Well, I stand corrected. All this time readers have been telling me I should make my own Larabars at home, and I proudly stood my ground saying I already make too many things from scratch so I would continue to buy them from the store. But that was until I figured out homemade LARABARS taste SO good compared to the packaged ones! On a recent blog post I shared that extra good food is worth the extra effort to me so it should be no surprise that I will have to start making these on a regular basis now!
Plus since Larabars are such a simple snack, using only a few whole ingredients, that means they are simple to make at home as well. All you need are Medjool Dates, which can be found in the produce section if your store carries them, and some nuts, peanut butter, seeds and/or granola. And thanks to the seed version those who are nut-free can enjoy these bars now, too. They are the perfect “on-the-go” snack, and my girls were so excited when they saw me putting together the pictured platter…it was like torture for them waiting for me to finish taking pictures! My daughters seriously love these things.
Cashew Cookie Larabar
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
- 1 cup cashews, raw
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
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Combine dates, cashews, peanut butter and water in a food processor and puree until mixture starts to stick together. Add a little more water if necessary to help mixture come together.
-
Pick up date mixture and using your hands work to squeeze it together into one big clump. Mash it down on a cutting board or sheet of wax paper to form into one even rectangle shape using the sides of your hands (or a knife) to make the edges straight.
-
Slice into 12 even squares. For best results store in the fridge, although bars can be kept at room temperature.
Granola Larabar
Ingredients
- 1 cup granola, homemade (see below for link to recipe)
- ½ cup Medjool dates, pitted
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
-
Combine granola, dates and water in a food processor and puree until mixture starts to stick together. Add a little more water if necessary to help mixture come together.
-
Pick up date mixture and using your hands work to squeeze it together into one big clump. Mash it down on a cutting board or sheet of wax paper to form into one even rectangle shape using the sides of your hands (or a knife) to make the edges straight.
-
Slice into 8 even squares. For best results store in the fridge, although bars can be kept at room temperature.
Recipe Notes
* Sub coconut oil for the butter in the granola to make this recipe dairy free.
Peanut Butter Larabar
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
- ½ cup peanut butter
Instructions
-
Combine dates and peanut butter in a food processor and puree until mixture starts to stick together. Add a little more water if necessary to help mixture come together.
-
Pick up date mixture and using your hands work to squeeze it together into one big clump. Mash it down on a cutting board or sheet of wax paper to form into one even rectangle shape using the sides of your hands (or a knife) to make the edges straight.
-
Slice into 8 even squares. For best results store in the fridge, although bars can be kept at room temperature.
Food Allergies: Gluten (including recipes)
Thank you so much for all your hard work! I am so thankful that a friend introduced me to this blog. You have made the transition to eating whole foods so much easier and alot less overwhelming! These are great recipes for our family since we have dairy and gluten allergies!
Can these be frozen?
Hi Jennifer. I don’t see why not. Jill
These sound great! I think they will really satisfy my sweet tooth (I am not eating sugar).
I was wondering if almond butter could be substituted for the peanut butter?
Also, have you ever added banana for flavor?
Hi Sarah. I’ve not tried the almond butter but it sounds like someone else did and it worked fine. I have not ever added banana to them. Jill
I just found your blog. I wonder if you’ve found Erin’s site? nomorecrohns.com? She has lots of recipes and tips on scd . I eat that way and it is a lifesaver.
Would these recipes be too thick to use a 12-speed blender rather than a food processor?
Hi Danielle. I do think they would be too thick for a blender. I think if anything you’d have better luck with a stand mixer if you don’t have a food processor. Good luck. Jill
I have made lara bars in a blend tec blender before. Just do your nuts and dates separately. It makes the dates into more of paste. Make sure they are soft, by soaking them beforehand this helps. Also it helps if your blender is a high powered blender.
Why Medjool dates? How are they different from other dates? I’ve never seen the Medjool ones for sale locally.
Lydia – I tested the recipe with Medjool (a high quality date), but you could certainly experiment with other varieties.
Lydia, Medjool dates are usually hidden in the produce section. They are bigger and plumper than others. Do you shop at Costco? They are carried in 2 lb tubs in the produce section.
Costco also sells dried, pitted dates on the aisle with the dried fruits. I use these for my homemade Lara bars.
You have to be careful with many of the dried fruits as they are loaded with extra sugar. Not saying that’s the case with the ones you have, but I have bought some before thinking they were great only to see all the added sugar on them. Ugh.
They work with all types of dates and dried fruit. In fact dried cherries are my favorite. Or another yummy bar is roasted peanuts and raisins it makes a peanut butter and jelly bar.
Any idea on hw to do the key lime bars? I live for those!
I use dates, dried cherries, cocoa, unsweetened coconuts and cashews to make a “chocolate covered cherry” version of a Lara bar. Yummy!
What quantities did you use for the chocolate cherry bars? Thanks!
I would be careful calling a recipe nut-free. The Natural Delights medjool dates are not nut free and most seeds are not nut fee.
I have a nephew with severe deadly nut allergies. People try to tell his mother that the didn’t put nuts in things so its safe for him. The problem is that when you read the labels of the ingredients they say things like ‘may contain nuts’, ‘made on equipment that also processes nuts’, ‘made in a facility that processes nuts’, or something similar – none of these things are really nut free nor are the safe to give him.
Just thought you might like to know.
Those of us with severe nut allergies already have a pretty good understanding of what we can and cannot have. I have to watch the “made on equipment that also processes nuts” warning, too. But once we find our safe foods we can make the “nut free” lara bars, or anything else for that matter. I think that’s Lisa’s point. You do have to be very careful buying bulk dried goods and everything else that comes in some sort of a package. But it eventually becomes par for the course and you adapt. I’ve also discovered that almost any recipe calling for nuts will turn out just fine in their absence and processed white flour is easily substituted with white whole wheat flour, sifted if you’re worried about the end result being too heavy.
R
The recipe is in fact “nut-free” as stated, but for someone to ensure it’s “allergy safe” they would most definitely need to go through the normal precautions they likely deal with on a regular basis. Thank you for pointing that out…we certainly wouldn’t want to compromise anyone’s safety!
I am quite confused how a recipe can be labeled “nut-free” when the Natural Delights Medjool Dates are labeled “may contain nuts”.
As person who cooks for a family member who could die from consuming nuts, I am extremely careful. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) as well as our allergist recommend to avoid foods that say “may contain nuts” because even without any nuts visible the protein in the nuts that causes an allergic reaction can be transferred to other foods during packaging.
Hi Angela. As with many products that include a disclaimer label stating “may contain nuts”, individuals need to go through their normal precautions that they are likely to deal with on a regular basis. But, the recipe noted as “nut-free” does not contain any nuts. Jill
I think your version is prettier than the store ones, too.
Thank you so much for sharing these recipes. I can not wait to make some! :-)
We love homemade Larabars! I’ve even got a couple different versions coming out in my next book. The cookie cashew one looks great!
I’ve been making my own lara bars since I first found your site, simply because they were cheaper than buying them at the store. My baby LOVES them. I have to hide them from him and only give him one a week or else he digs through the kitchen trying to find the rest of them.
I’ve substituted almond butter for peanut butter before with equal results. I also have added chocolate chips from time to time. As for the key lime pie, I added a small amount of lime juice, lime zest, and some coconut and came up with something decent, but the lime flavor only lasted a couple of days and then became kind of bland.
Have you ever tried adding a small amount of salt to your key lime pie recipe? Salt makes such a huge difference to recipes…it brings all the flavors together. Just a thought! :)
Dates, cocoa powder, instant coffee and almonds (instead of cashews). Yummy!
OR
Dates, almonds, cinnamon and a splash of vanilla!
I make mine into round balls. I also freeze them.
THANK YOU! I could not get mine to stick into a bar for anything! Balls worked just fine, and I sure my sons will enjoy “Laraballs” even more than “Larabars”. :)
I actually use peanuts instead of peanut butter
And process with any kind of dates. Works great
And the kids love them.
Well I can’t wait to go buy some of these yummy dates!! Thanks for the great recipes I hope my kiddos enjoy!!
Oh. My. Deliciousness. Thank you so much! I just walked past the Larabars at the grocery store, drooling…but knowing that the budget just wouldn’t appreciate them. :)
Can’t wait to give them a try – and as a family who is mostly gluten free is fantastic.
Hi Lisa! These sound amazing- I’m going to make some later today I think! Do you know how long they will last? Thank you for sharing!
