Energizing Date Coconut Pretzel Breakfast Squares: Your Ultimate Make-Ahead Morning Solution

Revitalize your mornings with these irresistible breakfast squares, a perfect blend of sweet and salty flavors, boasting an addictive crunch. Crafted with wholesome ingredients like sweet coconut, crunchy almonds, salty pretzels, hearty whole-grain flakes, nourishing oats, and naturally sweet dates infused with a touch of honey, these squares are more than just a treat – they’re the ideal start to any day, fueling you for something great.

If you love the combination of dates and oats, be sure to also try these nutty chocolate caramel cups for another delicious, wholesome snack.

Conquering the Morning Rush with Healthy Breakfast Solutions

We see you: the one who wakes up with a rumble in their stomach, whose life feels like a whirlwind, constantly juggling responsibilities. We know the challenge of preparing a wholesome breakfast amidst the morning chaos, no matter how organized you strive to be. You open the fridge, hoping for a quick, satisfying bite, only to find nothing that truly hits the spot. Those ambitious New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier often crumble, leaving you in the drive-thru line, longing for a better option.

Mornings in many households, including ours, are nothing short of an intricate symphony of demands. With teenagers, adults, and little ones under one roof, crafting a breakfast that caters to everyone’s preferences can feel like an impossible task. It often devolves into a custom order kitchen: eggs for one, grilled cheese for another, and the list goes on. Imagine the time and effort required to personalize breakfast for each family member – it’s a daily marathon before the day even truly begins!

Picture this scenario: It’s a Monday, or any given weekday, and you’ve overslept by a crucial 10 to 15 minutes. To your utter astonishment, everyone else in the house is still blissfully, deeply asleep! You transform into an alarm siren, frantically urging everyone to get up, get dressed, brush their teeth, and gather their belongings. Yet, there’s always one who acts as if they have an entire day to prepare, moving at a glacial pace, oblivious to the ticking clock.

Does that sound all too familiar? In our home, one of my children possesses the speed of a turtle. It can genuinely take up to 40 minutes just for them to use the bathroom, put on their school uniform, and finally make their way downstairs for breakfast. This means I’m often splitting my attention, trying to rush them along while simultaneously attempting to prepare a meal in the kitchen. More often than not, we end up dashing out the door breakfast-less, suddenly realizing we have mere minutes left before we’re late. While it truly breaks my heart to send my kids to school on an empty stomach, these frantic mornings are an unfortunate reality for many of us.

The Quest for the Perfect Healthy, Make-Ahead Breakfast

It is precisely because of these demanding, busiest moments of the day that I am constantly searching for breakfast solutions that are universally appealing and can be prepared well in advance. This is no small feat, as each member of my family harbors their own unique vision of the perfect morning meal. Over time, however, I’ve observed a consistent trend: nobody ever says no to something sweet to kickstart their day. A touch of sweetness can awaken the senses, deliver an instant energy boost, and simply make your taste buds happy.

However, let’s be realistic. Relying on donuts, sugary muffins, or rich cakes every single morning for breakfast is simply not a sustainable or healthy habit. The goal shouldn’t be a sugar overload, but rather a naturally sweet option that is equally nutritious, made with real food, and genuinely energy-giving. This is where the magic happens, and these Date Coconut Pretzel Breakfast Squares, featuring the delightful crunch and flavor of Great Grains Coconut Almond Crunch, absolutely crack the code. This unique cereal, easily found in the cereal aisle of your local grocery store, completes the puzzle with its rich blend of tastes, varied textures, and satisfyingly hearty crunch, laying the foundation for an incredible breakfast.

So, let’s get creative and transform our morning routine.

Crafting the Wholesome Date Paste

Our journey begins with dates – these healthy, naturally sweet gems. We’ll transform them into a luscious, thick date paste, also known as agwa. For simplicity and efficiency in this recipe, I’ve found that combining about 16 ounces of pitted dates with a little over a cup of water is ideal. Simmer this mixture gently over a low flame for approximately 5 to 10 minutes, or until the dates have completely absorbed the water and softened into a smooth, thick consistency. This process not only sweetens the paste but also enhances its rich, caramel-like flavor, providing a natural and wholesome sweetness to our breakfast squares. Once ready, set the date paste aside and allow it to cool completely before you begin handling it for the next steps.

Preparing the Perfect Crumb Layer for Crunch

For many of us living in the U.S., a bag (or several!) of pretzels is a pantry staple. This recipe offers a fantastic opportunity to give those pretzels a new, exciting purpose, adding that essential salty crunch that beautifully complements the sweetness of the dates and coconut. To achieve the perfect texture for our breakfast squares, you’ll want to pulse both your pretzels and the Great Grains Coconut Almond Crunch cereal separately in a food processor. The goal is a crushed texture that falls somewhere between a fine powder and entirely whole pieces – think coarse crumbs. It’s crucial not to over-process these ingredients; doing so would result in a loss of that stunning, satisfying crunch and varied texture that makes these finished squares so enjoyable.

