Back in 2008, I was a real Larabar junkie. As I walked to my car after work, I was often desperate for a boost in energy to fuel my 75 minute commute home. Larabars gave me enough energy to get through the long stretch until we had a late dinner around 8pm. I was rarely without a bar in my purse.
Granted, my once a day habit became a bit costly after a while so I decided to take a crack at making my own homemade bars to save a bit of cash. At the end of 2008, I discovered that they are quite easy to make in a food processor for a fraction of the cost. I soon made Banana Bread, Cashew cookie, Cherry Pie, and Chocolate Chip Cookie dough, among other knock-off flavas.
I now buy Larabars once and a while for convenience (if I’m out somewhere on the road and need a healthy vegan snack), but it’s comforting to know that I can also make something similar in my own home if I have the chance.
Ever since the move last week I’ve been on a big energy ball kick and relying a lot on no-bake recipes, as you’ve seen with vegan overnight oats and Green Monsters. Energy balls also provide long-lasting energy for busy days and are great for traveling and fueling before and after workouts. You wouldn’t think they dissipate hunger, but I find they really do a good job at delaying hunger in between meals. Nuts are a magical food! Just tuck a few in your purse and you have a portable, emergency snack on hand if you find yourself with a grumbling tummy and a lack of healthy food options.
I’m also working on a nut-free energy ball and granola bar recipe for those of you with allergies, as well as a bar inspired by one of the new Uber Larabar flavours. I told ya, I’m on a kick…
Featuring all new, protein-packed salads, hearty toppers, flavour boosters, and dressings you'll want to drink, my new cookbook will transform the way you think about salads. Oh, and be sure to flip to the back for a surprise dessert chapter!
Dark Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites
Yield
15 small bites
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
These energy bites are inspired by Larabar’s new Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte flavour. I prefer to roll them into bite sized balls rather than bars because it’s much faster, but shape them however you wish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole raw almonds
- 2/3 cup lightly packed pitted Medjool dates
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 3-4 tbsp dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup raw pecans
- 1 or 2 pinches fine sea salt, to taste
Directions
- In a food processor, process the almonds until finely chopped. It’s ok if some bigger pieces remain. Just be sure not to pulverize it into a flour as you want some texture.
- Remove 1/3 cup of the processed almonds and set aside for the final step.
- Now, add the pitted dates and dried cherries and process until finely chopped and sticky. A dough ball will start to form.
- Add in the chocolate chips and pecans and process until they are chopped. Add salt to taste and pulse the mixture. Finally, pulse in the reserved 1/3 cup almonds. If the dough is too dry to roll into ball, add water, a teaspoon at a time, until the dough comes together.
- Roll into small balls. Place in a container or baggie and store in the fridge or freezer.
Tip:
This recipe makes 1 and 1/2 cups of packed dough….mmm. I’ve concluded it’s impossible not to eat it straight from the processor!
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)Nutritional info (makes 15 small balls, per ball): 108 cals, 7 grams fat (1 g sat fat), 40 mg sodium, 13 grams carbs, 3 grams fibre, 9 grams sugar, 3 grams protein.
This recipe makes 1 and 1/2 cups of packed dough….mmm. I’ve concluded it’s impossible not to eat it straight from the processor!
Get ready for a burst in energy…these bites are irresistible!
The Book Of Vegan Swaps Review
Recently, I was asked to participate in the Skinny Bitch Book of Vegan Swaps book tour along with several other bloggers. You may be familiar with the sassy & no nonsense vegan crusader Kim Barnouin – co-author of the famous Skinny Bitch book, along with several other guides and cookbooks. Kim holds a masters degree in Holistic nutrition and she’s counseled countless celebrities, athletes, and models to follow her plan. While I’ve personally never been a fan of the term “skinny bitch”, I’ll be the first to admit that her first book was largely responsible for my decision to try eating vegetarian back in university. It was also one of the first wake up calls I’ve had about how cruel the industry can be to animals.
Kim is now back with her Book of Vegan Swaps – a guide for finding vegan products in your own grocery store, airport, or restaurant.