Hi Chrissy. I’ve been keeping mine in the refrigerator in a tupperware to try and keep them fresh. I’m guessing they should last at least a week, if not a little longer. Hope you enjoy them. Jill
Just curious.. which recipe do your kids like the most? Can’t wait to try these… hope my kids like them as well!
Hi Kim. Mine liked the granola ones. Hope they enjoy them. Jill
They last as long as your ingredients last–usually the nuts are the first to go rancid. I’ve kept them for a couple of months in a cool, dry place and they’re still great!
Can I make these in a Vitamix? I don’t have a food processor but I just got a Vitamix. Anyone try to make them there machine?
I tried making this recipe in my blender (I have a Ninja). I ended up having to put a lot more water to get it moving and so they came out a little mushy (BUT AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!). I tried it again with just the nuts and the dates and they are much less sticky. Instead of putting it all in the blender together, I put the nuts in first and chopped them. Then added the dates (which I chopped a bit before putting it in the blender). I want to try it with the peanut butter again though because the original recipe has a really good flavor. You’ll probably have to end up playing around with it a bit, but definitely put the nuts in first.
I make lara bars all the time in my Vitamix! I like making the ‘brownie bite’ ones. 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 cup of peanuts, and a little under 1/2 cup of medjool dates (I eye ball it). I put them in all at the same time and they turn out great!
Do you know if sunflower seed butter (Sunbutter) would work instead of peanut butter? My son has a peanut allergy, but all the other nut butters I have found are made in shared facilities. I know Sunbutter didn’t quite work for the energy balls I tried.
Medjool dates are like most dried fruits – not safe for people with peanut allergies.
Medjool dates are actually fresh…not dried.
Sorry I should have been more clear in my comparison.
My main point was they are processed in a facility that also process nuts, therefore they are not nut free.
I just looked up the their website for the natural delights madjool dates which states that thier dates are processed in a factory that processess nuts(http://www.naturaldelights.com/about-perfect/
The Natural Delights Medjool Dates pictured above say on the label “may contain nuts”.
FWIW, the Trader Joe’s medjool dates do not have any nut warnings on the packaging.
Do you use the sweetened or unsweetened Sunbutter? I find the unsweetened version works great instead of PB or other nut butters in my recipes. Also, make sure the sunflower butter is natural, not made with Palm oil to keep it stable for best results.
Hi Meaghan. I’m not sure if the sunflower seed butter would work. If it’s thinner than peanut butter, maybe leave the water out until you figure out the right consistency. Or, you could try the one recipe that’s nut free. Good luck. Jill
Thank you for the suggestion. I tried the granola one and it is delicious. I felt brave and got creative with another batch. I used dates, chopped nuts, come chocolate chips, a spoon of Sun Butter and some water. It tastes great (I think a little less water next time). I’m so excited to have found this new treat for the family!
I dont buy those premade nut/fruit bars because of the cost, but your recipe looks really good. One of my kids conveniently is allergic to all nuts except almonds… I know, weird. Thanks for doing your site!!
Like Lynn asked above… Is a Vitamix ok?
I don’t know that a blender would work, although I’ve not tried it and I’m not familiar with a Vitamix. I just think they might get too thick for a blender. I think a stand mixer could work if nothing else. Good luck. Jill
I LOVE my Vitamix for smoothies and the like, but I’ve found that trying to use it for things like this it doesn’t work very well. The shape of the blade (curving upward instead of flat along the bottom) leaves a lot of stuff not chopped or blended well. (Making hummus in it was a total disaster…. so many chick peas just left whole.) I’ve had the same problems with nuts & such…. and getting the stuff out from under the blades is almost impossible if you’re wanting to eat it. (cleaning is a breeze, but I want to eat the food before cleaning it, ya know!)
These look delicious! I can’t wait to make the peanut butter version. I wouldn’t have thought to make my own larabars, but I definitely will now! This also makes me think of what else I buy at the store that could be made fresher at home…
Thank you for all of the recipes and information on foods. I have read and used a lot of the recipes on this website for over a year or so. The recipes are easy to follow and i like the well detailed photos of the recipes. I can’t wait for more post.
I worked on making these on my own a while back. I loved the results and your recipe looks even better than mine. I didn’t think to add the water. The problem I had is that the mejool dates are so expensive that when I priced out how many I made vs. buying a Larabar it came out even. I’ve found other kinds of dates that are cheaper (you should have heard me exclaiming in the store, “I finally found cheap dates!”), but there is no way they would work for this. Any suggestions? I don’t have a cosco, since I saw that in another post.
I buy the cheaper dates and soak them in water for at least an hour. Then I drain them and use for the recipe – hope that helps :)
Use half Raisins and half cheap dates. Water soaking helps, I use boiling water.
I use cheap dates as they are and work fine- my family loves the cashew and sunflower seed bars!
I can not wait to try these. What is a good (reasonable) price for the dates? Does anyone know how much they are at Costco?
$9 for 2 pounds of Medjools in 2015. Excellent price. Really delicious. Not organic if that matters to you.
I love this blog and all of the recipes…my problem is that I don’t have a food processor! I would love (if possible) other adaptations for how to make (ie, stand mixer, blenders, etc) various recipes without a FP.
Hi Heather. I think a stand mixer would work with either the dough hook or paddle attachment, although I’ve not tried it. Good luck. Jill
I love larabars!!! I AM TOTALLY MAKING THESE!!!
And to Heather: of course I think a food processor is worth it but if you do have a blender I imagine that would work. You might try using half chopped dates and half date syrup.
I just made these in the vitamix. I twisted the recipe a bit and they came out way too moist, there is no way I can make these into bars. I may just mash them into a bunch of granola to thicken it up. The batter is so delicious and if nothing else I will mix it into my oatmeal!
Can’t wait to try these! I think we should call them Lisabars!
Ha ha…that is hilarious!
They look lovely. I am very English me, so how much is a cup worth?
In case you haven’t figured it out, yet one cup equals approximately 250ml. Hope this helps you!
Here is a link I found for conversion to metric. Most of these ingredients are not liquid so it is a little harder to say what exactly equals one cup. http://www.jsward.com/cooking/conversion.shtml
Have you tried making these after soaking and then baking the nuts? I’m just wondering about the phytic acid issue of using raw nuts.
Hi Amy. I have not tried soaking and baking the nuts, but I understand this would help to reduce the phytic acid if it is a concern for you. Jill
You are my new heroes! I just discovered your site and immediately had to blog about you! The best part for me is that you acknowledge and include us food allergy types.
check out what I wrote about your amazing pledge, journey and inspiration to us….http://www.gratefulfoodie.com/real-food-rea-food-allergies-really-good-health/
Yum! I’ve already made a bunch of these, but since I am the only one in my family who will eat whole foods, I have way too many on my hands! Believe me, no amount of coaxing will get anyone to take a bite of something made without sugar. Anyway, my question is: How long will these last?
Yea! Thanks for posting so others can learn how easy these are to make! I have frozen them, mostly so I don’t eat too many in one day :) Grab a frozen bar, toss it in my lunch bag and it’s thawed out by mid-morning.
I’ve been wanting to try making these! I can’t believe how much work you do for this blog – thank you so much! Know that your efforts are truly appreciated. I stop in here everyday. :)
I have never tried a Lara bar, but I’m inclined to try making my own. These look wonderful. Thanks!
wow, we go through so many granola bars and every time I have made my own they come out dry. This recipe worked great and tasted wonderful! For anyone who has to deal with a small town grocery and cannot find the dates, Sunsweet sells “D’Noir Prunes” (preservative free) that work the same! Once you have the prune/ water mixture you can do so many varieties… thank you SO much for sharing this!
I made the version with the homemade granola today and topped them off with a few mini chocolate chips. YUM! Thanks for sharing!
Do you make your own yogurt?? I just started doing this about 3 months ago! It is the most amazing yogurt ever! I think my yogurt maker is probably one of my favorite purchases ever! If you haven’t done it before you should try it. It’s simple and the plain yogurt (I use whole milk) doesn’t need any sweeteners beside fruit or berries. Yum!
I have made Lara bars before and thought they tasted good but were such a sticky mess I haven’t done it for a while. I am inclined to try your recipes though!
I do love your blog!
I make these all the time – I do put a bit of sea salt in my peanut butter ones, and sometimes I’ll add a bit of dark chocolate. YUM! Another thing I often do is roll them into balls instead of forming bars – easier for the kids to eat a few as they often don’t want a whole bar.
