Thursday, April 14, 2011

New Things Thursday: Homemade Larabars

Do you love Larabars?  

I can't tell you how much I love them.  My favorites are Cherry Pie and Coconut.  

The only problem?  

They cost about $1 each when they are on sale.  

I've seen a couple of recipes for homemade ones and thought it couldn't be that hard.  Look at the ingredient list:

Exactly!  Dates, almonds and unsweetened cherries.

Then I found this great tutorial.  Not to mention she is one of my favorite food contest winners.  She even won the Southern Living Cook Off!

Here's what the Larabar looks like:

And here's what mine looked like:



Her recipe made two bars.  And they are really good and taste just like the real thing, only cheaper!

Homemade Larabars - Cherry Pie Flavor
1/4 cup chopped dates (roughly chopped whole dried dates)
1/4 cup dried cherries
1 tablespoon boiling water
1/3 cup whole almonds
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Put the dates and cherries and water in a food processor. Pulse until processed to a paste. Transfer paste to a bowl.

Add the nuts to the processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the fruit paste back to the processor along with the cinnamon.  Pulse until clumps and combined.  Spoon mixture into storage baggies and squish into a flat shaped bar.  Cut into two bars. Store in the fridge.

Hope you'll give them a try!

Have you tried anything new lately?  Head over to Alicia's Homemaking to see what others are trying.  

***Updated 1/3/12***
Coconut Cream Pie Flavor
1/2 cup dates (chopped whole dates)
2 teaspoons boiling water
1/3 cup cashews
1/3 cup cocoa roasted almonds
1/2 cup shredded coconut (healthy? use dessicated coconut or unsweetened)

Pulse dates in food processor until finely chopped.  Add boiling water and pulse until sticky.

Add nuts and continue to pulse until the mixture starts to clump.

Add coconut and pulse until combined.  Divide mixture into 2 and press into the bottom of food storage baggies.  Then press into a bar shape.  Refrigerate and then cut each bar into 2.  This recipe makes 4 bars.  Easily doubled to make 8 bars. 

Enjoy!

13 comments:

Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...

I've actually never had larabars, I think it's the price that has scared me off. I have SO wanted to make my own bars but haven't done anything REALLY healthy yet. These look good!

Unknown said...

Can you believe I've never ate a Larabar? I always thought they were to expensive, so I just never bought one. This looks pretty easy, and is loaded with healthy ingredients. It would make a great on the go snack or meal to. I'll have to give them a try.

Susie said...

I have never heard of those! Looks interesting:-)

Mandy said...

Oooh, I can't wait to try these! Thanks Candi! Can you recommend any other fruit besides cherries to use in these? I need a new on-the-go, granola bar to eat....especially since it looks like i'll be going back to work next month!!! Details will be revealed on that next week sometime!!

Have a great Easter! I'm going on vacation next week!

TeenaBugg38 said...

Ok this is now on my weekend "to do" list! I love those bars but only buy them when they are on sale...and even that is too much to pay I think! Looking forward to the taste test.....lol

Alicia said...

Ooooh, that is so cool! I will have to pass this on to my friend who loves these!!! :D

Katie said...

I just made something similar for the first time this week and almost posted about it to TNAT, haha. I can't wait to try this recipe it looks really yummy.

Obviously, I came over from Alicia's homemaking : )

Aiming4Simple said...

I just finished eating a Larabar! I've always wanted to make my own. Yours look fabulous! Thanks for inspiring me to try soon!

Candi said...

Mandy, I would think the possibilities are endless with the dried fruit. You could use dried cranberries, dried blueberries, raisins, prunes...I bet those orange essence prunes would be totally delicious with dark chocolate...hmmm I might have to try that soon!

Anonymous said...

Stopping by from TNAT.

Not too shabby at all. The bars look very similar. Much better than paying $1+, right? =)

Stephanie said...

Our kids and myself love Larabars. Thanks for the recipe. We use them as snacks when we are out in Service. Pinning on pinterest.

Sarah said...

I love Larabars. I made a homemade apple pie version and they are SO SO SO good! I haven't tried the cherry pie but will soon!

Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...

Ok, I'm making my shopping list, what are "cocoa roasted almonds" and are they much different from regular almonds?

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