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5 Ingredient Frozen Turtle Bars

January 21, 2016 by Lindsay 55 Comments

These five-ingredient Frozen Turtle Bars are a simple, easy to make dessert and are perfect to have on hand for an after dinner treat!  

These five-ingredient Frozen Turtle Bars are a simple, easy to make dessert and are perfect to have on hand for an after dinner treat!

Hi friends!

As I promised yesterday when I shared a tutorial about How To Make Date Paste, I’m back with a delicious recipe for you to make after you whip up your first batch!

These are my new favorite post-dinner treat and I love having a batch on hand in the freezer! They also got the seal of approval from the hubby, who isn’t a big dessert person…so that’s how you know they’re good!

Like I mentioned yesterday, today is Recipe Redux day and this month’s theme was new ingredient for a new year. I picked date caramel as my new ingredient. Even though I often use dates to make energy balls, etc…i’ve been seeing this date paste/date caramel around for a while and had yet to make it myself or try it in a recipe…so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity!

So here’s the deal. I’m calling these Freezer Turtle Bars. Here’s what I know about turtle desserts:  not a lot. I know they’re usually made with some combo of caramel, chocolate and pecans. That’s about it. Since I rarely have actual caramel on hand, I thought it’d be fun to experiment that a dessert that uses caramel and sub my date caramel!

These five-ingredient Frozen Turtle Bars are a simple, easy to make dessert and are perfect to have on hand for an after dinner treat!

Here’s how it breaks down:

  • The base layer is just Rice Chex cereal mixed with peanut butter.
  • The middle layer is date caramel.
  • And you top it all off with chocolate and pecans!

Think you can handle it? Here are the directions:

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5 Ingredient Frozen Turtle Bars

Frozen Turtle Bars 3
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These five-ingredient Frozen Turtle Bars are a simple, easy to make dessert and are perfect to have on hand for an after dinner treat!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups Rice Chex cereal, crushed
  • 1/2 cup nut butter
  • 2/3 cup date caramel
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Combine chex and nut butter in a bowl and mix until well coated.
  2. Press into the bottom of a foil-lined loaf pan.
  3. Top with a layer of date caramel.
  4. Freeze for 20 minutes.
  5. Melt chocolate chips, spread over caramel layer, top with pecans and press down lightly with your hands to make sure the pecans stick.
  6. Store in the freezer.

Notes

I’d recommend freezing for 2 hours or so, then removing, cutting into pieces and then storing in the freezer so it’s easy to just grab one and enjoy! They can be a little difficult to cut when fully frozen.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @theleangreenbean on Instagram

With just dates and water, you can make your own Date Paste (also know as date caramel) to add natural sweetness and flavor to desserts and baked goods.

In case you missed it, here’s my tutorial on How To Make Date Caramel.

These five-ingredient Frozen Turtle Bars are a simple, easy to make dessert and are perfect to have on hand for an after dinner treat!

Be sure to pin these for later so you remember to make them! I cut mine into bite-sized pieces so I can sneak 2-3 from the freezer each night 🙂

[Tweet “Try these 5 Ingredient Frozen Turtle Bars from @leangrnbeanblog for dessert tonight!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

For more recipes using new ingredients, check out the linkup below!

An InLinkz Link-up


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Filed Under: Dessert Tagged With: Chocolate Chips, Dates, Peanut Butter, Pecan, Rice Chex

About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Les @ The Balanced Berry says

    January 21, 2016 at 1:31 AM

    These look SO good! I love making date caramel, and have been looking for new ways to use it. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:01 AM

      yay! let me know if you try these out!

      Reply
  2. rachel @ Athletic Avocado says

    January 21, 2016 at 7:29 AM

    I LOVE making date caramel, it’s so easy and tastes like the real thing. I can’t believe these bars only have 5 ingredients and are wayyyy healthier than the original version, pinned!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:01 AM

      thanks Rachel!

      Reply
  3. Dieititan Jess says

    January 21, 2016 at 9:02 AM

    Been waiting for this recipe- can’t wait to make them!! Pinning and sharing 🙂 PS thanks for your tips on the date paste a couple weeks ago!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:01 AM

      you’re so welcome! enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Leah M @ love me, feed me says

    January 21, 2016 at 9:17 AM

    YASSSS! These are a beautiful creation!! Date caramel holds a special place in my heart. As does cereal, peanut butter, chocolate, and turtles. So I think I kind of need these!!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:00 AM

      sounds like a must try for sure!

      Reply
  5. Alysia at Slim Sanity says

    January 21, 2016 at 9:27 AM

    I need these in my life right now. Like, for breakfast.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:00 AM

      totally appropriate for breakfast!

      Reply
  6. Liz says

    January 21, 2016 at 10:04 AM

    Looks and sounds delicious.

    Reply
  7. Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says

    January 21, 2016 at 10:14 AM

    Pinned! These look awesome 🙂

    Reply
  8. Linz @ Itz Linz says

    January 21, 2016 at 10:33 AM

    oh my gosh these look and sound amazing! please stock my freezer with these NOW!!!!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:00 AM

      wish i could send you some!

      Reply
  9. Alexandra Lenz says

    January 21, 2016 at 11:20 AM

    LOVE date caramel! I use it in my “milkshakes” and raw brownies. So addicting! These frozen turtle bars sound incredible!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:00 AM

      oooh yes it’s perfect in brownies!

      Reply
  10. Marie says

    January 21, 2016 at 11:32 AM

    These look so good! Pinning it for later.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:00 AM

      thanks Marie!