Hello: I have been making snack bars and selling them at farmer’s markets for almost a year. I’ve been told that they remind people of the “larabars” (which I had not heard about until then).
I don’t use peanut butter as there are too many allergies to peanuts. I do use flaxseed to get the Omega-3’s and antioxidants (and fibre) that flaxseed offers.
They do taste great! Mine have even less ingredients in them so are even less complicated. Healthy eating really is simple! And it’s amazing how great one feels when one is choosing whole foods over the processed foods.
Martha
May I have your recipe? Pretty please? [email protected]. I’m in Arizona.
Made your recipe yesterday, and they are DELICIOUS! What a fabulous treat to have when craving something sweet!
These seem so wonderful. Do you think dried cranberries and blueberries would make a good variation for a change of pace?
Angela – I have not tried them, but, it sounds like a lot of readers have had success with different varieties of dried fruit. Jill
Thank you! Thank you! I think its great that you included a nut free recipe. As a parent of a child with severe tree nut allergies I know to look at every package and to be especially careful with finding out if seeds and dried fruit are manufactured in a facility with tree nuts. I don’t expect everybody who writes recipes to do that research for me. The fact that you even thought to include a nut free version is awesome. I have found safe sunflower seeds in bulk online. I’m assuming and hoping I can find some safe dates. If not I will sub organic raisins. The granola flavored bars could also be made nut free by using a nut free granola recipe. The peanut butter recipe would work with sunbutter. I bet the crunchy style one would work great. I finally got a food processor so I will be experimenting as soon as I get those seeds in the mail.
I love making my own lara bars. My new favorite is dried cherries, unsweetened coconut, and almonds—so good. I have a video here making them if you http://www.unconventionalkitchen.com/homemade-lara-bar-recipe want to see them made. Sometimes that helps me to have a visual.
Thank you Lisa for all of your hard work and determination in the kitchen. The Lara Bars are excellent and my entire family loves them! You are such an inspiration and have inspired me to chair a wellness group within our school. It’s hard to change societies way of thinking (sugary snacks for rewards, etc.) When I need a pick-me-up I just go to your site, and it always works!
Thanks!
Hi I’m a new blogger check this out!! Oh and these lara bars are sooo good much better than the store!!
Thanks so much! I finally figured out where the Lara bars were in my grocer’s section, bought some(although I cringed at the price) and my entire family thought they were delicious! I was trying to figure out a way to incorporate them into our budget. Thanks for posting the recipe, I can’t wait to try it soon!
Have you tried adding protein powder to them? They look yummy but I am always trying to add protein where I can.
Hi Jen. No, I have not tried protein powder. Peanut butter is also a good option for protein which some of the recipes call for. Jill
I regularly add protien powder, which dries them so I have to add extra water. I always go in this order in my food processor
Dates, raisins and dried fruit
nuts or seeds or coconut
nut butter
flax meal and protien powder
water to get right moisture
The possibilities are endless starting with the basic half and half dates and nuts. be careful of dried fruit though because so much has added sugar.
Jen M. I just added white beans to mine and they are great. (about 1/2 cup). They were sticky (dates, peanut butter). I added oatmeal and then rolled them in nuts. You’ll have to play with it. I add white beans to many things! (Even pureed into pancakes!)
I am a total loser and have never had a Larabar. I always think protein bars taste nasty…. then….. OMG!!! I just had the chocolate brownie one and almost died! Knowing that a homemade one could be better I am going to Costco tomorrow to get those dates!!! I will never…..ever crave a traditional brownie again!!! Holy Crap!! I cant stop thinking about that fantastic bar!
after eating real foods and homemade larabars I happened to get a conventional protien bar to take to relay for life and after one bite I couldn’t eat it because all i could taste was chemicals. My 6 year old wanted some and after one bite made a face and wouldnt eat any more. Now that i make my own the regular larabars even have a little taste but I always keep a few in my car for emergencies. If i could only figure out how to preserve mine in the florida heat that would be great.
Hey Christy,
How about freezing them, then keep them in a tiny cooler or insulated lunch bag or insulated cup with lid. You could wrap them in parchment paper and cover with ice, too.
Just made these for the 3rd time! Oh so simple and easy to change up the flavors. I make them into 1Tablespoon balls with a cookie scoop, then I roll them into smooth balls. I started making them with some added chocolate chips and have started to cut back on them. My kids just love them!
Made the cashew bars today, (after my 10 year old had to help me figure out my new food processor, how sad for me!!) and must say they were worth the fight!! They taste just like the cashew Larabars!! Can’t wait to make the other favors!
These look so good. I am going to try these tomorrow. I have been looking for this recipe and I am so happy to see you have. Thanks so much for this!
Lisa, what an awesome post! So organized and filled with options! I want to try your whole made granola! I thought I would add my “Laraballs” post here, in case anyone is interested in different flavors. I think the most popular one is Skinny Mints (sort of a Girl Scout Thin Mints flavor), and as a few others mentioned, dried cherries are SO yummy, like in a PB&J flavor! Happy day to everybody! Oh, here’s the link! http://fresh-you.blogspot.com/2002/01/learn-about-laraballs.html Yum, so awesome that these treats are GOOD FOR YOU!
Yum-o! I made the peanut butter version last night. Easy Peasy! I could so imagine adding a little coconut to the mixture after removing from the food processor, or a few small chocolate chips for a treat. Thanks for sharing the simple recipe.
Just made the cashew ones. Yum!!!! Haven’t ever had these before, but have been looking for more snack ideas for the kids. Can’t wait for them to wake up from their naps to try these!
Do you find that it is cheaper to make these as opposed to buying them? I’ve been buying them and wondered if they were worth the extra cost. Thanks
Hi Kathy. I haven’t actually priced them out, but, I’m guessing it is cheaper to make them. Not to mention, I actually think the homemade ones are tastier :-). Jill
Hi, I did some pricing on these yesterday actually. It really depends on where you are getting your ingredients and if the larabars are on sale. At my earthfare, the dates are 6.99/lb. Yesterday I was in Publix, where the same brand is 6.59/lb, but they have another brand as well that I THINK was 4.99/lb. This week, Publix also had larabars on sale for $1 each and I had a coupon for $1 off 3 (so, $.75 each). I was able to make two batches of larabars out of slightly less than a pound of dates at earthfare ($5.83 at $6.99/lb…I had already bought them before I realized Publix even stocked them). I cut them smaller than a regular larabar, but I would estimate I got enough for 5 or 6 regular size larabars. With the other ingredients I added in, I think it would come out to slightly above $1 each. So, if I had gotten the cheaper dates at Publix, they would have definitely been cheaper, but as is, I think it came out to about the same price (but much yummier).
Good to know Courtney…thanks for sharing!
Really appreciate when people take the time to do the math. thanks!!!!
Just bought fresh dates in the produce section at Kroger in Atlanta for $3.49/lb very pleased!
Made these a few days ago and they were delicious! I have never had a larabar but have seen them referenced on this site. I wasn’t really sure though how big they are supposed to be. Mine were tiny when I tried to get 12 squares out of the recipe. Can you give me some dimensions?
Morgan – You can make them whatever size you’d like…the ones pictured are the size that mine came out (hopefully you can use my daughter’s hand in the picture as a reference!).
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I will have to try this. Even though I eat healthy real food… I have never made my own granola bar or protein bar. Eating healthy can be overwhelming. It’s all a journey, you know? I went from not being able to boil water and constantly eating out, to eating organic (lots of organic junk food!) to making simple meals at home, to fancier meals… now I’m working on expanding my horizons and making things from scratch like chicken broth and now… Larabars! Yay!
You inspired me to look for Lara Bars when I was at Whole Foods. 5 ingredients! Can’t beat that! I have to admit, the first bite was…surprising but as I fought through it I actually began to enjoy it! I’m sold. I will have to add oats or something to sell the kids on it though! Thank you.
I just made the cashew cookie bar and they are amazing.i added less dates and peanut butter though because yesterday when I made them thy were too sugary for me.I was sugar wasted lol.
Dates and cashews are super expensive but Larabars are $1- I wonder how much the home made cost to make?
I get 6 bars from about 15 dates and 1/2 c peanuts or nut butter, etc. so less than a dollar. Plus I love the way I can choose the variety and also add protien.
My husband can’t digest nuts well (not alergic) so I sub nut butter that I either buy or make first and they taste almost as good (a little less crunch).
