I’m always on the hunt for on-the-go bars. Not only should they taste delicious, but the perfect bar must be made of real, whole foods. Larabar gets an A in my book because of their minimal ingredients – real, whole food that we’re all familiar with…which also means that they’re pretty easy to recreate, customize, and they involve no baking whatsoever. Shall we?
Homemade Larabars: (makes 10 bars)
Ingredients:
- 10 dates
- 2 generous tablespoons nut butter (peanut, almond, or cashew butter are all great)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- dash of sea salt
- water as needed
- totally optional modifications:
- 1/3 cup oats (for a serving of healthy carbs)
- 2 tablespoons cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons coconut butter or shredded coconut
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds (for added protein)
- 2 tablespoons high quality protein powder (for added protein)
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (for picky kids with a serious sweet tooth)
- replace 1/2 of dates with other dried fruit of choice, like apricots or goji berries
- 1/4 cup blueberries for blueberry flavor
Add all ingredients (except water) to food processor and mix. If mixture is too dry to stick together, add a teaspoon of water and continue to blend. Once mixture is consistent, transfer to a square pan or glass container and smoothly spread it as evenly as possible. Refrigerate for at least two hours. Remove and cut into square or rectangular bars and remove bars as you wish (ideally with a flat metal spatula.) You can either keep in same container or individually wrap bars for travel. Enjoy a bar as a snack, pre-workout energy boost, or a sweet treat!
One Healthy Breakdown: oh the possibilities with homemade Larabars!
