It can be hard to find wholesome snacks that don’t have a bunch of ingredients that you can’t even pronounce.
The Lara bars are one of my favorite “processed food” snacks that could actually be considered healthy. The cashew cookie Lara bars only have 2 ingredients: cashews and dates. That is pure and simple at its best! But, they are kind of pricey ranging from $1-$2 per bar!
But, not to worry. Making your own larabars is so easy make that it is almost like a crime to pay that much for them. The Lara bars recipe is super simple and anybody can make these. It would be an absolutely great project for enlisting a little helper.
The ratio for the bars is simple. Start off with a 1:1 ratio of cashews to dates. I used 1 cup of each.
Put the cashews into your food processor and process for about 60 seconds. Try to resist the urge to eat some of them :)
You want to process them until they are mostly little bits with a few chunks. It doesn’t hurt to test the quality with a little taste test.
Now put the dates in the food processor and process for about 60 seconds, until they are a paste and form a ball.
Add the cashews back in and blend on medium for about 30-60 seconds. The mixture will look like lots of tiny balls.
Line a 8×5 loaf pan with plastic wrap and press the mixture into the pan using your hands or the back of a measuring cup. You could also just roll them into balls if your prefer.
Chill for 20 minutes or more and cut into bars. But, if you can’t resist their delicious power, go ahead and dig right in!
Well aren't you a smart cookie! I don't buy these because of the price. I think up in canada they are probably twice that. I will totally try this recipe.
A super healthy recipe that saves us money. Wow! Thanks so much! I'd love to see more recipes like this.
I would LOVE to see a recipe for their coconut one. That is my FAV!!
Thanks, Kim! They're delicious, aren't they? :)
Katie
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You are very welcome. Are there any copycat recipes or particular recipes you'd like to see? I love getting suggestions!
Hi, Katie! Any chance you could copycat a recipe for Lara Bars Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, but with Sun Butter instead of the peanut butter. My kids think these are candy bars (they taste like it!). We use Sun Butter instead of peanut butter because I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and pb aggravates my thyroid. Thanks!
I will look into it and see what I can come up with :)
Thank you!!!! :)
I will have to work on it… Hopefully I can make one to share soon :)
Oh my gosh Katie! We don't have Lara bars here in Australia but I wish we did. But now you've posted this recipe I am so going to try this. How delicious.
Anne xx
These look awesome great idea! Lara bars are so yum and so expensive!
Oooh. I LOVE Lara Bars and never really took the time to think about making them. Will definitely have to try this soon. Thanks for sharing! BTW I came over from Tatertots & Jello.
Oh man, I've never had the "real deal", but your version sounds delicious. Like, sit down and eat the whole pan delicious. :)
Thanks, Amber!
Katie
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Anne- I bet you'll like them. Lara bars are so yummy!
Katie
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I never realized these could be made at home. I am new to your blog, so I took some time to browse through your earlier entries. I'm so glad I did that. You've created a great spot for your readers to visit and I really enjoyed the time I spent here. I'll definitely be back. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Deanna- You're welcome :) Hope you enjoy them!
That's why its a good thing that it only makes a small batch :)
Thanks so much for your sweet comment, Mary. I hope that you find some recipes you enjoy. Have a blessed day.
Those sound fantastic. I can't wait to try them. So simple and healthy too.
I have got to try these asap! Did you figure out the cost per bar on these? They look delicious!
This is it?? Dates and cashews? Good for you! I'm afraid I'd have a hard time getting them to the food processor. They seem to vanish on the way. ;-)
looks good and sooooo ridicuolously easy! Can't wait to try it and not pay $5 – $6 for a box of these healthy, filing snacks! Thanks (:
You're welcome, Carla! Hope you enjoy them :)
Katie
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We have that issue too :)
Katie
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It would be interesting to calculate the cost difference. If you do, let me know!
Katie
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What a great and economical idea! Totally going to make these!
Thanks, Julie. I'm always looking to save money. Hope you all enjoy the bars.
Katie
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Mmm these look great – I might actually try this! Karima
Thanks! They're pretty tasty :)
Katie
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Oh my! I so have to do this. I'm pinning it so I don't lose the tutorial (although it wouldn't be that hard to remember.) Thank you for posting this!
You're welcome!
Katie
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I've made/tried lots of HM larabars – these look the simplest and the best!
YUMMO!
Blessings
I had no idea Lara bars were so easy to make. It is kind of a crime to pay that much for them when they take all of about 8 minutes to make!
I'm hosting Whole Food Wednesdays at Beyond The Peel. The page will be going up tonight but this is the link if you'd like to come over and share. http://www.beyondthepeel.net/2012/01/whole-food-w…
Thanks, France. I meant to come and share last week, but it seems there is just never enough time in the day! Will try again :)
Katie
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Thanks. Hope you have a blessed day :)
Katie
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How easy and healthy is this?! Great post!
Thanks, Vicki!
Katie
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So easy! I love homemade granola bars, so much better than store bought.