Love this idea so I tried some tonight. I don’t have a food processor so I used my blendtec blender. It seemed so stiff the blender was choking so I added water now I can’t get it to a solid consistency. I keep adding dates up to almost 1.5 c. . Do you think it’s the blender? I guess if I can’t make bard from it, I can always use it as a spread.
I have not tried them in a blender yet myself, but from your experience it doesn’t sound like it worked as well as the food processor. Good to know!
I always buy the Lara bars so, I’m super excited to try and make some of my own! Do you think I could substitute pitted prunes for dates? It’s what I have on hand. ;)
You could certainly try that, but I don’t think it would be nearly as good…the dates are rather sweet.
Question – I used dates, sunflower seeds, almonds, coconut and cocoa powder, but I got a little carried away with the water. Even after refrigerating, they’re the consistency of cookie dough. What can I do to tighten it up a little?
Hi Leslie. I would think if you just decrease the water that would help. Jill
These look great! Such a good, quick snack idea.
We absolutely love these!!! We sometimes make them into small balls and roll in cocoa, shredded coconut, gogi berries or crushed pistachios for the kids lunches. Our kids are converted “clean eaters” ;)))) so glad I found your blog xxDani
I just made these (the nut free version, using sunflower seeds). OH MY GOODNESS! They were divine!!!
Can you freeze these?
Yes, I don’t see why not, although they will stay in the refrigerator for probably a week or 2 as well. Mine never last long enough to freeze! :-) Jill
I can’t find the dates you use…. All I could find were Sunsweet brand California dates? Is that a major no-no?
Hi Dianna. Others have reported using them and they’ve had success. The Mejdool dates are found in the produce section. I know I’ve seen them at the conventional grocery stores as well. Jill
I made peanut butter larbars and rolled them in oats. My sons, husband and I all loved them. Unfortunately, my husband is allergic to a preservative or pesticide(we think) that we haven’t identified yet. I made them with the Sunsweet brand and he had a reaction. I am going to try the Natural Delights brand and see what happens.
Does anyone have a problem with them being oily? I tried two different kinds of peanut butter but still pretty oily.
I did also! I made the cashew cookie and I am not sure if I did something wrong. I mean really oily…
Hi Taylor. Try not letting it stay in the processor so long…the longer it goes around the more oil released from the nuts. Jill
Hi Randi. I have found they can sometimes get a little oily if you run them in the processor too long. Maybe try shortening that time a little. Jill
I cannot wait to try these.
Another reason to make them yourself:
http://www.naturalnews.com/036834_Kashi_Larabar_boycott.html
Thanks for the post! You should also check out the following website for more delicious homemade larabar recipes. Chocolate Covered Katie is a vegan healthy dessert blog and her recipes are nothing short of fabulous! She makes her larabars into balls and calls them Fudge Babies-Girl Scout Cookie is my favorite flavor and includes unsweetened coconut.
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/chocolate-covered-recipes/fudge-baby-mania/
Larabar company supports PROP 37! Glad you are making your own bars now. Fight GMO’s
I made Lemon Lara bars after buying a few different types. Well of course they were super easy, but they are also our flavor of choice so far. Just lemon zest and a little lemon juice mixed with dates and cashews. Yummmm! My 2 year old cannot get enough of them:)
Thank you!! I finally bought some dates just to try out this recipe and they were so delicious and super easy. I made the peanut butter version as well as the granola version and they both were a big hit with my husband and out 2-year-old. I’m going to try some with dried carnberries next!
Does anyone like the “peanut butter cookie” version you can get in the stores? I found out how to make them….and oh my, they taste just like those peanut butter balls you get for Christmas!! They taste heavenly…they taste like they have TONS of sugar in them…even my non ‘real food’ friends think so!!
1/2 cup peanuts
5 pitted medjool dates
1/4 tsp sea salt
That’s all! IF you add a little less than 1/4 cup of cocoa powder, it makes them brownie bites! I am going to make them both this year for Christmas, roll them up, and put them in a cute box as truffles! They taste like truffles!
Has anyone tried using almonds and almond butter?
I have found that almond butter is much more moist than peanut butter. If you made the peanut butter version with almond butter you would need to add some oat flour (just put some oats in a food processor and blend until smooth and flour like), or something else to bulk it up so it isn’t so moist. (I used almond butter in the Cashew cookie version and ended up not needing to add the water.) Hope this helps! :)
Thanks for the recipe! Do you think these can be made in a blender if I don’t have a food processor?
Hi Giselle. I think it would be tough in a blender. Everything really needs to get chopped up and blended and I’m just not sure a blender can get it done (maybe a higher end blender might work). Jill
Do NOT make them in a blender. I have a high end blender and I ended up with Larabar butter. :( I am going to just use it in place of peanut butter in a granola bar recipe or something.
I made the cashew bars and did what I always say I won’t do on the first try of a recipe…I changed it a bit! I added chocolate chips…and then I baked them! I baked half of the batch at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes, now my kids will think I made cookies while they were at their Boy Scout meeting! Cause they taste just like a chocolate cookie! The original recipe was of course delicious, but I was just feeling a little experimental.
Thanks!
Giselle, I tried this in the blender and it didn’t work at all. It just gummed up at the bottom and even though I repeatedly stirred it around, it was more frustrating than it was worth IMO. I had to dig around and find my little processor and do it in batches. It’s worth going and buying a small food processor I think.
I absolutely love Larabars and have for awhile. My fave is the cherry pie one, and I found a recipe for making them! It’s on another blog: http://userealbutter.com/2012/02/26/homemade-cherry-pie-larabar-recipe/
I haven’t tried to make any of these recipes yet, but I’m planning on trying them soon.
I did read some of the other comments and saw that some people didn’t do as well making these as other and was wondering if the size of the food processor made a difference. What sizes were used?
Ok, I goofed and used the wrong kind of dates. Stupid mistake, I know. Anyone have any suggestions on saving my larabars? Maybe add something else to make it stick together. I feel like an idiot right now, so any help would be nice. I’ve got a nice bowl of crumbled dates, cherries and almonds that just won’t stick together (wrong dates, I know).
I made these today, with a slight tweak to the MOP (method of preparation) and they were AWESOME (I added coconut to my cashew bars)!! For those who experienced oiliness issues, try this…rather than mixing everything together all at once, try pulsing the nuts together until finely ground, add your dates, one at a time, then add the peanut butter and water (I only needed a teaspoon). I found this technique while making another faux Larabar. Hope this helps someone.
I made the cashew and nut-free bars today…the are delicious, easy and better than the store-bought version. Absolutely love your blog!!!!
I just made these! First of all, amazing! I almost prefer them over store bought! We made the peanut butter and in stead of cashews we used almonds in the cookie ones. They are super yummy and so insanely easy! Thanks again for the great recipes!
Is there a way to make these without using a food processor? We received a pack of dates in our CSA box, and I immediately thought of this recipe! Thanks!
Hi Tracy. I’m not sure how you would “puree” the dates without the processor? And, the nuts too need to be chopped up well which is much easier with the processor. Jill
Borrow a processor from a friend. You can make a ton at once. They last in the fridge easily for several months. I have made the basic recipe at least 20 times already. :)
Can you freeze the homemade larabars?
Hi Amber. Yes, they are fine to freeze. You can even take them out that morning and they’re usually defrosted by the time you are ready to have them for a snack. Jill
The local middle eastern market sells dates in a smashed block form, and it’s easier to use in baking. Also, try adding lime zest or orange zest to your bars for an extra kick!
I made these for the first time this weekend (cashews, peanut butter and dates). They tasted great but were so sticky! Fairly difficult to get to come off the cutting board I used and messy when eating. I have never had a “real” Lara bar so not sure what consistency it is supposed to be. Any thoughts about what I might have done wrong or could do better?
Thanks!
Hi Jordan. They are somewhat sticky. I place mine between 2 sheets of wax paper to roll them out. Then, I place them in the refrigerator before I cut them. They seem to be easier to work with when they are cold. Hope that helps. Jill
I’ve made these many times now and have been experimenting with the stickiness problem (although many a time, I dont mind licking my fingers, the plate, the bowl, the food processor….). After I cut them up I roll them in quick oats before putting them in the fridge. I have also rolled them in crushed almonds and those are super yummie! I JUST made a batch using peanut butter with with crushed walnut/almond meal. I couldnt really work with it, so I flattened it and covered it with oats and stuck it in the fridge. I’ll cut them later and hopefully they will turn out at awesome as all the others!
