This recipe makes some pretty good date based bars that are 'rugged' enough to be stuffed into your pack for hiking, biking or just going to work.

They are more like a heavy cookie than a waxy power bar and are not sticky gooey like lara bars even though the main ingredient are dates. These are not super sweet but my kids like them.

Warning, I'm not a precise cook. I don't like being stuck to recipes, so I tend to 'free' form my stuff.

Step 1: Ingrediants

This recipe makes some pretty good date based bars that are 'rugged' enough to be stuffed into your pack for hiking, biking or just going to work.

They are more like a heavy cookie than a waxy power bar and are not sticky gooey like lara bars even though the main ingredient are dates. These are not super sweet but my kids like them.

Warning, I'm not a precise cook. I don't like being stuck to recipes, so I tend to 'free' form my stuff.

Step 2: Grind Away!

This recipe makes some pretty good date based bars that are 'rugged' enough to be stuffed into your pack for hiking, biking or just going to work.

They are more like a heavy cookie than a waxy power bar and are not sticky gooey like lara bars even though the main ingredient are dates. These are not super sweet but my kids like them.

Warning, I'm not a precise cook. I don't like being stuck to recipes, so I tend to 'free' form my stuff.

Step 3: Hand Mixing

This recipe makes some pretty good date based bars that are 'rugged' enough to be stuffed into your pack for hiking, biking or just going to work.

They are more like a heavy cookie than a waxy power bar and are not sticky gooey like lara bars even though the main ingredient are dates. These are not super sweet but my kids like them.

Warning, I'm not a precise cook. I don't like being stuck to recipes, so I tend to 'free' form my stuff.

Step 4: Squish and Shape

This recipe makes some pretty good date based bars that are 'rugged' enough to be stuffed into your pack for hiking, biking or just going to work.

They are more like a heavy cookie than a waxy power bar and are not sticky gooey like lara bars even though the main ingredient are dates. These are not super sweet but my kids like them.

Warning, I'm not a precise cook. I don't like being stuck to recipes, so I tend to 'free' form my stuff.

Step 5: Cut and Bake

Cut the blob into power bar sized bars. I found a spatula works best as the stuff is too sticky to slide a knife through.

Cut off the excess paper.

Now bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes turn off the oven and let the bars cook for 20 more. I found this last step 'toughens' the bars up for easier transport.

Your done!

I bag these and put them in my freezer. There's no preservatives in these so I don't want to take chances.