Assembling the Irresistible Layers

Now comes the exciting part: bringing all these wonderful ingredients together to create a symphony of flavors and textures. I always begin by mixing all the prepared crumbs – from both the pretzels and the Great Grains cereal – with the softened coconut oil and honey. This initial step is vital as it allows the coconut oil to thoroughly incorporate with the dry ingredients, ensuring a consistent binder throughout the mixture. The honey adds another layer of natural sweetness and helps hold everything together. Once these are well combined, I add about one cup of our freshly prepared date paste. Mix everything again until it’s evenly distributed. As you stir, you’ll notice a naturally delicious aroma beginning to waft from the bowl, a scent so enticing it will surely tempt you to grab a spoon and start sampling!

To assemble our Date Coconut Pretzel Breakfast Squares, you’ll first need to prepare your baking pan. Line a 9×9-inch brownie pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the sides. This simple step is crucial for effortlessly lifting the baked squares out of the pan once they’re done and cooled. Take half of your delicious crumb mixture and spread it evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan. Press down firmly and compactly to create a solid, stable base for your squares. The harder you press, the better the squares will hold their shape. Next, take the remaining date paste (excluding the cup already mixed into the crumbs) and carefully spread it in an even layer over the pressed base. This creates a wonderful, naturally sweet and chewy middle layer. Finally, top the date layer with the remaining half of your pretzel and cereal mixture, pressing it down just as firmly as the base layer. This ensures all the layers are tightly bound together.

Once assembled, bake the squares in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. This baking time allows the flavors to meld beautifully and helps everything adhere, creating a cohesive, delicious treat. You’ll know they’re ready when the top layer has browned nicely and looks lightly toasted. After removing them from the oven, resist the urge to cut into them immediately! It’s essential to let them cool completely in the pan. For even easier handling and cleaner cuts, I highly recommend chilling the pan in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours, or even overnight, before slicing them into perfect squares.

These wholesome Date Coconut Pretzel Breakfast Squares are incredibly versatile and perfect for meal prepping. Make a double batch to ensure you’re always prepared. Store half in the freezer; they keep exceptionally well for several weeks, ready to be grabbed on those super-busy mornings. Keep the other half in the fridge for the coming week, guaranteeing you have a healthy, energizing option to start your day right. After all, the beginning of your day often sets the tone for everything that follows, and a good start truly matters most.

Beyond their convenience, these Date Coconut Pretzel Breakfast Squares are exceptionally filling, perfectly balancing sweet and salty notes. The dates provide a natural, sustained energy boost, helping to awaken even the laziest of morning bodies. Enjoy them with a cup of milk, your favorite coffee, or a refreshing glass of juice for a quick yet satisfying breakfast or snack. Don’t forget to check out Ibotta to earn cashback on your Great Grains purchase!

We truly hope you’ll adore this recipe. If you make these delightful squares, please snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry – we absolutely love seeing your culinary creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

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Date Coconut Pretzel Breakfast Squares

A great start for any day, packed full with nutrients, flavors, and textures.

Course: Breakfast, Snack
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 320 kcal
Author: Amira

Ingredients

For the Date Layer:

• 16 oz pitted dates
• 1 ¼ cup water

For the Crumb Layer:

• 6 cups of Great Grains Coconut Almond Crunch cereal
• 4 cups of pretzels
• ½ cup softened coconut oil
• ½ cup honey
• 1 cup date paste (reserved from the prepared date layer)

Instructions

1. In a saucepan over very low heat, simmer the dates with water for 5 to 10 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed and the dates are soft. Set aside to cool.
2. In a food processor, pulse the pretzels and the Great Grains Coconut Almond Crunch cereal separately until they reach a coarse crumb texture, between whole pieces and finely ground.
3. In a large bowl, combine the pulsed pretzels, cereal, softened coconut oil, and honey. Mix well with your hands until thoroughly combined.
4. Add 1 cup of the cooled date paste to the crumb mixture and mix again until evenly distributed.
5. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
6. Line a 9×9-inch brownie pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
7. Press half of the pretzel/cereal mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the base of the squares.
8. Evenly spread the remaining date paste over the pressed base.
9. Carefully top the date layer with the rest of the pretzel/cereal mixture, pressing it down tightly to ensure all layers adhere.
10. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is nicely browned and everything is set.
11. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan.
12. For easier and cleaner cutting, it is highly recommended to chill the pan in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours before slicing into squares.
13. Store any leftover squares in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These squares also freeze exceptionally well for several weeks.
14. Enjoy your delicious and energizing breakfast squares!

Nutrition

Calories: 320 kcal