Has anyone tried using almond butter instead of peanut butter? I love peanut butter, but I’m trying to cut grains and legumes out of my diet.
Hi Amy. Yes, I often use almond butter (creamy) instead of the peanut butter. They still turn out great. Jill
I just made these…sooooo good! I have to say thank you for this website, such great ideas to cut out all the processed junk!
Made these tonight for dessert and everyone scarfed them down! Thanks for the recipe! We are parents to 2 girls, ages 8 and 4.
Oh my, I made cashew cookie version today, and they are gone! The kids LOVED them and asked when I would make more. Super easy to make! Tomorrow I will try to seed version. Thanks so much for all your great recipes. We are a family of 4 kids under the age of 10 and they are all loving everything I have made from your site!
I got a recipe from a friends site, I love Lara Bars. She uses a mini muffin pan instead of rolling out for bars. You refrigerate for 30 minutes and then pop them out. Easy peasy.
We made the Peanut Butter recipe last night. In place of the Peanut Butter we used Oh She Glows recipe for 4 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Almond Butter. Then we made little balls with a small cookie scoop. They are so good! Like little brownie bites.
Just made dates/figs, natural peanut butter, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt Lara bars…mmmm…needed the dates with the figs for enough sweetness.
I just made a variation of these bars. I used dates, organic raw honey, and an organic sprouted trail mix. I found that adding about a tsp of melted organic raw honey helped with the consistency and when chilled it really holds together well. Oh yeah they are to die for!!!
Oh and I added organic French vanilla granola with slivered almonds to the mix too!!!
Do you absolutely need the dates? I don’t have any or even raisins for that matter but I still want to try out this recipe.
Jordyn, you can experiment with these recipes and see how they turn out. You need something that binds the ingredients together. I used a dollop of peanut butter and a smashed over-ripe banana this week and it was yummy! Good luck. ~Amy
I just wanted to say thank you for all of the recipes and the hard work you are doing. We are on the way to re-inventing how we eat one step at a time. You are making things a lot easier!
Ok, mine cAme out way to sticky. What did I do wrong? I used smuckers nat peanut butter and cashews?
Hi Rachel. Did you include the dates? Because of the dates (or sometimes raisins), my bars are often a little sticky but less so after they rest for a while. ~Amy
Will these work just as well if I substitute with almond butter instead of peanut butter??
Hi Pearl. Sure, any nut butter should work. Let us know how they turn out! ~Amy
This was my first attempt using my new food processor and I can’t believe how easy it was. I used a mixture of almonds, pumpkin seeds and cocount for the cashews and almond butter instead of peanut butter. The “bar” is in the fridge hardening now cause I think I used just a bit too much water. So I’m hoping I can cut into “bars” very soon. If I wanted to use a banana to match the Larabar Banana Bread bar would I need to adjust any other part of the recipe? This is so much fun to make too! Thanks much!
Hi Barb. Aren’t food processors fun? They open up a whole new world. ;) I have made mine with banana and banana does soften the bars. I adjust by adding, very unscientifically, a bit more of everything and it seems to do the trick. They are yummy! Enjoy. ~Amy
i just made this! cannot wait to try them…the unfinished product tastes fabulous!! also, instead of using my hands to spread it out i used one of my spatulas and spread it on wax paper, then just popped it in a large rectangle glad tupperware! was easy, peasy with no mess!!
Thanks for the reply, Amy. I did try the banana and you’re exactly right. It was so sift that I used it as “hummus” with carrots and other veggies. Still yummy!
Just made the nut free Lara bars and they are soon delicious! I’m trying not to eat them all before my family has a chance to try them. Thank you!
I made a version of these that i found on pinterest. 1 cup dates, 1 cup raisins, 1 cup almonds, and combine in Ninja blender. Press on wax paper as thin as you want, put in fridge for an hour or more then cut to size and keep in fridge until you devour. Have a healthy day!
Loved these! I made them into little “logs” and rolled them in ground flax so they wouldn’t be too sticky – then wrapped individually in wax paper to pop into lunch boxes! Love this site!
Can you use normal dates?
Hi Kathy. You can. Medjool dates are extremely plump and sweet, however. The texture with another type of date may be somewhat different. ~Amy
Wonderful recipe! I came across your site when trying to find a recipe for larabars as i was spending a fortune on them- family of 5 who all love them! These turned out to be Amazing! So much better than store bought- thank you so much! I’m a new fan of your website!
These are ridiculously easy and outrageously good!
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Can these be made in larger batches and frozen and then pulled out little at a time to thaw and eat?
Hello Wendy! Absolutely. I have some in the freezer right now. Just thaw them overnight in the fridge. ~Amy
What a yummy treat! My husband is in the military and I’ve been looking for healthier alternatives to the store bought power bars that could still give him lots of energy and replenish the nutrients he looses so much during long workouts/rucks etc. I made the first recipe on this list and added unsweetened coconut and raisins to the listed ingredients and it turned out DELICIOUS! The best part is I know there are no gmo’s, high fructose corn syrup, dyes or other harmful ingredients in it!
I LOVE these!! Thanks for posting so many variations too! They’re perfect for taking on trips:).
What brands or types of peanut butter do you recommend that would be a “real” food?
Hi Megan. Look for an organic peanut butter that has only peanuts and maybe a bit of salt as ingredients. ~Amy
These were super easy and incredible! Can we pretend the serving size is the whole recipe?
Hi – I’m wondering why this recipe calls for Medjool dates specifically. Can’t regular dates be used as well? Is there a difference in how the bars will come out? Thank you!
Okay – I just found an earlier post that answered my question :)
Hello we just made the cashew date ones with almond butter and the taste is great but they are to wet.
A friend also made them with pbutter and had same issue. Any solutions? Again taste was great!
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
I just tried these, and my little food processor could not handle it. I want to buy a new one anyway – what kind do you use? Thanks!
Hello Rachel. You will find Lisa’s favorite kitchen appliances here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/#appliances. Enjoy. ~Amy
Hi, I made the peanut larabar, and while DELICIOUS! it is not something you could eat out of hand (much too sticky). Any suggestions on how to remedy that? Thank you!
Hi Karen. The first time I made these, I think I processed them a bit too long and they were a little oily and sticky. Since I cut back on processing time, that has not been an issue. I also let my bars have a little sit in the fridge before I serve them. Hope this helps. ~Amy
Mine were sticky too. I made the cashew ones, but I used almonds and almond butter instead. To remedy the sticky dough, I added some oats and unsweetened coconut, then I formed balls and rolled them in coconut. I put them in the fridge. They are like a peanut butter ball. Oh so yummy.
Hi Ladies. I’ve also put a layer of slivered almonds on the wax paper before mashing down the combined ingredients and then also press them into the top. It works well! ~Amy
Yes…. Make the recipe as stated above and press your bars into either quick rolled oats, chia seeds, coarsely ground flax seeds or a mixture of all three. This will take the stickiness out and add more nutritional value too. I make my own protein bars and healthy snacks and any time they are too sticky I press the bars into the three choices above. Enjoy!
Since finding your site, your cashew cookie Larabars have been pretty regular items in my fridge. Since my daughter is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, I use a seed mixture in place of the cashews and Sunbutter in place of the PB. They turn out excellent!
Just made my first batch and they are stored in the fridge! Seemed to come out pretty good. How long will they last in the fridge? I’m sorry if this question has already been asked, there have been so many comments! Thanks!
Hello Jaclyn. Mine have kept for up to two weeks. Beyond that, I would freeze them. Enjoy. ~Amy
Just made these using the homemade granola (from this site!), a little peanut butter, and the dates. MMMM soo good and my two girls are eating them up! Great recipe! Oh, and I put them in the freezer for about an hour to get them firm and then cut them.
Just “braved” make the Cashew Cookie Larabars and WOW how yummy! I may have processed a bit too long at they are very sticky – but so glad I tried them. Was amazed how easy they were to make! Thanks for another “home run” recipe!!!
I just finished making chocolate coconut lara bars. My girls did not like the other lara bars but I think they’ll like these ones! I loved all of them but especially the seed one. I will never buy lara bars again! They are really easy to make. Anyway, here’s the recipe:
1 cup dates (I just bought them at a local Mediterranean food store-very cheap and quite good)
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup cocoa powder (this makes quite a dark chocolate taste. If you like a lighter chocolate taste use less)
6-8 tsp water (you need more water for this one, I think because of the chocolate and coconut)
Mix like in the other recipes above. Makes about 6-8 bars.
