!
• Oats: Old fashioned works the best (get certified gluten free if needed)!
• Dried Cranberries: Try to use unsweetened dried cranberries or you’ll end up with added sugars sneaking into your healthy snack bars!
• Salt: If you’re fancy, use sea salt! But for more iodine, use iodized table salt.

Ingredient Swaps

• Pistachios: While this no bake bar recipe was developed to showcase pistachios, they can easily be substituted for almonds or walnuts. For a nut free version, pumpkin seeds would be great!
• Vanilla Extract: You can use almond extract for a flavor twist, just use half as much as the recipe calls for since almond extract is a bit more potent!
• Dark chocolate: We’re BIG fans of dark chocolate but feel free to sub with your chocolate variety of choice: semisweet, milk, or even white would be nice! Oh, and go ahead for dairy free to make these vegan!
• Dried cranberries: Swap with raisins or dried blueberries to really make this snack bar recipe your own!

How to Make this Homemade Granola Bar Recipe

Part 1:

Heat dates in water in the microwave (or soak for 10 mins in boiling water), then process with the vanilla and salt in a high powered blender or food processor.

Add in the pistachios and oats, then do a rough pulse until finely chopped.

Remove and add to a bowl. Fold in the dark chocolate and cranberries!

Part 2:

Press the mixture into an 8×8-inch pan lined with parchment paper. If desired (which I recommend), melt additional chocolate and pour over the top. Then, set bars in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.

Part 3:

Keep them stored in the freezer for best quality! Feel free to slice them so they are ready to go!

Recipe Notes + Expert Tips for Pistachio No Bake Snack Bars

• Parchment paper makes for easy clean up when you’re ready to remove your bars! If you’ve just run out (just your luck!), spray a little non-stick cooking spray into your dish before pressing the mixture to fit.
• If you want to increase the protein of these bars to 10g per serving (for an adult friendly spin), you’ll need to include some protein powder. Add the powder when processing the dates, water, vanilla, and salt (if the mixture is more crumbly than paste-like, add water 1 Tbsp at a time). You’ll want to add enough powder to total 72 grams of protein. Here are some guidelines to follow, but double check the product’s nutrition label for specific information:
  • For an unflavored whey protein, add approximately 18 Tbsp of powder
  • For an unflavored pea protein, add approximately 10 Tbsp of powder
• As an added flavor note, toast both the pistachios and oats! Lay in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and toast at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes, stirring halfway through (keep a close eye, and nose, on them!)

FAQs for these Gluten Free Granola Bars

Other Recipes with Pistachios and Nuts You May Enjoy

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Pistachio No Bake Snack Bars

A simple, no bake snack that the entire family will love!

4.50 from 12 votes

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Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 bars

Calories: 144kcal

Author: Liz Shaw

Ingredients

• ▢ 15 pitted dates
• ▢ 1/3 cup filtered water
• ▢ 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ▢ 1/4 tsp salt
• ▢ 1 cup no-shell pistachios
• ▢ 1 cup rolled old fashioned oats
• ▢ 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
• ▢ 1/4 cup dried cranberries low sugar

Instructions

• Heat the dates by (option 1) adding to a microwave safe dish, covering with water and heating in the microwave for 2-3 minutes OR (option 2) adding to a heat safe dish and covering with boiling water, allowing to stand for 10 minutes. Drain and discard water.
• To a food processor fitted with a metal blade, add dates, water, vanilla, and salt. Process 75 seconds until pureed. Add in pistachios and oats, pulse in 15 second intervals 2 to 3 times until crumbly, coarse consistency achieved.
• Scoop the mixture into a bowl, then fold in the dark chocolate chips and cranberries.
• Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper.
• Using a spatula remove dough from processor and pour into the pan. Press down firmly to evenly distribute dough in the pan with another piece of parchment paper.
• Place pan in the freezer with parchment paper on top and free for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
• Slice into 12 bars and store in an airtight container in the freezer. Enjoy straight from the freezer.

Notes

• Bars are best eaten frozen from the freezer! They will become soft and break easier if kept on the counter or fridge (though still delicious crumbled over yogurt!)
• If you want to increase the protein of these bars to 10g per serving (for an adult friendly spin), you’ll need to include some protein powder. Add the powder when processing the dates, water, vanilla, and salt (if the mixture is more crumbly than paste-like, add water 1 Tbsp at a time). You’ll want to add enough powder to total 72 grams of protein. Here are some guidelines to follow, but double check the product’s nutrition label for specific information:
  • For an unflavored whey protein, add approximately 18 Tbsp of powder
  • For an unflavored pea protein, add approximately 10 Tbsp of powder
• For an added flavor note, toast both the pistachios and oats! Lay in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and toast at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes, stirring halfway through (keep a close eye, and nose, on them!)

Ingredient tips & swaps:

• Pistachios: This recipe was developed with raw, unsalted pistachios. If you only have roasted and salted available, use them but do not add any additional salt. They can easily be substituted for almonds or walnuts. For a nut free version, pumpkin seeds would be great!
• Dates: I prefer Medjool to other varieties but any will do (and don’t use any other dried fruit here for the base). Just make sure they’re pitted before adding to the food processor!
• Oats: Old fashioned works the best (get certified gluten free if needed)!
• Dried Cranberries: Try to use unsweetened dried cranberries. Swap with raisins or dried blueberries.
• Salt: If you’re fancy, use sea salt! But for more iodine, use iodized table salt. 
• Vanilla Extract: You can use almond extract for a flavor twist, just use half as much as the recipe calls for since almond extract is a bit more potent!
• Dark chocolate: Sub with your chocolate variety of choice: semisweet, milk, or even white would be nice! Oh, and go ahead for dairy free to make these vegan!

Nutrition Facts

Pistachio No Bake Snack Bars

Amount Per Serving (1 )

Calories 144 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Cholesterol 1mg0%

Sodium 55mg2%

Potassium 218mg6%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 10g11%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 28IU1%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 34mg3%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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