Date Fig Almond Energy Bars
By the QuiteRecipes team (Jamy & Kaïna) | Food Service Professional, Early Childhood Expert & Parents
No-bake homemade energy bars with dates, figs and almonds, a quick and portable fuel for climbers and mountain days.
No-bake, backpack-ready. Dates, figs, and almonds press into bars that hold their shape on a long climb — portable fuel that tastes like a treat and works like real food.
🥄 Ingredients
- 🫗 1 cup (150g) pitted dates, softened
- 🫗 1 cup (150g) dried figs, stems removed
- 🫗 1 1/2 cups (180g) whole almonds
- 🫗 2 tablespoons almond butter
- 🫗 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 🫗 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 🫗 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 🫗 2 tablespoons water (if needed)
Nutrition Facts*
*Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients, brands and portion sizes. Values are provided per serving.
👨🍳 Instructions
Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper.
If the dates are firm, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain well.
Add the almonds to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
Add the dates, figs, almond butter, honey, cinnamon and salt, and process until the mixture clumps together.
If it will not hold its shape, add water 1 tablespoon at a time until sticky.
Press the mixture firmly into the lined pan. Chill for 30-60 minutes.
Cut into 12 bars and store in the fridge.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✕
Skipping the soak for dry dates, which makes the bars gritty and hard to bind.
- ✕
Over-processing into a paste, which removes the pleasant almond texture.
- ✕
Cutting warm, which makes the bars fall apart into crumbs.
🔄 Variations
Swap almonds for cashews or pecans.
Add 1/4 cup dried cranberries or cocoa nibs.
Roll the mixture into balls for a no-cut, grab-and-go version.
🧊 Storage
- 📦
Keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- 📦
Freeze for up to 3 months and take bars straight onto the wall or trail.
💡 Chef Tips
Tip 1: Soft, plump dates blend best, so soak firm ones first.
Tip 2: Press the mixture very firmly or the bars will crumble when cut.
Tip 3: Pulse, do not blend, so you keep some almond crunch for texture.
Tip 4: Chill thoroughly before slicing for clean, neat edges.
❓ FAQ
Are these good for climbing sessions? Yes, they are dense fuel that is easy to eat between routes and fits neatly in a chalk bucket.
How long do they keep? Up to 2 weeks in the fridge or 3 months frozen.
How many calories per bar? Roughly 200 kcal and 26g of carbs per bar.
Are they vegan? Yes, just swap the honey for maple syrup.
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About the Authors
This recipe and guide was developed, tested, and approved in our home kitchen and daily life. Jamy is a retired Food Service District Manager and Early Childhood Program Manager who spent his career overseeing multi-site restaurant operations, large-scale culinary production, and daycare menu management. Kaïna brings the ultimate real-world test: making sure it brings ease and joy to our kids on a busy weeknight.
Read more about our professional background and philosophy →