I am going to try other combinations too! Thank you!
Thanks for the response to my question, everyone! I will try them again!
I’m so glad I saw this! I haven’t had Larabars for the longest time bc I’m boycotting them. Their makers are General Miills, whom as you know have been forking over hundreds of thousands of dollars to stop labeling of GMOs but now I have the recipe!! Muwaha ha!!! Lol
Any suggestions on how to make a homemade version of the blueberry muffin larabars?
Hi Beth. If you experiment with that one, please let us know! ~Amy
Has anyone tried freezing these? We love Lara bars as a grab and go snack- but really only ‘grab’ them once a week or once every other week. I’m wondering if i could freeze these in zip locks to be able to grab them on our way out the door.
Hi Brooke. You can freeze these for sure. Enjoy. ~Amy
On the oatmeal variety, is it 1 cup oatmeal, cooked, or 1 cup of cooked oatmeal? Thanks!
Hello Anne Marie. I assume you are talking about the granola version? Lisa is referring to 1 cup of her cooked granola. Here is the recipe for the granola to use in the bars: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/04/recipe-granola-bars-cereal/. ~Amy
I’ve been wanting to try Larabars for ages, but I’m one of those rare people who hate the taste and texture of dried fruits. Can you taste the dates at all, or do the other ingredients drown it out?
I haven’t tried these bars yet, but dates are what make the recipe sweet. They’re not completely dessicated like the usual dried fruit you pick up and their meat is still mushy. Maybe you should try a Medjool date first. (Not the regular dates you get at the store. There is a big taste difference.) I suspect you’ll like them a lot.
Had some homemade blueberry/nut/seed granola along with dried pitted dates in the pantry, just calling my name, so I figured, why not make a batch! Took only a minute in my Vitamix. I didn’t add the water, and the mixture was easy to handle, shape into a square, and cut. All in all, took about 2 minutes! I am going to experiment with the other combinations. Thanks for the recipe!
Just made the Cashew Cookie Larabars in my food processor and they were SO easy! Thank you for this recipe! Yesterday I tried throwing the ingredients into my Vitamix blender and it didn’t work out so well. I think I had to use too much water to keep the blender spinning that the mixture ended up too wet and thin. But today’s bars are amazing!!!
WHat is the calorie count for these bars?
Hi Jodi. We do not provide nutrition information on our recipes. These posts help explain why: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/23/portion-size-matters/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/. You can find many tools online that can help you calculate calorie/nutrition details. ~Amy
I saw the Larabars on this site and my family and I tried them. Can I be honest? They were disgusting!! I tried the cashew one first and had to try to pretend to swallow it so I wouldn’t sway my kids. Needless to say they thought they were horrible too. Oh well, I guess it’s back to making my own.
Hi De Ann. Sorry you had a negative experience with this recipe. That’s not otherwise been the type of feedback we’ve received on these but we certainly appreciate you taking the time to share. ~Amy
I’ve made these before and love them! Sadly, I just realized I grabbed prunes instead of dates…can I use them instead?
Hello Allison. You can try and find out. I think that the dates have a more sticky consistency. ~Amy
I finally had a chance to make these today. They’ve been on “to try” list for awhile. So delicious and SO easy. I will definitely be making these from now on. Thanks 100daysofrealfood, you’d changed the way I eat completely for the better (and I tell anyone who will listen!)
Just made the cashew cookie in my vitamix and they came out wonderful. Can’t wait to try others. So yummy
This link has a lot of larabar recipes plus a build your own recipe menu. Lots of good ideas!
http://www.damyhealth.com/2011/03/how-to-make-homemade-lara-bars/
I really want to try this recipe, and I was wondering for the dates do you blend them with the pit or do you remove it from each one?
Nah, go for the crunch and terrible sound coming from the machine. Just leave in the pits. :p
Hello Alexis. You remove the pits. :) ~Amy
Hi Lisa, I have a question. Except the 2 seeds you suggested, what other seeds are applicable to use as an ingredient for Nut-free Larabar? I am planning to include it to my menu on my http://www.foodcateringchicago.com/.
Hi Gwendolyn. Flax, chia, and quinoa are also gluten free seeds. ~Amy
Can you recommend a store bought cereal and a cereal bar that can replace th Kashi products I’ve been buying? I understand you have some great home made completely unprocessed granola and bars you make, however I am looking for something to have on hand in case I don’t have those made. If you can’t recommend a specific product, even a list of what to look for and what to avoid as far as ingredients go would be great.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Hi Megan. You can find some bars here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/07/16/real-food-tips-top-10-travel-snacks/. As for cereals, it is very difficult to find a packaged cereal without a really long ingredient list. You can, however, find puffed wheat cereals that have 5 or less ingredients. Pay close attention to the label and be sure that the first ingredient is a whole grain. ~Amy
Are these freezable? I was going to try making them and if we liked them do a large batch to freeze.
Yes, Maggie, they freeze well. ~Amy
Hello,
i was wondering if you have ever tried the “Two Mom” nut bars, made in Boulder CO.? They are awesome and they have spices listed as an ingredient but not the actual spice itself listed. I want to try using spices in teh my nut bars. Do you have any recipes for nut and/or seed bars with spices?
Thamks,
Kay
Hi Kay. I have. They are yummy, for sure. Unfortunately they use agave in many of their products which is processed much like high fructose corn syrup. I so wish they would use honey! Here is some info on agave: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-agave and http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/. Also, we do not have spiced nut bars but great granola bar and lara bar recipes: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/07/01/recipe-homemade-larabars-4-ways-including-nut-free/comment-page-8/#comment-345548 and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/04/recipe-granola-bars-cereal/. ~Amy
I feel compelled to post my version of this recipe, which I’m obsessed with. I only did this because I was out of sesame seeds and olive oil, but it was a great end result! It tastes like pretzel crust and has that amazing salt/sweet combo. It’s AMAZING!! Thanks, as always, for sparking ideas for non-processed treats!
Whole, pitted dates
1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup toasted pecans
1 1/2 T of water
1 t. coconut oil (was out of olive…and may want to use a little less because mine were slightly greasy)
I can’t seem to find Medjool dates in my local grocery stores. What section are they usually in? Can I use other types of dates?
Hi Abby. They are usually with other produce but not necessarily easy to find. Ask your grocer to direct you. You can use other dates but Medjool are our preference. ~Amy
I bought dates rolled in coconut for this recipe, can’t wait! We love larabars!! :)
I just made some larabars substituting walnuts for the cashews. Had to add an extra 1/2 tbsp. of water to get the ingredients to mix. They came out really soft and sticky so I’ve popped them in the freezer. Is that the expected consistency?
Hi. They will be a bit sticky but they should be firm enough to cut and pick up. I usually let mine sit for a little while in the fridge before serving. ~Amy
Okay so here is a really weird question, have you ever tried adding chopped up greens like kale, to make these even more healthy?
Hey Amy. No, we’ve not tried adding kale to the bars. Now, smoothies, salads, and sauces?…all the time. :) ~Amy
I buy tunisian dates from costco.It has only 1 ingredient dates and has no preservatives.Are those healthy?
Hi Vinni. They sound fine. ~Amy
Hello,
I was reading about the two store bought snacks you recommend. I have been making my own dried fruit in the oven but I was thinking of getting a dehydrator because when I am drying fruit it takes up both my ovens. Did you ever use one of these and if so do have have any recommendations for which one to buy? Thank you,
Beth
Hi there. Here is a dehydrator that Lisa featured: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/11/16/giveaway-filterpro-dehydrator-by-lequip/. ~Amy
Hey! I love this site, I’ve gotten so many good ideas from here! I do however have a question! Its about a comment above regarding agave. I was under the impression that agave was a much better substitute for sugar, so that’s what I’ve been using, after seeing this post and reading the article related to agave, I went and looked at the bottle. Its organic agave and the ingredients label says: Organic Agave Nectar…. So since its Organic would it be ok?
We’ve been switching a lot of things to Organic since I work at Organic Valley, I’m highly influenced! :-)
Hi Sara. This post on agave helps explain why we do not use it: http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/. ~Amy
The one time I made these I rolled them into balls instead of flattening them out. Seemed a little easier to do and we loved them. They didn’t hang out too long in our house before they were entirely consumed.
