Have you ever tried a Larabar? They are fruit and nut snack/energy bars that are made from natural ingredients and gluten free. I think they are very tasty,but at $1-$1.50 a bar they are an expensive little snack in my opinion. So, I decided to try making them myself with GREAT results! The main ingredient is dates which can be pricey at the healthy food store, but I found them in a large container at my local Costco for much cheaper. These bars are super healthy and a great source of energy for me and my family. My boys actually love them and think they are a yummy treat. I told them that they are energy bars, so they now request them for a snack before basketball and wrestling practise. For me they are perfect for a mid afternoon ‘pick-me-up” snack. So much better than a cookie or granola bar and much cheaper than the official Larabar.
Here are my favorite Homemade Larabar recipes so far–but the possibilities are endless…
Homemade Larabars
Ingredients
- Peanut Butter Snack Bar
- 1 cup chopped dates (it’s cheaper to buy them whole, plus they tend to dry out a bit if they are pre-chopped.)
- 1 1/2 cup chopped peanuts.
- 2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
- pinch of salt
- Chocolate Almond Cherry Bars
- 1 cup whole almonds
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa
- 1 1/4 cup dates
- 1 cup dried bing cherries
Mexican Chocolate Snack Bars
- 1 1/4 c chopped dates
- 1 c toasted almonds
- 1/2 c toasted walnuts (toast nuts in a pan on medium high heat for a few minutes)
- 3 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Blueberry Snack Bar
- 1 cup pitted dates rough chopped
- 1 cup dried blueberries (or other dried fruit such as cherries, apricots, cranberries)
- 1 cup nuts such as walnuts or pecans
- Zest of 1/2 a lemon (optional depending on type of fruit used)
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Same directions for all the variations:
- Place all ingredients in a food processor.
- When they come together into a paste, you’re ready.
- Line a loaf pan with parchment, and press the mixture into the pan.
- Remove paper from pan, and slice into bars
- store in airtight container inside the refrigerator or freezer.
- Each recipe makes 8-10″ larabar” sized bars, but as you can see from the picture above, I prefer to cut the recipes into 16-20 bars each. You can always have two if needed, but one is usually good for me.
recipe source : Recipes are all over the internet! My recipes were from: the little red house, delightful delicacies, and vegetarlins
I just used this post on my blog for my “Frugal Friday”. I made these a while back and loved them! I love your blog and look forward to more great recipes. Thanks!
So, i just tried to make these and obviously I don't know much about dates because I put them into the food processor whole (with the pits). I'm guessing from my chunky bars and almost dead processor I was suppose to remove the pits first?
If this is correct you might want to add this to the directions for gals like me who have never bought dates before! 🙂
Thanks!
Thank you for the recipe! I love Larabars since they are sooo healthy!!!
http://www.skinnytwinkie.com/2009/11/fruit-and-nut-food-bars-by-larabar%C2%AE/
They seem easy to make…thank you!
Ok…Ok, I am a HUGE fan of Larabars, in fact I got some other recipes online too! My sister is hooked on them, although I don't think she would have the time to make them. For me, they are the perfect snack! And the best price I have found for them is at Costco, but you can also get the dates at Costco…things are always better homemade!
Hope you are all doing well 🙂 Your Blog ROCKS, I have gotten a lot of my friends hooked on it too. I wish I had more time to blog~
loves
Awesome! Thanks for sharing all the variations ~ I know my grands will love them.
xo
Pat
Since I saved all the recipes in my WW recipe builder here are the points plus values for 16 servings. I also found out that 15 servings was the same points so it would be a slightly larger serving size for the same pt value.
15 – 16 servings of all recipes are 3 points plus
Kay, it is so fun to hear from you! I'm so glad you've enjoyed our site. Thanks for letting us know!
Marsha! Thank you so much for the points……guess what I'll be making soon. 🙂
On a sidenote, I just have to praise you gals….every recipe that I have tried is AWESOME. Right now I'm in love with the baked tortilla chips!
I feel like you guys are family, since I check your blog almost daily…keep up the good work.
Awesome!!! Printed and Thanks to Marsha for the points+ points:)
These sound really good-especially the peanut butter ones, of course the blueberry pecan ones sound divine too;)
OMG..this is sooo weird. I was eating an Apple Pie Lara bar today and thought.."hmmm, I bet I could make these myself"!!! Crazy huh?
They look wonderful
Wow! I'm so excited to try these!
i have never even heard of those- obviously I'm not very healthy! 🙂 they sound good though and I bet Gabe would love them. They sound like a cross between fruit leather and nut bar – yum.
YUM! I am going to try some of these recipes!
Marsha,
Thank you so much!! And by the way–I usually cut mine into 16 pieces.
Melanie
Thank you for this! I love Larabars, but they are so expensive (even when on sale)!! I know that my paleo-diet/energy bar loving boyfriend will love these!
Thanks for the recipes!
I did them in the recipe builder and while most did not give serving sizes the one used 8-10 servings so that is what I used.
PB Lara bar
8 servings = 6 Pts+
10 servings = 5 Pts+
Choc Almond Cherry Bars
8 servings = 7 Pts+
10 servigns = 5 Pts+
Mexican Chocolate bars
8 servings = 6 Pts+
10 servings = 5 Pts+
Blueberry with pecans bars
8 servings = 6 Pts+
10 servings = 5 Pts+
Thanks for sharing all the different varieties!
I just read about Larabars how good they are for you – thanks for sharing – will have to try this! Energy bars and those "healthy eating" bars are so pricey and so many are still full of those additives that don't really help!
Hmmm – these look better than the store-bought variety.
I am not sure about these homemade versions, but a "real" Larabar is five points on the new system.
Kay,
I am not sure but maybe someone who is an online member will put the recipe into the recipe builder on the WW site.
Oh my ….that looks good! Wondering how many weight watcher points they might be…..