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    Homemade Larabars

    Allergy Friendly Recipes Budget Cooking Dairy-Free Recipes Gluten Free Homemade Staples Plant Based Recipes Real Food Snacks March 14, 2022 | By Kristen Chidsey | 78 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Simple, wholesome ingredients come together to form a delicious, healthy copycat version of larabars. Homemade Larabars will quickly become a staple at your house, and with eight different varieties, you will never tire of eating them! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan friendly, this is one healthy snack that is perfect for everyone!

    Simple, wholesome ingredients come together to form a delicious, healthy copycat version of larabars. Homemade Larabars will quickly become a staple at your house, and with eight different varieties, you will never tire of eating them!

    Homemade Lararbars on Parchment Paper


    Have you ever had a Larabar?

    They are delicious!!

    Larabars taste like an extremely decadent dessert, but they are typically made with just nuts and fruit--that is it!

    However, they are very pricey--at least $1 a bar on sale. And with a family of 4, we could go through some serious $$ if we purchased the bars on a daily basis.

    Thankfully for my wallet (and YOUR wallet), making larabars at home is extremely easy, and much more economical.

    Key Ingredients

    In my book, it doesn't get much healthier than larabars, as the base is made with two wholesome ingredients: nuts and dates.

    Nuts contain fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Dates are a natural source of sweetness and contain many vitamins and minerals. My son refers to dates as God's candy. I agree--they are perfectly sweet, making these bars taste like a dessert or candy bar, while not containing any added sugars.

    Bowls of dates, almonds, walnuts, cashews, and peanuts on counter.
    • Nuts: You can use any combination of nuts you like. Almonds are the most common nut found in larabars, but any variety of nuts you like or a combination of nuts will be delicious.
    • Dates: It is really important to use whole, pitted dried dates. Chopped dates have been coated in sugar or cornstarch.

    How to Make Larabars at Home

    The base of larabars is simple--nuts, dried fruit, and a dash of salt. My perfect ratio for Larbars is 3 parts fruit to 2 parts nuts. I add in a dash of salt to bring out the flavor and if needed, a bit of the date soaking liquid to help bring the mixture together.

    The ratio may sound complicated.  But do NOT be overwhelmed, I have broken the recipe down for you in detail. But basically, this means for every 1 cup of nuts, use 1 and ½ cups of dried fruit.

    Step One: Soften the Dates

    In order for the dates to process easily into the bars, they need to be soft. Soften your dates by soaking in hot water for 10-15 minutes before making homemade larabars.

    Once the dates are softened, drain off the soaking liquid, reserving the liquid to use in the bars if needed. Tip: Save what is left from the soaking liquid and use it to sweeten smoothies or oatmeal. 

    dates soaking in hot water next to almonds

    Step Two: Process the Ingredients

    In a food processor fitted with an s-blade, process the nuts until small chunks are formed.

    Add in the softened dates along with a dash of salt and pulse until a thick paste forms, adding in up to 1 tablespoon of the soaking liquid from the dates if needed to help the mixture come together. The dates and nuts should be broken down and a thick, sticky paste formed.

    Food processor with homemade larabar mixture

    Step Three: Form

    You can choose to press the Larabar mixture in a 7x11 pan lined with parchment paper or roll into 1-2 inch balls, for Larabar Bites.

    I prefer to make Larabars into little "cookie" balls versus an actual bar. Something about making Larabar bites, make my children believe these bites are cookies. And hey, this mom is all for these healthy cookies and happy kids!

    Each recipe will make 6 bars or between 24-30 "cookie" balls depending on the size, you like.

    White tray of homemade larabars

    8 Varieties of Homemade Larabars

    Once you master the basic recipe, let your imagination run wild! The variations of larabars are endless to make. These are 8 of my favorite varieties. Prepare any of these flavors by first pulsing the nuts until they break into small chunks and then adding the remaining ingredients and pulsing together until a thick paste forms. 

    • Cashew Cookie: 1 cup cashews combined with 1 ½ cups of pitted whole dates.
    • Peanut Butter Cookie: 1 cup peanuts combined with 1 ½ cup of pitted whole dates
    • Oatmeal Raisin: Combine 1 cup walnuts with 1 cup raisins,  ¾ cup oatmeal, 1 tsp cinnamon, and ½ tsp vanilla extract.
    • Cherry Pie: Combine 1 cup almonds with 1 cup dried unsweetened cherries, ½ cup dates, a dash of salt, and ¼ tsp cinnamon.
    • Dark Chocolate: Combine ½ cup almonds and ½ cup walnuts with 1 ¼ cup pitted dates, 3 tablespoons bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate, and 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder.
    • Apple Pie: Combine ½ cup almonds and ½ cup pecans or walnuts with  1 cup dried apples, ½ cup pitted dates, 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, and a dash of salt.
    • Pecan Pie: Combine ¼ cup almonds and ¾ cup pecans with 1 ½ cups pitted dates and a dash of salt.
    • PB & J: Process 1 cup peanuts with ½ cup packed dried cherries, 1 cup pitted dates, and a dash of salt.

     Whole30 Compliant Larabars

    A lot of people ask if Larbars are whole30 approved or paleo. The answer is not a simple yes or no.

