Oh, homemade Larabars. It’s been too long. Really though, I can’t say I’ve had a good reason to make energy bars. Let me tell you, my energy is in zero danger of plummeting any time soon. With all the recipe testing going down, my only challenge is trying not to pop the button off my pants from all this good food. The freezer is bursting at the seams; one wrong move and I’m pummeled in the face by a 10-pound solid chunk of homemade pasta sauce or chocolate pie. The last thing I need is an energy bar.
Eric, on the other hand, could use a portable snack. He plays in a volleyball league which meets for a few hours around dinnertime and he’s usually famished by the time he sits down to eat dinner at 9 or 10 pm. Since I can’t play in the league myself (I have a torn meniscus in my knee), I support him in the best way I know how – homemade snacks.
Of course, I enjoyed a couple bars (ok, ok and some dough!) – all in the name of taste-testing purposes of course. It’s amazing how much of an appetite I can work up hovering over a food processor. Tell me I’m not alone.
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!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Energy Bars
Yield
10-12 servings
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
These are my take on the popular Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Larabars. Now you can make them at home for a fraction of the cost! I like to store them in the freezer so I have an energy bar ready whenever I need a pick me up. For thick squares, press the dough into a 9x5-inch loaf pan. For thinner bars, use an 8x8-inch square pan.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (230g) raw cashews
- 1 cup tightly packed pitted Medjool dates (190g)*
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 teaspoons water, if needed
- 1/4 plus 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3 tablespoons mini non-dairy chocolate chips (regular size chips work too)
Directions
- Add cashews into a food processor and process for 3 to 4 seconds, until a coarse meal forms.
- Add in the pitted dates and vanilla. Process until the mixture comes together, for about 15 seconds, or longer if needed. The mixture should stick together easily when you squeeze it between your fingers. If it doesn’t stick or it’s still a bit crumbly, add a very small amount of water (1 teaspoon at a time) and process it again. I usually add between 1 to 2 teaspoons of water.
- Finally, add the salt, to taste, and the chocolate chips, and process briefly to combine.
- Line a loaf pan or an 8-inch square pan with a piece of parchment paper so that there's overhang to lift out the bars after freezing. Scoop the mixture into the pan and smooth out with your hand until it’s level. Push down firmly all over the mixture. The more you pack it down the better the bars will hold together. Roll out with a pastry roller if you have one.
- Freeze, uncovered, for at least 15 to 20 minutes and then slice into bars. For on-the-go, wrap bars in plastic wrap or tin foil and store in the fridge or freezer. I prefer these straight from the freezer. Most of all, hide from other members of the family!
Tip:
- *If your dates are stiff or dry, soak the dates in boiling water for 30 minutes before beginning. Drain well and quickly pat dry before use.
If you are looking for another tasty energy bar/ball recipe, check out my Dark Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites. Love those!
What’s your favourite Larabar flavour of all time?
We have nut allergies at our house. Any suggestions on what to replace the cashews with?
Thanks!
Hi Kelly, Someone asked this in the comments above – see my reply. Thanks and goodluck!
I want to make these tonight, but I don’t have cashews. Have you tried making these with any other kinds of nuts or seeds?
Not yet but I think many nuts would work, like almonds. goodluck!
Thanks. I just made two batches. The first one I made with almonds and they are really good. The next batch I made were with 1 cup of pumpkin seeds and half a cup of sunflower seeds. I made them into balls and rolled them into a mixture of cocoa and oat bran. They are very delicious. Thank you so much for this recipe.
That’s great! Thanks for sharing with me, and everyone else :) Enjoy
I will try these soon. I love Chocolate Peanut Butter Lara Bars.
I have never eaten a Larabar, but I’m excited to make these to take on my long run next weekend. I love the short list of what I consider to be “real food” ingredients. Cashews are my favourite nut as well, so I’m sure to love these!
I love making homemade Larabars (with almonds instead of cashews/walnuts so that I can actually eat them)! I’ve only made coconut flavoured ones before, but these ones look delicious too!
Oh my gosh, these MUST be made!!! They look and sound amazing! I haven’t really eaten a ton of Larabars to be honest (I need more volume to fill me up!) but I really liked the apple pie one!
My favorite are the banana bread or lemon ones. I’m not too into nutrition bars though, unless they are homemade. These look really nice, though!
Oh girl, you are NOT alone. Give me a Cuisinart bowl of nut/date dough, and I will demolish it. Super dangerous.
You’re not alone with the pants issue, either :) It’s that time of year.
Wow, these look amazing!! And the fact that they only contain 5 ingredients is incredible. That is one of the things that I truly appreciate about Larabars. I am sure this homemade version is even tastier!
Eric is so lucky to have such an amazing chef as a wife!!
The chocolate cherry Larabar is my favorite! I need to try your version! Another recipe that I forgot to make!
Ths is going to sound really wired but I had a dream about this exact flavour and was contemplating making this today….can’t tell you how happy I am to see this post!!!
It’s a sign!
“It’s amazing how much of an appetite I can work up hovering over a food processor. Tell me I’m not alone.”
^ Nope nooooo not alone!
I actually make myself a huge snack to have while cooking and waiting for something to cook…otherwise I start eating whatever I’m cooking before it’s even done (it’s so weird!! haha)
“With all the recipe testing going down, my only challenge is trying not to pop the button off my pants from all this good food.”
^ I’m imagining someone flying around a kitchen like Vegan Wonder Woman with buttons popping off everywhere while trying to man a hot stove…like a vegan super-hero (super-heroine?) contending with wardrobe malfunction while bravely preparing recipe hahaha
Oh gawd why didn’t I leave that comment in my head…plz feel free to delete, no prob
haha….this is so funny! Now I will have to start thinking of myself as a vegan wonder woman. ;)
Yum! I love homemade larabars way better then store bought. Homemade has such a better taste. Fabulous recipe!!
Love these! We don’t have Larabars in Ireland, we have others which are similar called Nakd bars but so much better making your own!
My friend Leah gave me some Nakd bars before and they are SO good!!!
I’ve been trying to perfect these balls for a long time but I think I’ve been adding too many dates.
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I added it to my Evernote. :)
Yum! These sound pretty easy to make to. My favorite flavors are cashew cookie and coconut cream pie!
HAH I know hoe you feel about your freezer! These look dangerous! I’m hungry already just looking at them!
I love the cherry Larabar. This homemade recipe sounds wonderful. Chocolate chips are always a plus. I wonder if I could get my kids to eat these bars…hmmm. They need some good snacks to keep them dancing, playing basketball, etc. I sit on my butt a lot so I’m not much in need of calories. ;)
Joann
womaninreallife.blogspot.ca/
excited to make these now that i have a blendtec blender – i can make these in there, right?!?
Made these last night and had one for lunch today. Awesome! I forgot the salt so just sprinkled some on before freezing. Tasted great.
Glad to hear that Christy!