The Book of Vegan Swaps is a guide for newly transitioning vegans who are in those first awkward stages of figuring out what – and where – to eat. The chapters feature where to shop, a restaurant guide (most are in the US only, fyi), vegan options at airports (also mostly in the US), decoding labels (how to detect hidden animal ingredients- very useful), and grocery store swaps for dairy, meat, condiments, frozen foods, desserts, alcoholic beverages, and more.
When I first made a gradual shift to a vegan diet in 2009 I had no clue what to eat, so I instantly related to the need for this book, even though it’s now been a long time since I’ve felt confused about what to eat. Now, my only difficulty seems to be choosing what to make among so many options. Like anything new, it can take time to feel comfortable with the change and I totally get that.
When I first started out on my vegan journey, I filled my cart with a variety of imitation meat and dairy products like Tofurkey, fake sour cream, and Ives ground round. I really had no clue what a vegan diet should (or could) look like and to make matters more challenging, I also didn’t know how to prepare my own balanced vegan recipes at home. Well if I’m going to be really honest, I didn’t know how to cook at all. As they say, I could barely boil water!
Not surprisingly, I realized that I didn’t feel so great eating these imitation products every day and my body started to crave more natural stuff. I finally had to teach myself how to cook and bake my own vegan meals and that’s exactly what I’ve documented on this blog for the past 3 years. I revisited naturally vegan foods (beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, veggies, and fruit, etc!) to fill up most of my diet, with the occasional splurge on imitation products as I saw fit. When I made those gradual changes, everything started to fall into place and I realized I didn’t miss my old go-to products at all. My energy also increased, my skin broke out less, and I knew I was on my way to being the vegan ninja I always wanted to be. Of course, everyone’s experience will be unique, but this has been mine.
I think this guide is very helpful for locating tasty vegan products and vegan brands, especially when you have a killer craving for a cheese pizza or bowl of rich and creamy ice cream and you don’t know where to turn. There are so many vegan options out there now, many of which taste as good (or better) than the real thing. Best of all, these vegan products are cruelty-free, allowing you to satisfy your craving without contributing to the harm of animals. You’ll find all of Kim’s recommendations in there – and let me tell you, there are hundreds of specific brand suggestions for every kind of food you can think of from wine to waffles and everything in between.
With that being said, I believe it’s equally important to keep in mind that a vegan diet does not have to rely on packaged, imitation, and/or processed products. This is also a sentiment that Kim mentions in the beginning of the book and I appreciate that she’s honest when a food mentioned isn’t the healthiest or contains many artificial ingredients. I wish there would have been more emphasis on this though. She also includes about 10 of her vegan recipes in the book and I found myself wanting many more recipes, but I realize this guide was not intended to be a cookbook.
So go on and enjoy your Dandies marshmallows or soy jerky as a splurge or when time is tight. Just don’t forget to add some natural vegan staples in your cart while you’re at it and take pleasure in making something from scratch in your own home. Really, there’s no better swap than that.
I saw a review of this book by another blogger and she said pretty much the same thing. (And she directed everyone to YOUR blog for good, wholesome cooking!) I’m glad she’s making a vegan diet popular and accessible, but I’ll keep coming here for recipes. ;-)
Thank you Clair, I appreciate that!
Yum – love lara bars, but I haven’t had one in awhile. So easy to just blend up some dates, nuts, and whatever else sounds good! Love the addition of chocolate and cherries, though… I’ll have to try that!
And I like the way you sum up the book review – no better swap than finding the time to make something in your own home. I so agree! Whether your diet be vegetarian, vegan, or neither, taking the time and caring to prepare your own food is so much better than buying the processed packaged alternatives in the store.
I was just reminiscing with a friend when we used to eat smart dogs… (fake hot dogs) and I shudder now thinking about it! I’ve personally moved on to real meat because it works well for my body, but vegetarian or not I’m never going back to those fake products.
I love Larabars, I often carry one in my purse as well, and recently got my mom addicted too! Since I realized how easy they were to make I have begun making my own, so I will definitely have to try this one! And I love the Skinny Bitch books. The authors are hilarious, and I went vegan after reading it! Thanks for all your delicious recipes Angela!
