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Gluten Free
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Gluten-Free Dried Fruit Bars with Nuts and Dates on The Go

ByMarina Rizhkov Posted onFebruary 8, 2025February 8, 2025

Dried Fruit and Nut Bars are made with naturally sweet fruit and nuts. They are sweet, crunchy and chewy.

Dried nut and fruit bars wrapped in brown paper, twine, and stacked.

I am always looking for a healthy, gluten-free snack that’s easy to make. These naturally sweetened gluten-free dried fruit bars are perfect for me and you! Mix dates, nuts, and dried fruit to get this amazing snack. I can’t deny it: these bars are chewy, delicious, and full of energy-boosting ingredients.

These homemade energy bars keep you satisfied: as a quick breakfast, an on-the-go snack, and especially as a post-workout bite. Baking a batch of fruit and nut bars is a great way to use up dried fruit and nuts you most likely received for Christmas from your friends and coworkers.

Add some oatmeal to these fruit bars to make a tasty on the go breakfast! These chewy fruit bars can be on your list of baked goods for meal prep, too.

Why You’ll Love These Healthy Snack Bars

Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan – great for those with food sensitivities.
No refined sugar! The dates and dried fruit provide natural sweetness.
Super easy to make – no baking required!
Perfect for meal prep – store them in the fridge or freezer for a grab-and-go snack.
Packed with healthy fats, fiber, and protein to keep you full and energized.

Table of Contents

Key Ingredients

Dried fruit bars with nuts and dates ingredients- cranberries, apricots, hazelnuts, almonds, dates, raisins, lemon, and figs.

Dried fruit: dates, apricots, raisins, figs, and dried cranberries.
Nuts: I used almond and hazelnuts, but you could adjust to your taste.
Citrus: lemon.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to make Fruit and Nut Bars

Step 1: Prep

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Step 2: Blend

Blend dates with a blender or food processor until paste-like consistency.

Steps 3 & 4: Chop and process

Chop nuts in a food processor into fine chunks.

Add dried fruits and chopped lemon and process again.

Dried fruit in a food processor with lemon.

Step 5: Add dates and mix

Add date paste to the nuts and fruits and mix well.

Nuts and fruits mixed in a food processor.

Step 6: Roll

Roll out between two layers of parchment into a rectangle or square, about ¼ inch (6 mm) thick.

Dried fruit and nut bar spread out in a big square on a baking tray.

Step 7: Transfer and bake

Transfer the parchment to a baking sheet and place in a preheated oven for 10 minutes.

Step 8: Remove, cut, and bake again

Then set the temperature to 140F. Remove the baking sheet, carefully cut into bars, and return to the oven for 2 hours.

Step 9: Turn, dry, and rest

Carefully turn the bars over and dry them for 1 more hour. It can be left on a baking sheet until well dried for another day at room temperature.

Cut and separated fruit nut bars on a baking sheet.

Expert Tips:

Swap out raisins, cranberries, dried apricots, or figs for a new flavor twist, like dried cherries, dried blueberries, and more!
For a decadent touch, melt some dark chocolate or chocolate chips and drizzle it over the nutritious snack bars before chilling.
These nut and date bars last up to 2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge. Keeping them cold helps maintain their chewy texture.
Make these vegan snack bars ahead of time for a great grab and go snack for the whole family.
Add oats to make these into homemade granola bars!
No need to add honey or maple syrup to these homemade gluten free bars. Keep them vegan without honey, and no liquid is needed to meld together the ingredients.

Recipe FAQs

How do I keep the bars from falling apart?

Make sure to process the dates thoroughly into a paste and press the mixture firmly into the pan before chilling. Refrigerating for at least 1-2 hours helps the bars set properly.

Do I need a food processor to make these bars?

I recommend a food processor to blend the nuts and dates properly. Alternately, you can finely chop the ingredients and mix them by hand. Keep in mind, this will be more difficult.

What’s the best way to cut the bars cleanly?

Use a sharp knife and wipe it with a damp cloth between cuts to get clean, even bars without crumbling.

Dried fruit and nut bars atop a wire rack, wrapped in parchment and twine.

Enjoy these great dessert recipes for the whole family:

Soft and Sweet Cheese Cookies are a hit with everyone. They’re soft, sweet, and made with simple ingredients!
You can make a Key Lime Dessert with Zest and Cream at home with this quick and easy recipe.

More recipes with almonds

If you tried these Dried Fruit Bars with Nuts or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

Marina Rizhkov

I’m Marina, a Mother, Culinary Nutrition Expert, and Blogger. I am so glad you took the time to stop by and treat yourself to some of my recipes. My goal is to give you the knowledge and courage to get out of your comfort cooking zone and cook from scratch! You’ll find a bunch of pictures, nutritional information, and step-by-step instructions to help you achieve tasty homemade meals.