Thanks for sharing! I love Lara Bars but hate paying the price! I've been losing weight for over a year now…51 lbs to be exact. I blog about my journey and I'm even holding my first giveaway today for a new fitness product. Check it out at http://thefosterfamily03.blogspot.com/2012/01/fab…
I think my picky eater might like these! Can't wait to give them a try…and thanks for sharing!
My family definitely preferred the homemade bars!
Katie
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Congrats on the weight loss! That is great!
Katie
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You're welcome. My little guy really liked them.
Katie
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Oh wow this was perfect timing! I'm pregnant and need a snack all the time. I've become addicted to the Lara bars and was thinking about making them on my own (the ingredients seemed simple enough). I just found this on a link up of a link up :) It's a great starting point and I think it will give me the courage to try the other flavors I love like the key lime or chocolate cherry torte!
Yay! In so glad the recipe will be helpful to you. Good luck branching out to the other flavored :)
Katie
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Thank you so much for posting this! I have been looking for something like this for my sister. She's a nursing student who eats on the run a lot, and I've been trying to help her find healthy alternatives. This is perfect!
This is so exciting! I too won't buy them because of the price! I cannot wait to try this!! Thank you!
Made these today and they taste great! I used my Vita Mix and I may have over-blended a bit, as the end result is somewhat oily.
Also, I'm not sure if there is much of a cost savings, as the cashews and dates are so expensive, even when buying in bulk!
Fun to try, though!
I love the simple, natural ingredient list on this recipe!
I'm hosting a Make-ahead meal link up over at my blog, Raising Isabella, and I would love to have you come share this recipe here:
http://naturalparentingunnaturalworld.blogspot.co…
Hope to see you there!
Hmmm… I did not have a problem with them being oily so I am not sure. I didn't do the calculations for pricing, but my family prefers the homemade version :)
Thanks for letting me know that you tried the recipe Jessica!
Katie
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Thanks for the invitation, Sarah. I will try to stop by :)
Katie
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wow, they look exactly the same, but I'm sure taste much fresher! I used to make larabar look a likes too…they are such a great snack :)
They're definitely yummy :)
Katie
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Just stumbled upon you at the 30 handmade days linky party! I subscribed to your RSS feed and recommended you to a friend as well. We eat whole foods/local/organic at our house so it is always good to have new ideas! Would love it if you stopped by my blog for a visit sometime! http://tbc-tobecontinued.blogspot.com
Thanks so much Catherine, I will definitely stop by!
Katie
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I just made these and oh my gosh OH SO GOOD. My son never eats breakfast because he, like me, can't seem to eat until a few hours after waking up, but I struggle with him because I know how important it is to start the day off right. He told me "Mom if you make these, I will eat them for breakfast. Thanks for the recipe.
Great! I am so glad that you and your son enjoyed these! Breakfast really is an important meal. Thanks for letting me know how much he liked them. :)
Katie
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Hope you enjoy them:)
Katie
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It is hard to have health snacks to go. Hope she likes these!
Katie
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Katie, I have wanted to try this for a while…it sounds healthier for you and less expensive than the store bought Larabars. You have just jump-started me to do it! Thanks! Keep sharing…I love your ideas.
This is such a great frugal idea, and a delicious one too. We don't have Larabars here in the UK, but I love dates and cashews, so I am pleased to have your recipe. Thank you for sharing it with the Hearth and Soul hop.
Thanks, April. The Lara bars are pretty tasty.
Katie
My Dr. recommended these to me. I usually buy the cashew, apple and cherry that are a better deal in a box. I have tried a few of the other flavors and love them. I too would love the recipes for some other flavors. Thanks for sharing.
Kindest regards,
Cindy
My pleasure, Cindy. Hope you enjoy them. I also have one more recipe for Lara bars if you look in the archives.
wow..love those! Can’t wait to try them!
Thanks, Diane!
I made these this afternoon for snack. They were a big hit! Even my pickiest eater ate one. I have seen many different recipes/flavors but never tried to make any because they didn’t seem worth the effort. It doesn’t get much easier than dates and cashews! Do these have to be stored in the refrigerator? How long, if at all, do you think they can sit at room temperature? Thank you!
I am not sure how long they can sit at room temp. I always store mine in the fridge. Since they are just dates and cashews I’d think they should be fine out of the fridge for a while. So glad your little one enjoyed them :)
I am curious, are the cashews salted, raw, unsalted?
I believe I used regular salted cashews for this recipe. You could also use crispy cashews, as taught in nourishing traditions.
Thanks for the recipe. Can you give us an idea of the yield from this recipe? Also, the cost per bar?
OMG, I am so glad I found this, my husband and I have been buying a ton of these bars lately ever since we sampled them at Fry’s! They are about $1 a bar here and we been buying 4 or 5 at a time, since we cant find the cashew kind in a box anywhere!!But at the beginning of this week the price went up to $1.33 a bar :( . So I knew there had to be a cheaper way to get these!! I just made a batch and there sitting in the fridge now, but I sure did get a spoon full before I put them in and it is delicious! Cant wait for hubby to home to try, he’ll love me forever!!:)Thank you!!
Yay! Hope he ended up enjoying them as well :)