Nature’s Candy to Fuel Your Efforts: DIY Stuffed Date Candy Bars
Looking for a real-food, homemade energy snack that powers your rides, workouts, or busy days? Say hello to DIY stuffed Medjool date candy bars—nature’s candy packed with fuel for your body.
Medjool dates are nutritional powerhouses: they provide fast, digestible carbohydrates, potassium to prevent muscle cramps, and essential vitamins and minerals for energy, recovery, and overall health. Plus, they’re packable, easy to eat, and versatile, making them perfect as pre-ride fuel, mid-ride energy bites, or anytime snacks.
DIY Stuffed Date Candy Bar Ideas
Think of a Medjool date as your “caramel” base—you can fill it with nearly anything. Here are some healthy candy bar-inspired combinations:
Almond Joy: Coconut butter + diced almonds + shredded coconut + cacao nibs + flaky sea salt
Butter Finger: Peanut butter + crushed cornflake cereal + cacao nibs
Milky Way: Cashew cream + chocolate chips + flaky sea salt (to make homemade Cashew Cream: blend 1 cup soaked cashews with ½ cup water/milk, 2 tsp lemon juice, 1 Tbsp maple syrup, and a pinch of salt until smooth.)
Salted Nut Roll: Marshmallow fluff + crushed peanuts + flaky sea salt
Snickers: Peanut butter + crushed peanuts + chocolate chips
Take 5: Peanut butter + crushed peanuts + crushed pretzels + flaky sea salt
Twix: Almond butter + crushed graham crackers/digestive biscuits + chocolate chips
Biscoff: Biscoff butter + crushed Biscoff cookies
Dubai Chocolate: Pistachio butter + crushed pistachios + pinch of cardamom + cacao nibs + flaky sea salt
Halva: Tahini + coconut butter + honey + toasted sesame seeds + toasted shredded coconut + flaky sea salt
How to Make Stuffed Date Energy Bars
Split a Medjool date in half, keeping it connected on one side. Remove the pit.
Fill the date with your chosen candy bar mixture. (see amounts below).
Squeeze the date back together to conceal the filling.
Enjoy immediately, or store in the fridge or freezer for quick, packable fuel anytime.
How Much Filling to Use
Standard Medjool Date: ~1 -1½ tsp of filling per date
Thicker fillings (nut butters, tahini): slightly less than 1 tsp to avoid overstuffing
Softer fillings (cashew cream, marshmallow fluff, honey): up to 1½ tsp
Mini versions: ~½ tsp per small date, perfect for sampling or snack packs
Gently press the date after filling so it holds together. For crunchy coatings like crushed cookies, nuts, or sesame seeds, roll the stuffed date lightly to get an even layer.
Nutrition Facts
1 Medjool Date ≈ 65 calories, 18g carbs, 0g fat, 0g protein
Recommended Ingredients for DIY Date Energy Bars
Rancho Meladuco Medjool Dates – large, soft, perfect for stuffing
Coconut Butter or your favorite nut butter for creamy filling
Nuts.com almonds, peanuts, or cacao nibs for crunch and extra fuel
Crushed cornflake cereals for a “Butterfinger” touch—pick your favorite brand
Maldon Flaky Sea Salt - a little pinch goes a long way to enhancing the flavor of your bars
These stuffed dates are sweet, satisfying, and packed with natural energy. They even make a fun alternative to candy bars for Halloween, but their real superpower is being a go-to, anytime snack for riders, athletes, and busy people looking for healthy fuel.
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