I am an avid Lärabar fan— and for good reason. Each bar contains simple ingredients that people can not only pronounce, but actually recognize (because there's nothing natural about natural flavors). Each bar contains the right amount of nuttiness and sweetness that I admire in a granola bar.
As we turn the corner on Fall—every foodie's dream season— pumpkin spice and gingerbread follow in succession. Luckily for us, Lärabars have released seasonal flavors that fully encompass the ambiance of Fall, and I could not be more excited.
With the help of my foodie-friends, I've ranked a number of flavors by overall taste:
6. Gingerbread
For those who love the sweet and spicy taste of a gingerbread cookie, Lärabar's version almost completely mimics the flavor with the combination of ginger, allspice, and raisins. If you're feeling indulgent, it's best served warm atop a bowl of vanilla bean icecream.
5. Apple Pie
Apple Pie can be a hard dessert to replicate. However, Lärabar's recreation of America's most popular dessert is a success. While the smell reminded me a lot of Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners as a kid, the taste was a lot sweeter than I expected (and a lot sweeter than the average Lärabar). The aroma in itself will make you want to eat it.
4. Pumpkin Pie
Lärabar's Pumpkin Pie is Thanksgiving in a nut shell. It was weird how similar this Lärabar tasted to the real thing. The mix of dried pumpkin and nutmeg carried the flavors all the way home. If you live for pumpkin spice like I do, you are garaunteed to like this Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats.
3. Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake and Pumpkin Pie were similar in taste. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that pineapple, unsweetened coconut, and (you guessed it) carrots, were the star ingredients in this flavor. The unsweetened coconut counterbalanced the sweetness of the pineapple to create a delicate and mild flavor— one that is definately not limited to Fall.
(2) Snickerdoodle
To bring out the taste of a real cookie, Lärabar uses ingredients like cinnamon, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Unlike Gingerbread and Apple Pie, the taste here was less overbearing; the simplicity and mildness is what I enjoyed most. Lärabar's Snickerdoodle could easily be incorporated into other recipes (including this Snickerdoodle Overnight Oats).
(1) Pecan Pie
Pecan Pie won the popularity contest here. Surprisingly, it contains only three ingredients: dates, pecans, and almonds. This Lärabar wasn't too sweet and had a nutty, hearty texture. I had to check the nutrition label (twice) to make sure I really wasn't eating a slice of pecan pie.
At the end of the day, no one should make you choose between pumpkin pie and snickerdoodle. It's like making a mother pick between her two children.
In the coming weeks, I know that I'll be spending time with family, studying for finals, but most importantly, I will be stocking up on more of these seasonal flavors.