I just discovered my new favorite lunchbox snack, and it is a homemade fudge brownie “Larabar”. I find it amazing that with a few simple and healthy ingredients; dates, walnuts, cocoa powder, coconut oil, vanilla and a pinch of salt, I can make a fudge brownie snack that completely satisfies my kids cravings for “treats”. This combination of ingredients makes a rich, chocolatey, fudge-like treat that is completely surprising.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups pitted dates
- 1 cup walnuts
- 4 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil (melted, if solid)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Measure out all of your ingredients (this picture is missing the vanilla, oops!).
- Put all ingredients in your food processor.
- Process until everything is combined and the walnuts are in small bits.
- Put the mixture into a small baking dish and press down very firmly with a spatula. Refrigerate the mixture for a few hours to help it firm up. Cut the tray into approximately 8 bars and enjoy!
This post is participating in Trick or Treat Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Hearth ans Soul, Traditional Tuesdays, Tout It Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Healthy 2day Wednesdays, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Real Food Wednesday, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Works for me Wednesday, Keep It Real Thursday, Tastetastic Thursday, Tasty Thursdays, Freaky Friday, Fight Back Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Gluten Free Fridays, Foodie Friday, Friday Favorites, Monday Mania, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, On The Menu Monday, Must Try Mondays, Natural Living Mondays, Show and Tell Saturday
October 8, 2012 at 11:00 pm
These bars look so moist & fudgy. I’m on it! =)
October 9, 2012 at 3:53 pm
I was frankly surprised at how much they resemble fudge brownies in both taste and texture.
October 9, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Yay! Thanks for the leg up. I was thinking of experimenting in this direction – you’ve saved me a lot of time, and a lot of dates…
October 10, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Glad to help
October 10, 2012 at 8:14 am
This is worth trying. Have you tried almonds in place of walnuts? I have almonds in the pantry.
October 10, 2012 at 9:46 am
I just made some with almonds – very tasty!
October 10, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Julie,
.
Great to know that almonds work too! Thanks for letting me know, I think I’ll give it a go
October 10, 2012 at 3:26 pm
I’m totally going to try this some time. Larabars are so expensive and this looks like a great alternative!
October 11, 2012 at 1:56 am
These look amazing! I have been wanting to attempt healthier homemade versions of a snack bar. I will be starting with your recipe as my inspiration – pinned this to my naturally yummy board
October 11, 2012 at 8:16 am
Looks super easy. Pinned for later
THANKS!
October 13, 2012 at 9:20 am
I have been wanting to make homemade ‘larabars’ for awhile. I have figs here, but not dates. Are the dates a necessity for their moistness or can they be replaced? you have so many good tips I’m going to start following you on Facebook and, of course, would love for you to do the same.
October 13, 2012 at 10:35 am
Hi Lyza
It is funny that you mention it because I have been thinking of trying out the bars with a fig base instead of a date base. I think that dates and figs can be equally moist so they should work about the same, BUT, figs have all of those tiny seeds so there will be a significant texture difference. Personally, I love figs and the crunchiness of the little seeds so the substitution sounds good to me!
BTW, I’m headed over to your Facebook page right now!
October 13, 2012 at 9:25 am
Great lunchbox treat!
October 15, 2012 at 12:21 pm
These look great! I know LaraBars are very popular, and it’s always nice to find an alternative you can make at home. Thanks for sharing at Must Try Monday.
October 15, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Hi Jen, I’m Anne from Life on the Funny Farm (http://annesfunnyfarm.blogspot.com), and I’m visiting from the barn hop.
These look great. I’m trying to go healthier with what I serve my family, and this would be a great addition. Thanks!
Anyway, it’s nice to “meet” you! Hope you can pop by my blog sometime to say hi…
October 16, 2012 at 8:35 am
Hi Anne,
Thanks for visiting, I’m glad you came by!
October 15, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Jen, these look great, I have been wanting to try homemade larabars for a LONG time! I think you gave me the inspiration! And I also love your pics and recipe box, I need to learn how to go that!
And thank you so much for linking up with Healthy 2day Wednesdays as always! Hope you have a blessed week and hope you’ll be linking up this week! I also wanted to let you know we are looking for another person to co-host H2W’s with us if you are interested!
October 16, 2012 at 4:45 am
How do you think these would hold in the room temperature for couple of hours?
October 16, 2012 at 8:33 am
I pack these in my kids’ lunchboxes and they tell me that they hold up great!
October 16, 2012 at 9:21 am
Thanks, will definately try them.
October 16, 2012 at 6:46 am
YUMMY! Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! Thanks for helping get our party kicked off this week! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest!
I hope that you’ll join us this week! Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
October 17, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Larabars are so expensive! Thanks for this great homemade version. If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to visit my Gluten-Free Monday party at OneCreativeMommy.com and link up this and any other GF idea you would like to share. I hope to see you there.
October 20, 2012 at 5:57 pm
You mean I can have a healthier, less expensive bar this easy?! Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Pinning for grocery shopping next week!