Just found your site. Good stuff! Having not cooked with dates before, I’m wondering how many dates would go into one cup (as for instance in your Cashew Cookie recipe).
Hi John. Its about 10-12 medjool dates. ~Amy
Thanks, Amy! By contrast I checked out the ingredients for a Larabar Cashew Cookie which is just cashews and dates. Larabar wouldn’t reveal to me how many dates went into one bar, but since the sugar content is 18 g and a date is about 4 g, then they put in 4.5 dates in each of those bars—which strikes me as a lot of sugar. Glad to see your recipe appears healthier!!
Could you use almonds in the larabar recipe, instead of cashews?
Hi Jenny. We haven’t tried but I think it would work. Almonds are a bit “dryer” nut. Let us know how it turns out. ~Amy
My daughter loves larabars- we just tried this recipe and she is thrilled! Thanks for sharing! :)
I used dates, rasins, peanut butter, dark chocolate, instant espresso powder disolved in some hot water and a bit of sea salt! Then I dusted my bars with cocoa powder! So good! Im going to try using chocolate and hazelnuts for a nutella flavor. And one made with almonds, coconut and chocolate for Almond Joy flavor.
I just made the peanut butter larabars today. They were so sticky I could barely manage them. They did not form into bars either. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help.
Hi Shannon. The peanut butter bars are the stickiest of the bunch but should still be manageable. It is possible to fault with either too much or too little water when mixing. Once formed, I find that putting them in the fridge helps them set up better. ~Amy
Do you have nutritional information on these bars?
They are delicious (thanks to my daughter for making them) but I need to watch my carb intake, so it would be helpful to know. Thanks.
Hello. We do not provide nutrition information on our recipes. Our focus is on helping people cut out processed food while replacing them with real/whole foods. These posts help explain our philosophy: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/, https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/23/portion-size-matters/, and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/10-reasons-to-cut-out-processed-food/. ~Amy
No problem. I used a carb calculator to figure it out. FYI it’s about 21 carbs per bar for the basic recipe. Not bad for a snack. at least for my needs. Thanks.
I was wondering what you thought about conventional dates vs organic? I can’t see to find too much info on the topic but I was thinking since dates are so sweet they would have to use lots of pesticides to keep the bugs away.
Your question on conventional vs. organic dates isa good one, but even with how sweet they are — the birds and insects can’t get to them. Conventional organic dates are grown nearly organic simply by the farming practices. The main difference is the organic soil the palm trees grow in, and some spraying at the base of the trees to control weeds. Nothing is sprayed on the dates themselves. Medjool Dates grow 50′ in the air on palm trees and the dates are bagged in protective bags so that pests can’t touch them, but also so none of the great fruit drops to the ground. Growers do the pollinating, thinning and harvest all by hand with great care.
These homemade Lara bars are awesome! Just what I need as a “little something sweet” in the middle of the day!
Decided to try to make the Larabars with cashews and dates. WOW They are yummy! My boys 2 and 4 think they are having a treat for breakfast and my 4 year old says he could eat a thousand of them!
My daughter LOVES Larabars so I’m super excited to try these! Any suggestions for on-the-go containers for these besides plastic wrap? Larabars are my grocery store- good behavior getter (LOL) and would love to know how others successfully traveled with these without a huge mess! Thanks!
Hi Jodi. I’ve used airtight plastic containers and separated layers with parchment paper. ~Amy
I have to say I am always skeptical about granola bars. I made a version two weeks ago (all natural ingredients) and they were horribly sweet and super sticky. I decided to try to make the granola and then use that to make the homemade lara bars. I am amazed at how well these turned out. I have granola left over for the week and bars for lunch for my daughter! Thanks for all your recipes!
Made a batch of the granola ones and one of the nut-free ones. Picky eater wasn’t thrilled with either but said the nut-free ones would be okay as a lunch treat. Older brother liked both, but preferred the nut-free as well. The granola ones ended up a little dry and crumbly.
Thanks for the post. I’ll have to try some of your combinations. Most of the time I make mine with unsweetened coconut, cocoa, dates and almonds. Very yummy.
These were very tasty, but they seemed a little greasy. I used natural peanut butter. Any suggestions? Perhaps I over processed them…
Hi Leah. It is possible to over process. Also, make sure that your peanut butter does not have added oil. ~Amy
I was wondering if there is something you could recommend to replace the dates with. My son is allergic to nuts and peanuts and those dates are packaged in a facility that processes nuts. Thanks!
Hi Nicole. This is a tough recipe to mimic without the use of some dried fruit to bind it. I have made the granola version with a little honey and Sunbutter. I don’t have a specific recipe, though. :)
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Hi…I know this is an older post but I hope you are still answering questions. :) I’ve made peanut butter Larabars before using the ingredients on the package (just peanuts and dates), but they don’t have that real peanut butter flavour. I’ve thought about adding peanut butter but I wondered if they would need to be refrigerated? I use natural peanut butter, which of course separates if you leave it at room temperature. What kind of PB do you use?
Hi Shelley. Yes, refrigerate them. We use an organic peanut butter with only peanuts (and maybe salt) on the ingredient list. ~Amy
So I bought some dates for these and then forgot. They sat in my pantry until yesterday. They are packaged up but say “best if refrigerated” plus the date on them is 2 months ago. But they still look ok… Do you think they are ok to use, still?? I would hate to waste them, but I don’t want to make us sick or something! I have never bought dates before so I am unsure!
Hi Melody. I would get new dates. :) ~Amy
Is there an alternative way to combine the ingredients if I don’t have a food processor? (I see it’s one of Lisa’s most-used appliances, so I imagine I’ll be getting one soon :) but I don’t currently have one.) I have a regular blender, a Nutribullet, an immersion blender, a Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus, and my hands…
Hi Becky. These are, admittedly, difficult to make without a food processor. :(
Can you add some sort of chocolate to these? Like carob chips or cocoa powder?
Sure, Mindy. That should work fine. ~Amy
Have you tried freezing these? Just curious if you think that would work out well or not?
Hi Alicia. These freeze great! :)
Great! Thanks so much!
How long should I expect these to stay good for if kept in the refrigerator? I want to try them but don’t know if they would be eaten before they had a chance to go bad.
Hi Christy. I’ve kept them for up to a week You can also freeze them. ~Amy
How long will these stay good in the freezer? I tried the store ones yesterday and I’m excited to make my own.
Hi Lindi. My rule of thumb is up to three months. ~Amy
I make the cashew bars all the time with only cashews and dates and a tiny splash of water. Yummy!
I buy Larabars from time to time, as I like the natural ingredients. Will try some of the recipes you shared…thank you.
My favorite of the Larabars is Cherry Pie. Do you have a recipe for this bar?
No Dot, sorry. If you experiment with it, let us know. :)
New to using dates so how many medjool dates in a cup? Thanks!
Hi Suzy. 10-12 is approximate. ~Amy
I order my dates from Sheilds Dates in California. You can google it. They have all kinds of dates and date products. I love to use the dried date crystals! They aren’t good for all recipes, but I use them in my Chinese Chews. Also love to put some in my oatmeal along with a few chopped pecans!
Elaine
My daughter was recently diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity. We have been trying out a lot of new recipes to broaden her school lunch options. I made these today and the whole family gave them a thumbs up!
I really like these recipes as a base for lunch box and snack food. My family loves pumpkin pie, so I made a fall twist. Pumpkin pie lara bars. I used 1 c. dates, 1 c. pecans, 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I use a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger) 1 tsp. olive oil and 1 Tbsp. water (give or take for consistency.) Perfect fall treat. Now I just have to hide them from my husband!
I made cherry Larabars: put 12 pitted dates, half a cup whole almonds, and half a cup dried cherries (I used Trader Joe’s dark sweet nothing added cherries) in the food processor with around 1 Tbsp water. Purée til it comes together, then press into a rectangle & slice into bars. These taste better than the store bought kind!
Made the first recipe this afternoon, subbing in almond butter for my peanut-allergic munchkin. My 5yo wasn’t a fan, but my 10yo thought they were great (he’s the food allergic kid, so bonus points there). I figure you win some, you lose some. Will be trying some other varieties soon, maybe with some chocolate to attempt to win over the 5yo!
I just made the cashew bars and though they taste amazing, I can’t get them to set. I would have to eat with a spoon in clumps. Any thoughts? Did I over process?