I’ve still yet to try that new flavor b/c nowhere around me carries it and it’s killing me! chocolate + cherries is my favorite combo so I’ll be making these until grocery stores get their act together around here :)
I love love love when you post a recipe that I already have all the ingredients for in my cupboard. it’s like it’s fate :)
I probably spend $20 bucks a week on larabars for my family. Who knew they could be so easy to make! Food processor- check, stocked pantry with dates, nuts, seeds and vegan chocolate- check! So happy right now!
They are so fun to make! Enjoy
Yummy! Such a lovely recipe!
In your cookbook, I hope you have a section about building healthy meals and what to buy at the supermarket! In India, a lot of the items mentioned (e.g. daiya cheese) aren’t available so I tend to go for the more natural option anyway, but I still feel limited sometimes. By the way, I will definitely be buying your book because I love your recipes and your blog so please keep us updated about when it’s going to be available! :)
Thank you Leia! I definitely plan to have natural pantry staples in there.
These bites definitely look better than anything you can buy. I’ll take them and skip the book I think :D (Although the book sounds like it would be useful for some things.)
I had a Larabar for the first time this week and I didn’t care for it. I think it’s so much better homemade!!! I love your recipe, I’m going to make it this week!
Oh man, I am SO making these! Must remember not to pop them like they’re calorie free no matter how good they are. My only weakness with truffle sized treats! :-)
I can’t wait for your nut-free version! I often times sub sunflower seeds (like I did for your Roasted Tomato Basil Pesto and it was delish!) but i’m starting to feel like I eat way too many sunflower seeds. Are there any other good substitutions for nuts?
I tried sunflower seeds & pepita seeds in my version, sesame and hemp might be a good addition, but the hemp has a strong flavour + smell, so it’s a personal preference thing.
Good to know about the RTB pesto!! I will def try that
Angela,
I just wanted to tell you that I am amazed by you. When I was first directed to your blog, through a friend, I found I could relate to you very well. I have been eating a plant-based diet for just over two months now. I began guns ablazing! My husband was shocked by my drive. When I found your site, I was actually intimidated by you, because you seem to have it so together and are coming up with such creative recipes (I was physically upset by it). But, I picked myself back up and am so happy to how found you. I see other people make similiar comments. You are making such a difference. Thank you so much!
Jaime
Thank you Jaime. I had to chuckle that you think I have it all together…I rarely feel that way! I’m usually disorganized…I struggle with anxiety…always behind with work, etc. I guess blog posts only show snippets of my life though. Take care!
I always forget to buy dried fruit – it can make such a nice (sweet!) addition to raw recipes…yum! I am a huge fan of Larabar-like snacks. I just made a version with a pinch of cayenne so I could call them Hot Date Bars!! :)
Now that I’ve transitioned from vegetarianism to veganism, I find that I enjoy cooking my own food and get more satisfaction from knowing what all is going into it. The imitation products are great for people just starting out on a vegetarian or even vegan diet, if they still crave similar tastes/textures but veganism allows for a whole new spectrum of delicious food. I never thought I would enjoy green juices but now I love them! I also have realized how much cheaper it is to cook my own meals and prepare my own snacks rather than relying a lot on packaged goods. Larabars are great but they can get pricey. I love the cherry/chocolate combo so thanks for the recipe :)
These look delicious! The British equivalent for these would be Nakd bars, I think, and I love those to bits. I’ve been thinking about replicating them too since I started experimenting with raw foods. Love ball sized snacks, they’re so handy to pack, but I always feel like having more than one!
These energy bites look delish. I’m a nurse, and find there are always times during the day when I need a quick boost, but don’t have time to sit for a break. These would be great for that! Thanks for posting :)
I love LARABARS!!! Recentlly I started eating Macrobars, have you tried them? Delicious as well. I’m so excited to try this recipe!! Thanks for thinking about us even during your crazy move! :)
Cheers
These look great, Angela. Have you thought of doing the nut-free version with buckwheat? That’s how I do mine and they’re great! A bit of raw buckwheat, sunflower seeds, pepita seeds and hemp seeds. If you want crunch, the hemp seeds with the shells are AWESOME for it.
If I have lots of time, I soak the grains and seeds and sprout them for a powerful snack! Can’t wait to see how you make them nut-free. I’ll be alll over it!