      Reply
  11. Jodi @ The Average RD says

    January 21, 2016 at 11:38 AM

    I have a hug tub of dates waiting to be made into this delish dessert. I have never tried date caramel, but that will be changing this weekend 🙂

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:59 AM

      woohoo! have fun making it! and eating it 🙂

      Reply
  12. Sara Haas @ sarahaasrdn.com says

    January 21, 2016 at 2:23 PM

    So creative! I love it! Nice work Lindsay! I’m totally trying these!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:59 AM

      thanks sara! let me know how they turn out!

      Reply
  13. Serena says

    January 21, 2016 at 3:07 PM

    Oh my yummy! We don’t get a lot of turtles in these parts either – so I’m not too familiar with the chocolate, caramel and pecan thing either. But I do believe you’ve nailed it, My Dear! (That last ‘my dear’ would be a riff on the Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara) HeHe! I’ll be making these for sure….and cutting them in bite sized pieces just for me!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:59 AM

      no need to share 🙂 enjoy!

      Reply
  14. Jody - Fit at 58 says

    January 21, 2016 at 3:47 PM

    Look fantastic!!!!!

    Reply
  15. Sarah Grace says

    January 21, 2016 at 5:15 PM

    AHH I LOVEE making caramel from dates! I make an apple pie smoothie with it and oh myyy. These look DELICIOUS. Thanks for reminding me to make it again 🙂

    xo,
    Sarah Grace

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:59 AM

      oooh that sounds delish!

      Reply
  16. Jenny D says

    January 21, 2016 at 6:36 PM

    Oh my! That date paste sounds awesome and then to put it in these bars. It’s totally happening as soon as I get my hands on some dates :-). Yum!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM

      happy blending 🙂

      Reply
  17. Miss Polkadot says

    January 21, 2016 at 7:36 PM

    What a coincidence! I just posted a recipe using date caramel after getting into making it the past weeks, too, . Nature’s candy indeed and your idea of merging rice crispy treats with the caramel and chocolate is plain genius.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM

      oooh off to check out your recipe!

      Reply
  18. ashley @ fit mitten kitchen says

    January 22, 2016 at 11:34 AM

    oh em geeee these look incredible! I love using date paste for treats. I recently just discovered it and its amazing. This recipe looks so easy!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM

      i know! can’t believe it took me so long ot try it out!

      Reply
  19. Sam @ PancakeWarriors says

    January 22, 2016 at 11:40 AM

    Seriously this is so simple! I love turtles and date caramel makes me so happy!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM

      double win!

      Reply
  20. Nicole @ Fitful Focus says

    January 22, 2016 at 12:41 PM

    Well these just look like pure perfection.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM

      thanks nicole 🙂

      Reply
  21. Ellen Slater says

    January 22, 2016 at 1:35 PM

    I’ve never made caramel from dates, but that needs to change! These look amazing, Lindsay!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:57 AM

      let me know what you think if you try it!

      Reply
  22. Ann @ My Menu Pal says

    January 22, 2016 at 5:10 PM

    I LOVE caramel so I must try the date version and these bars look divine!!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:57 AM

      yes! def try and let me know what you think. not perfect but it’s a pretty good sub!

      Reply
  23. Kristen Chang says

    January 23, 2016 at 8:53 AM

    Date caramel… oh the possibilities! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:57 AM

      right?! the wheels are turning!

      Reply
  24. Julie @ RDelicious Kitchen says

    January 23, 2016 at 11:07 AM

    my grandma loves turtle candies. I’m definitely going to have to make these for her as a healthier treat!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:57 AM

      yay! hope she loves them just as much!

      Reply
  25. dixya | food, pleasure, and health says

    January 23, 2016 at 4:19 PM

    sold! i love the idea of date paste and i cant wait to whip that up…and follow up with these bars.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:56 AM

      hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  26. Chrissa - Physcial Kitchness says

    January 23, 2016 at 11:27 PM

    Ok um WHAT?! You made these amazing things out of just a few ingredients?! I am SO sold. Date paste is my fav. Best dessert recipe I’ve seen this month. HANDS DOWN!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 9:56 AM

      aww thanks girl! can’t believe i waited so long to try date paste!

      Reply
  27. Liz - Meal Makeover Mom says

    January 25, 2016 at 12:48 PM

    Such a yummy looking recipe. I want one right now w/ a cup of tea!

    Reply
  28. diane says

    January 28, 2016 at 8:46 AM

    You are the Queen of Energy Bars. These turtles look and sound amazing. Love that you made the date caramel (pinned that one too)!

    Reply
  29. Nichole says

    February 28, 2016 at 9:51 PM

    I made these tonight. Followed the recipe to the letter. The date caramel doesn’t really freeze. It turns almost like mushy ice. And, if I made these again, I would recommend crushing the Chex cereal or food processing them. I moved them from a loaf pan to an 8 x 8 as well because it didn’t all fit in the loaf pan. If I left them in the loaf pan, the bars would have been really high and would look nothing like your photos.
    The date caramel was much tastier freshly blended than frozen.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      February 29, 2016 at 7:41 AM

      Thanks for your feedback! I agree the chex should be crushed. i’ll make a note of them. Sorry they didn’t fit in your loaf pan, maybe mine was bigger? I agree that the caramel doesn’t freeze all the way but I liked it that way. Good news is there are lots of other things you can make with the paste itself if you liked it!

      Reply
  30. Julie K says

    May 6, 2016 at 12:57 PM

    i found these difficult to cut, all the frozen chocolate crumbled and cracked unevenly… should i cut before freezing them?

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      May 7, 2016 at 7:52 PM

      hmmm sorry about that. Yeah it may help to cut before freezing.

      Reply

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Lindsay Livingston The Lean Green Bean Healthy Living Tips and Tricks

I'm a Registered Dietitian and mom of three from Columbus, Ohio. I use this blog to share simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, and an honest glimpse of motherhood!

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