Healthy Rice Cake Snickers with Dates are a sweet, satisfying snack made with crispy rice cakes layered with date caramel, creamy nut butter, and crunchy nuts, then coated in rich dark chocolate. This better-for-you take on a classic candy bar is easy to make, naturally sweetened, and perfect for prepping ahead when you’re craving something indulgent but nourishing.
I love dates. For more yummy date recipes try my date snickers yogurt clusters, salted caramel ice cream or my caramel apple bark.
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Why you'll love this recipe
Sweet + satisfying. A perfect balance of date caramel, nut butter, crunchy nuts, and dark chocolate.
Better-for-you indulgence. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients for a treat that feels nourishing but still tastes decadent.
Crunchy + creamy texture. Crisp rice cakes layered with smooth caramel and nut butter, then coated in rich chocolate.
Perfect for meal prep. Easy to make ahead and store in the fridge or freezer for a grab-and-go snack.
Ingredients for peanut free snickers
- Dates – The base of the caramel, adding natural sweetness and a sticky, candy-like texture.
- Sea salt – Enhances the sweetness and balances the richness of the filling.
- Milk of choice – Helps the date caramel blend smoothly and reach a spreadable consistency.
- Nut butter – Adds creaminess, richness, and healthy fats for that classic snickers-style filling.
- Chopped nuts – Bring crunch and texture; peanuts are traditional, but cashews work beautifully too.
- Thin rice cakes – A light, crispy base that keeps the snack balanced while adding structure.
- Dark chocolate chips or chunks – Create a rich chocolate coating that seals everything together.
- Coconut oil – Helps the chocolate melt smoothly and set with a glossy finish.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions
- Nut butter - any nut butter works here.
- Nuts - any nut can be used.
- Dark chocolate - milk chocolate can be subbed.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Blend together date caramel.
Step 2
Layer nut butter, caramel and nuts on rice cake.
Step 3
Dip in chocolate, coat with salt and nuts and freeze.
Step 4
Serve and enjoy!
Storage instructions
I recommend storing the clusters in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days because this gives them the soft ice cream like texture.
You can also freeze them for 3 months and thaw them out as you want to eat them.
Recipe Pro-Tips for date caramel snickers
DO NOT omit the oil when you melt the chocolate. This prevents the chocolate from seizing (getting clumpy).
Dates that still have the pit are typically fresher and juicier than pitted dates.
Recipe FAQS
Yes! These are naturally vegan.
Dates are a naturally sweet fruit packed with fiber, antioxidants, and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium. They support digestion, boost energy, and may help reduce inflammation in the brain. Dates also make a great whole-food alternative to refined sugar in healthy recipes.
Yes! Rice cakes are a low calorie base for nutrient dense toppings.
Other healthy desserts
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Rice Cake Snickers with Dates
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8-10 pitted juicy dates* I buy them with the pit and then remove it myself
- tiny pinch sea salt
- 1 tablespoon milk of choice
- 3 tablespoons nut butter of choice
- ~3 tablespoons chopped nuts of choice I used cashews but peanuts would be traditional
- 6 thin rice cakes
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
toppings
- flaky sea salt
- additional finely chopped nuts
Instructions
- Add dates, salt and milk to a food processor. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
- Spread 1 rice cake with date caramel. Sprinkle over 1 tablespoon of nuts. Add nut butter to another rice cake. Close the rice cakes together like a sandwich. Repeat this 2 more times to make 3 total "sandwiches".
- Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a bowl and melt together until smooth. I melted mine in 3 30 second intervals in the microwave.
- Dunk each sandwich one at a time in the chocolate. Make sure the rice cake sandwiches are fully coated and that the dark chocolate drips down the sides to seal it.
- Add snickers to a sheet pan or cutting board lined with parchment paper or silicone. Add toppings if desired. Refrigerate or freeze until set. They will set in about 10 minutes in the freezer or about 30 minutes in the fridge.
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