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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
- 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.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Granola Larabar
Ingredients
- 1 cup granola (homemade (see below for link to recipe))
- ½ cup Medjool dates (pitted)
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Combine , 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.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
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.
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.
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
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
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
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 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
I bought dates rolled in coconut for this recipe, can’t wait! We love larabars!! :)
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 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?
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)
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
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
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
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
Hello Alexis. You remove the pits. :) ~Amy
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
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/
Just made the cashew cookie in my vitamix and they came out wonderful. Can’t wait to try others. So yummy
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!)
Hello Allison. You can try and find out. I think that the dates have a more sticky consistency. ~Amy
I’ve made these before and love them! Sadly, I just realized I grabbed prunes instead of dates…can I use them instead?
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
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
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!!!
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!
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.
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
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
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
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
Thanks for the response to my question, everyone! I will try them again!
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!
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!!!
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 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
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!
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!
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
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
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 :)