Key Lime Energy Bars

When snack o’clock hits, reach for these Key Lime Energy Bars bursting with citrus lime, sweet dates, and boasting an irresistible nutty texture. Easily made with only 5 ingredients and quickly turned into a nutrient-dense snack within 15 minutes (from start to finish), these energy bars are a limey-coconutty must!

This post was originally published on March 6, 2017. Updated on March 15, 2021.

An energy bar with wholesome ingredients

The ultimate snack made easy, these Key Lime Energy Bars are made with only 5 ingredients and are packed to the hilt with nutrients to keep you going all afternoon. We all get the late afternoon munchies and need a little something to tide us over until dinner. When we reach for a healthy snack that will satiate us, we’re doing our bodies a favor. Packed with fiber and antioxidants from the dates, healthy fats and plant-protein from the cashews and almonds, and a nice boost of vitamin c from the fresh limes, these homemade key lime Larabar-inspired energy bars are calling your name! If you’re a fan of our Pumpkin Spice Protein Bars or our No-Bake Apricot Almond Coconut Energy Bites, you’re sure to love these energy bars!

Flavorful and nutrient-packed key lime energy bars

Grab your food processor and a few ingredients and get ready to give your taste buds a treat with an energy bar!  These energy bars taste just like key lime pie, but without the sugar of course.  They’re naturally sweetened with deglet or Medjool dates and have a citrusy sour taste from the fresh lime juice and zest. The sweet taste with little citrus bursts from the lime zest are similar to a fruit and nut bar you would find packaged in stores, these fruit and nut bars are great for an afternoon snack, as part of a packed lunch, and can be a saving grace when on-the-go and your next meal is going to be delayed.

Ingredients:

• Dates – deglet or Medjool dates will work for this recipe. You can buy pitted dates, or pit them yourself. We like these dates from Thrive Market.
• Almonds – raw or roasted almonds, but look for unsalted like this one
• Cashews – raw unsalted cashews
• Unsweetened coconut – shredded coconut is best for this recipe
• Limes – zest and juice
• Salt

How to make these key lime bars

• Place all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor.
• Process until the mixture is crumbly yet still holds together well when pinched between your fingers.
• If the mixture is too dry, add another date and process again, or add one teaspoon of water at a time until the mixture holds together nicely.
• If the mixture is too wet, add 2 tablespoons of additional nuts at a time and process again until the mixture is moist and holds together.
• Once the mixture has the perfect sticking power, press the mixture onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet forming a square about 9 x 9 inches.  Place bars in the fridge to chill if they are too sticky.

To make into energy balls:

Follow the first two steps, then scoop out two tablespoons of the mixture, roll them between your hands to form into a ball, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.  Continue this process until all mixture is used up.  Will make about 16 energy bites.  Once all the mixture has been used up and they’re spaced out on the baking sheet, place the baking sheet in the fridge and let the balls set.  

How to store energy bars

After the energy bars (or energy bites) have set in the fridge, remove, cut into 12 bars, and wrap individually with parchment paper or place in a covered container with parchment paper between layers of bars.  For energy bites, place them all in a container or a bag.  Store bars or bites in the fridge for up to one week.

Can these energy bars be frozen?

You bet they can be frozen!  After the bars are cut into equal sizes, place them on a baking sheet, slightly separated, and place them in the freezer for 30 minutes or until firm.  Remove from the freezer and place them in a freezer-friendly covered container with parchment paper between the stacked bars and freeze for up to 2 months.  

To freeze the key lime energy balls, place all the rolled out balls on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes or until firm enough they won’t freeze together into a clump.  Remove from the freezer and place in a covered container or freezer-friendly bag and freeze for up to 2 months.

How to thaw the energy bars

To thaw the bars, simply remove the desired amount of bars from the freezer and let thaw on the counter, about 15 minutes.  Or place them in the fridge the night before you wish to serve the bars. If packing the bars for an easy on-the-go energy bar snack, toss them into your bag straight from the freezer and by the time you want to eat it, the bar will be thawed and ready.

More snack ideas for you:

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls with Chocolate Chips

Cherry Chocolate Energy Bites (No-Bake)

Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter Bites

5-Ingredient Healthy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

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Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Jess of Plays Well with Butter. 

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