Recipe

Make Your Own Larabars and Never Buy Them Again

By Meredith Davin at Duke University

Valentine’s Day has come and gone and once again, the only dates I had this year were Medjool. On a serious note though, dates are a great source of fiber, minerals and essential vitamins. Surprisingly, they complement a number of foods – from goat cheese to bacon. Dates are also the main ingredient in Larabars, a trendy new brand of energy bars. They make a great on-the-go snack, but are terribly pricey. Determined to snack smart, I set out to find my own recipe. Instead of over spending on a couple of pre-packaged bars, follow these instructions to make your own.

Dark Chocolate Brownie Larabars

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Servings: 6 Bars
  • Medium
Ingredients
  • 1 cup pitted Medjool dates
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1/2 cup raw almonds
  • 1/2 cup raw walnuts
  • 3 tablespoon chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
  • aluminum foil

Photo by Meredith Davin

Step 1

Place the cup of dates into the cup of warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes. Line a 4 x 8 pan with aluminum foil. Drain dates and dry with paper towels.

Photo by Meredith Davin

Step 2

Place the almonds, dates and walnuts into a food processor. Blend for 30 seconds, then add cocoa powder and chocolate chips. Blend until consistency is a smooth paste.

Photo by Meredith Davin

Step 3

Place the mixture in the aluminum-lined pan. Let cool in the fridge for 1 hour. Cut into 2″ by 2″ inch squares and serve!

Photo by Meredith Davin

Coconut Cream Larabars

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Servings: 6 Bars
  • Medium
Ingredients
  • 1 cup pitted Medjool dates
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1/2 cup coconut shreds
  • 1/8 tablespoon sea salt

Photo by Meredith Davin

Step 1

Let the dates sit in a cup of warm water for 5 minutes. Line a 4 x 8 pan with aluminum foil. Drain the dates and dry with paper towels.

Photo by Meredith Davin

Step 2

Place all the ingredients into a food processor or blender. Blend until consistency is a smooth paste.

Photo by Meredith Davin

Step 3

Place the mixture in the aluminum-lined pan. Let cool in the fridge for 1 hour. Once chilled, cut into 2″ by 2″ pieces and enjoy!

Photo by Meredith Davin

Still hungry? Make your own granola bars with these recipes: