Energy Bar Recipe | Protein Bar | Dry Fruit Energy Bars | Nut Bar with detailed photo and video recipe. A healthy and sugar-free chikki or barfi recipe made with a mix of dry fruits. This is an ideal sugar-free dessert that can serve as a satisfying snack after a workout, during a fasting season like iftar, or to quench hunger. It is made with a combination of dried fruits and nuts, and can be easily varied according to preference.
Well, many would have confusion about this recipe and how it would provide the necessary energy as any meal. To answer that, I would take you back to the iftar meal. If you have noticed, the iftar meal typically starts with dried fruits, particularly dates or khajur. The combination of dates and dried fruits provides the necessary nutrients and proteins, which are required especially after a period of strict fasting. Similarly, I have used the same combination and added date syrup to bind all the nuts and fruits. Eventually shaping it into a bar, also known as chikki. Nevertheless, you do not have to serve these dry fruit energy bars after fasting. And can be served after the workout or perhaps to kids after their evening games.
Anyway, I would like to highlight some tips, suggestions and variations to this energy bar recipe. Firstly, there is no hard and fast rule to use the specified combination of dried fruits. In fact, you can use any preferred choice of nuts, but I would like to keep dates in that combination. Secondly, you can also shape these into laddu or any desired shapes as per your preference. I have shaped it like a bar to maintain the authenticity of a protein bar recipe. Lastly, the sweetness from the dates is more than sufficient for this chikki recipe. Having said that, if you have a sweet tooth, you can add jaggery syrup or brown sugar syrup to achieve the desired level of sweetness.
Finally, I would like to highlight my other detailed Indian Sweets Recipes Collection with this post on the Energy Bar recipe. It mainly includes recipes such as kesar barfi, date ladoo, dry fruit ladoo, coconut barfi, besan barfi, kaju barfi, badam burfi, and pista badam burfi. In addition, do visit my other detailed recipe collections like,
About Energy Bar – Dark Chocolate Protein Bar
Energy bars are compact, nutritious snacks designed to provide a quick boost of energy and essential nutrients. They are often made using wholesome ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds, dates, and natural sweeteners, making them a convenient and portable choice for people on the go. These bars are especially useful during busy mornings, travel, or post-workout recovery when there’s no time for a full meal. Among the various types, Dark Chocolate Protein Bars stand out for their rich flavour, satisfying texture, and ability to combine taste with function, offering both indulgence and nutrition in one bite.
In a typical Indian diet rich in rice or roti (carbohydrate-heavy), protein intake is often low. A dark chocolate protein bar helps bridge that gap by providing a healthy source of protein, especially useful for kids, busy adults, or those engaging in physical activity. It also serves as a tasty and guilt-free snack alternative to deep-fried options, appreciated by all age groups. Additionally, it can serve as a simple dinner substitute while travelling, as it helps curb hunger and sweet cravings.
Fun Fact:
Dark chocolate protein bars are often preferred over protein powders because they are made with natural ingredients and taste delicious, making them a hit with kids as well.
Why Energy Bars are Important?
Including a dark chocolate protein bar or energy bar in your daily routine can be especially beneficial for vegetarians. Here’s why:
- Boosts protein intake – Helps meet daily protein needs in a plant-based diet.
- Fights hunger – Keeps you full between meals without overeating.
- No prep required – Easy and quick snack, anytime, anywhere.
- Healthier than fried snacks – Low in oil, high in nutrients, and kid-friendly.
- Natural sweet fix – Satisfies sweet cravings without refined sugar overload.
Video Recipe:
Recipe Card for Energy Bar
energy bar recipe | protein bar recipe | dry fruit energy bars | nut bar
Ingredients
- 1 cup dates / khajoor, pitted
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 cup cashew / kaju
- 1 cup almonds / badam
- ½ cup walnut / akhrot
- ¼ cup pistachios
- ¼ cup sesame seeds / til
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup dry coconut, grated
- ½ cup honey
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup rolled oats
Instructions
- firstly, in a bowl soak 1 cup dates in 1 cup hot water for 2 hours.
- blend to smooth paste without adding any water. keep aside.
- in a kadai take 1 cup cashew, 1 cup almonds, ½ cup walnut, ¼ cup pistachios, ¼ cup sesame seeds and ¼ cup pumpkin seeds.
- roast on low flame for 5 minutes or until the nuts turn crunchy.
- further, add ½ cup dry coconut and continue to roast.
- transfer the roasted nuts to a bowl and keep aside.
- in a kadai take dates paste and saute on medium flame.
- cook until the dates paste thickens.
- further, add in roasted nuts, ½ cup honey, ½ tsp cardamom powder and ¼ tsp salt.
- turn off the flame and mix well making sure everything is combined well.
- further in a pan roast ½ cup rolled oats on medium flame until it turns aromatic.
- blend to a fine powder.
- add in oats powder to the dry fruit dates mixture.
- combine well, keep mixing until the mixture thickens.
- transfer the prepared mixture into a greased plate lined with baking paper.
- set well forming a block.
- allow setting for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- now unmould and cut into pieces.
- finally, serve energy bar or store in an airtight container for a month in the refrigerator.
How to Make an Energy Bar with Step-by-Step Photos
- firstly, in a bowl soak 1 cup dates in 1 cup hot water for 2 hours.
- blend to smooth paste without adding any water. keep aside.
- in a kadai take 1 cup cashew, 1 cup almonds, ½ cup walnut, ¼ cup pistachios, ¼ cup sesame seeds and ¼ cup pumpkin seeds.
- roast on low flame for 5 minutes or until the nuts turn crunchy.
- further, add ½ cup dry coconut and continue to roast.
- transfer the roasted nuts to a bowl and keep aside.
- in a kadai take dates paste and saute on medium flame.
- cook until the dates paste thickens.
- further, add in roasted nuts, ½ cup honey, ½ tsp cardamom powder and ¼ tsp salt.
- turn off the flame and mix well making sure everything is combined well.
- further in a pan roast ½ cup rolled oats on medium flame until it turns aromatic.
- blend to a fine powder.
- add in oats powder to the dry fruit dates mixture.
- combine well, keep mixing until the mixture thickens.
- transfer the prepared mixture into a greased plate lined with baking paper.
- set well forming a block.
- allow setting for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- now unmould and cut into pieces.
- finally, serve energy bar or store in an airtight container for a month in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Firstly, add your choice of dry fruits to make it more nutritious.
- Adding oat powder helps the mixture thicken and maintain its shape.
- Additionally, roast the dried fruits on a low flame to prevent them from burning.
- Finally, the energy bar recipe can be cut into the desired shape.