Homemade Larabars

Up until recently, Larabars were a staple in this house! Recent information regarding Prop 37 (GMO labeling of foods) came to my attention and made me change my mind. Do you know Larabar is owned by General Mills and they have contributed $520,000 to defeat proposition 37? Yowzas! Sounds guilty of using GMO foods to me!

Well, it’s time to make my own Larabars then! These are pretty easy and you can make a variety of flavors. Both our kids LOVE them! Everyone at my Crossfit gym loved them too 😉 The Key Lime Pie was the favorite flavor!

Homemade Larabars

I made Key Lime Pie and Almond Cookie flavors but plan on making more. More recipes posted below photos. Enjoy!

Key Lime Pie

1/2 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
dash of sea salt (optional)
Zest of 1 lime
1/2 tbsp lime juice
1/3 cup shredded coconut

Almond Cookie

1/3 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
1/2 cup raw almonds
dash of sea salt (optional)
1/4 tsp vanilla

Place the dates and fruit (depending on flavor) in a food processor. Blend until it becomes like a paste. Transfer blended dates and fruit (if using) to a bowl.

Add the nuts to the processor and pulse until chopped fairly small (but not too much, not nut flour. You want texture). Add the nuts, along with the sea salt, to the bowl with the fruit/date paste. Use your fingers to knead the nuts into the paste.

Next you can spread the mixture out onto a plate covered in cling wrap. Using your hands mold the mixture into individual bars. Wrap each separately in plastic wrap or in small ziplocks. It is a good idea to refrigerate the bars after making to maintain freshness and let the form set (try to let them set in the fridge for 20 minutes before you eat one).

* I also like to just roll these into ball shapes and use them as “power balls” for on the go, perfect for my kiddos! You can also use a cookie cutter to make them into cute shapes. I cut them into little squares too.

*If you find your Larabars are a bit crumby add a couple tbsp of warm water and process again.

Process dates into a paste. Add fruit to this mixture if you’re using a fruit recipe.

Process nuts into smaller pieces

Here’s my almond batch

Knead the mixture together, spread “dough” onto plastic wrap on line a glass dish with plastic wrap and press into the dish

Key Lime Pie

Almond Cookie

Peanut Butter and Jam

1/4 cup cherries
1/4 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
1/2 cup raw peanuts
1 tbsp creamy natural peanut butter
Pinch of sea salt

Cashew Cookie

3/4 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
1/2 cup whole raw unsalted cashews
a dash of sea salt

Blueberry Muffin

1/4 cup dried blueberries
1/4 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
½ cup cashews
1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp cinnamon
dash of ground ginger (optional but good)

Chocolate Coconut Macaroon

1/3 cup cashews
1/4 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
3 tbsp dark chocolate
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup shredded coconut

Cherry Pie

1/4 cup Dried Cherries
1/4 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
1/3 cup almonds (unsalted)
2 tsp cinnamon

Pecan Pie

1/2 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
1/4 cup almonds
1/4 cup pecans
1/4 tsp vanilla

Cookie Dough

1/2 cup Salted Cashews
1/3 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1 tbsp Organic Chocolate Chips

Peanut Butter Cookie (You could do almond butter and almonds)

1/2 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
1/4 cup cashews
1 tbsp natural peanut butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup peanuts

Peanut Butter & Jam

1/4 cup cherries
1/4 cup Seedless/Pitted whole Dates
1/2 cup raw peanuts
1 tbsp creamy natural peanut butter
Pinch of sea salt

Chocolate Larabars

1/2 C dates, pitted and roughly chopped
1/2 C walnuts, chopped
1 to 1 1/2 t cocoa powder (to taste – too much and the bars aren’t sweet at all)
1/8 t vanilla extract