Probably, Leslie. If you over process, they can become oily and hard to manage. ;)
Just a tip…rather than bars I make laraballs. They are a piece of cake to form and keep easily in glass container in the frig!
How long will these keep in the refrigerator?
Hi, I wonder if someone can help me. I’m in the UK and eat the Nakd version of your Lara bars. The cashew cookie is one I eat so I had a go at the basic recipe but it came out very sticky. I tried to shape and chill it but it didn’t help and even rolling it into balls it’s almost too sticky to be practical. Any ideas gratefully received as these taste lovely and just like the ones I buy and I’m switching our family over from processed foods. Thanks!
Can I use figs if I don’t have dates handy?
Hi Zoe. We’ve not tried but I think it should work.
I add 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil to my recipe which contains 20 dates. It adds yummy flavor (not very coconutty), but mostly helps with stickiness and to firm up the bars. I was on the hunt for some nut free recipes and these look delish! Thanks!
Loved both of these recipes. If you’re looking for a crunchy granola, this isn’t it. But, it’s a fantastic soft bar to have in your repertoire of bars. I went beyond just the seeds in my latest batch and added pretzels and dark chocolate chips to it. Delicious!!
Can I freeze the homemade bars?
Yep, they freeze great!
Does anyone have the nutritional values? Thank you!
Hi Wendy. We don’t provide nutrition info. This post helps explain why: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/. There are several websites that will help you with those kind of details, like My Fitness Pal.
These are great recipes! What food processor would you recommend? I have an old 7-cup cuisinart, and it is having a hard time blending – I have to go in and move it around myself…
Just made these with my son and neighbor’s boy. They were SO easy and both boys LOVED getting to help. We just used my small chopper and pulsed it several times. Took less than 20 minutes and easy clean-up. Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!
What do Medjool dates look like?
Hi. Check them out: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-medjool-dates.htm. ;)
Love the recipe for the cashew cookie bar. Not a huge fan of dates per se, but put into a bar like this was very good. It was all I could do to not eat the whole batch. We have a small food processor attachment to our blender and not a full size, so we had to tweak the recipe a bit proportion-wise. Couple of tweaks we incorporated…pureed the dates first then added the cashews and blended together. Came together nicely. Since we use all natural peanut butter we drizzled it in rather measured it out ahead of time. it tends to be a lot runnier than standard Skippy. We also added rolled oats which required adjusting the water and PB amounts. My daughter insists that we add craisins and chocolate chips next time…hey who am I to say no to some dark chocolate. Thanks for the recipe! I plan to continue using it and tweaking it ;)
While these were simple to make and tasted great, we found they were more expensive to make homemade than the actual Lara bars. The medjool dates were almost $9 and a small bag of raw cashews were $5! Now granted, I’ll be able to make another batch but just one more and it only yielded 8 small, thin-ish bars.
Odd question, but how do you measure a cup of dates?! A measuring cup seems so inexact with the size and shape of dates.
Hi Jamie. It’s an approximate measurement. :) Just use a cup as your gauge.
Does it have to be that specific kind of date?
I buy my dates from the bulk section of Winco Foods. They do not specify that they are Medjool dates, and may be a little smaller. But I have made many different recipes with them and they turn out just fine.
Can you freeze these?
Hello Dionne. You can.
HELP!! I am 44 and a fairly accomplished cook, but I did something really wrong with these delicious larabars. I am asking for tips/advice!
I love to cook in bulk, so I made the cashew cookie larabar tonight in my food processor. Quadrupling the recipe=1/4 cup of water. After attempting to blend for a while, I ended up, in 2 more steps, adding another 1/2 cup water. This may be the problem?
I was tempted to use a paper towel to oil the wax paper, but I did not. I spread it out thinner than what I see now in your picture. I also cut mine in the shape of a dry granola bar. I see why you cut yours in squares.
The dough is too delicious to let it go to waste, so even if we have to eat it by the spoonful, we will ;)
I tried freezing it for 20 minutes, but even so, they are just a hot mess trying to get them off the wax paper. NOT pretty.
For my second attempt, I am planning on trying the following:
1. Make only a double batch, and don’t use as much water.
2. Spread more thickly and cut in squares
3. Possibly use some coconut oil on the wax paper to make removal easier.
Any other thoughts/comments/advice is very welcome!
Oh, sorry. Not sure what might have gone wrong! If it makes you feel better, my kids were eating a whole wheat flax seed brownie recipe yesterday with a spoon because we could not get the center cooked. ;)
Why do you call them LARABARs? It just doesn’t seem right.
The person who invented the recipe and owns the Larabar company is named Lara. :-)
I love your website it has been a huge help to my family and helped to change our lives. We eat a ton of food made with the recipes found here. We also play around with plenty of the recipes. I have a bar I have been making that my family finds irresistible. 1 serving raisins, 1 serving walnuts, 1 heaping tsp cocoa powder, dash of salt and splash of vanilla extract. I process it until it all gets the consistency of little peas and then press it together. We have had them for breakfasts desserts and hiking snacks. Thanks again for promoting a healthy lifestyle.
How do you clean your food processor or blender afterwards? Doesn’t it get really sticky?
Hi there. It depends on which you own. You should follow your manufacturers directions for cleaning. I hand wash mine with very warm water being careful to disassemble and clean each.
I have a friend who is actually allergic to dates but she’d love to try something like this! Any alternatives to that?
Hi. Here is Lisa’s nut free version: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/07/01/recipe-homemade-larabars-4-ways-including-nut-free/.
I would play with prunes first, or maybe even dried figs. Medjool dates are pretty special, but you should be able to get a similar result with similar textured dried fruit. You might find a bit of maple syrup and a drop of good vanilla extract will mimic the flavor notes of the dates. Just my 2 cents~!
Hi! Around here I’ve only ever found dried medjool dates, is that what those are or fresh? I’m assuming by the package they’re dried but not sure. Thank you!
Those are the right ones. ;)
My kids don’t have peanut allergies, but they go to a nut free daycare. I could use “Wow! Butter” in place of peanut butter, right?
Sure. :)
What brand dates do you use?
Hi there. Here is one: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/04/30/recipes-using-medjool-dates/.
FYI – Costco has amazing dates in their produce section. My kids love homemade larabars too. Sometimes I add grated fresh ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, lime zest & fresh lime juice, dried apricots, or cocoa powder. It’s fun to play w/ different ingredients!
So THATS what I did wrong! I never added water so mine was like little crumbles haha
You can also do dates and nuts only. Don’t need to use peanut butter or water. Pistachios and tart dried cherries w dates, hazelnut and dates, cashews and dates… The list goes on and on. You should process the nuts first, then add a few dates at a time until it forms balls.. So delicious!
I made the peanut butter one and it was like mush? What did I do wrong?
Hi Kathryn. I’ve had a similar experience when my peanut butter consistency was a bit runny.
Strange, The Ingredients on the Larabar’s for Cashew Cookie bar does not contain peanut butter as your recipe does.
Love these recipes. I love the Coconut Cream pie larabars so I experimented and made my own. Using the base recipe I used Raw Cashews, Raw Almonds, unsweetened coconut flakes, dash of cinnamon, splash of water in food processor. They taste even better than the store bought. They are best cold!!
How long do these stay fresh outside the fridge? I like larabars because they are an easy thing I can keep in my purse for myself and my kid.
I’ve kept them up to a week. I often freeze them.
Can I do this in a vitamix? I don’t have a food processor :(.
I’ve never attempted a thick dough in a vitamix.
Can you make this in a regular blender?
Hi. We’ve not attempted to make these using a blender.
What kind of peanut butter do you suggest?
Hi. Any organic peanut butter with peanuts as its only ingredient.
Have you ever made the peanut butter version with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter? The consistency is a little different in these butters, so I was just curious. Considering trying sunflower butter to make them nut-free and school-friendly.
Hi. I’ve used almond butter.
Any ideas for the coconut chocolate chip lara bar?
Thank you!
We’ve not tried making that one but it sounds delicious!
I can’t believe how easy and fast this was to make. My kids are SUPER picky, and they loved these homemade Lara bars. Even my husband requested me to make this again. I still can’t believe my kids ate nuts AND dates. I will definitely be using this recipe on repeat.
Thanks for sharing!
Hello
What temperature do you bake at after the food processor? Did I miss something in the post?
Thanks
Hi. These are no-bake.
We just made the Cashew Cookie Larabars and they were delicious. So easy to make. We will definitely be making these again.