    In order to be whole30 compliant and paleo, larabars need to not have any added sugars and contain no legumes or grains.

    Watch for the following:

    • Be sure that you use dried fruit that has no added sugar.
    • Do not add oats in Paleo or Whole30 Larabars, as I do in my Oatmeal Raisin Larabar Variety.
    • And only walnuts or almonds as your choice for nuts. Peanuts are a legume and not allowed on whole30 or paleo diets. Cashews are highly debated. Some people say they are paleo, some say they are whole30 approved, and others say they are not either. Cashews are not a nut or a legume, but actually a seed--so it can be tricky to tell where they fall. To stay safe, I suggest just using a combination of almonds and/or walnuts for whole30 approved larabars.
    • For any recipe that calls for peanuts, substitute them for almonds, walnuts, or cashews and your homemade bar will be whole30 approved.
    • My recipe for Pecan Pie Larabars, Apple Pie Larabars, and Cherry Pie Larabars, and the base recipe are all whole30 compliant.

    More Homemade Healthy Snacks

    • Homemade Granola Bars
    • Homemade Cheese Crackers
    • Homemade Gogurts
    • Cherry Smoothie

    If you love these Larabars, I would love for you to leave a comment and a review below. 

    Larabar on Parchment Paper

    Homemade Larabars

    The basic formula for creating a copycat version of store bought larabars
    4.91 from 22 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 184kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup nuts any combination
    • 1-½ cups dates or a combination of dates and another variety of dried fruit
    • â…› teaspoon kosher salt
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Place dates into a small heat-safe bowl. Pour hot water over the dates and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes to soften the dates.
    • Once the dates have soaked, drain the liquid off the dates, reserving the liquid to use if needed.
    • Fit a food processor with an s-blade. Place nuts in the food processor and pulse until the nuts break down into small pieces.
    • Add in the dates and dash of salt, and pulse the mixture together until the dates have broken down and a thick paste forms, scraping the sides down if needed. Add in 1 to 2 tablespoons of the soaking liquid if needed to help bring the mixture together.
    • To shape larabars press mixture into a 7×11 pan lined with parchment paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing int0 6 bars.
    • Alternatively, you can shape the mixture into 1-2 inch balls for a bite-size treat.

    Equipment Needed

    • Food Processor

    Notes

    Dates: This recipe uses Deglet Noir Dates, which are the most commonly sold dates in the United States. However, you can use Medjool dates. They are softer and may not need to be soaked. Do not use chopped dates, as they are coated in sugar and/or cornstarch. 
    Storage: Store homemade larabars in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, or in the pantry for 2-3 days. Store in a container lined with wax or parchment paper, adding wax or parchment paper in between layers of bars. I do not recommend freezing larabars, as the texture will greatly change when defrosted.
    • Larabar Flavor Options:
      • Cashew Cookie: 1 cup cashees combined with 1 ½ cups of pitted whole dates.
      • Peanut Butter Cookie: 1 cup of peanuts combined with 1 ½ cups of pitted whole dates
      • Oatmeal Raisin: Combine 1 cup walnuts with 1 cup raisins,  ¾ cup oatmeal, 1 tsp cinnamon, and ½ tsp vanilla extract.
      • Cherry Pie: Combine 1 cup almonds with 1 cup dried unsweetened cherries, ½ cup dates, a dash of salt, and ¼ tsp cinnamon.
      • Dark Chocolate: Combine ½ cup almonds and ½ cup walnuts with 1 ¼ cup pitted dates, 3 tablespoons bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate, and 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder.
      • Apple Pie: Combine ½ cup almonds and ½ cup pecans or walnuts with  1 cup dried apples, ½ cup pitted dates, 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, and a dash of salt.
      • Pecan Pie: Combine ¼ cup almonds and ¾ cup pecans with 1 ½ cups pitted dates and a dash of salt.
      • PB & J: Process 1 cup peanuts with ½ cup packed dried cherries, 1 cup pitted dates, and a dash of salt.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

    This post was originally published in 2016 but was updated in 2020 with new pictures.

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    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. Jen

      April 06, 2021 at 10:56 pm

      5 stars
      Yum. Yum.
      I tried the cashew cookie recipe tonight as that is one of my fave Larabars., and my goodness! These are so much better than the packaged bars! I cannot wait to try the other combos. Thank you so much! 😀 So excited

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        April 07, 2021 at 7:21 am

        YAY! I hope you enjoy the other combos Jen!

        Reply
        • Lisa

          April 20, 2021 at 7:14 am

          Should we use toasted nuts or raw? I’m on a restricted diet following a bone marrow transplant and I can only have roasted nuts. I’m desperate for a healthy snack!

          Reply
          • Kristen Chidsey

            April 20, 2021 at 7:31 am

            Hi Lisa! Use toasted nuts! Either works, but the flavor of toasted/roasted nuts is better. And sending you virtual hugs--you are a warrior!

            Reply
    2. Rebecca

      March 01, 2021 at 7:22 pm

      5 stars
      SO GOOD! I like them even better than packaged Lara bars because these taste so fresh. I’m excited to try more flavor combos.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 02, 2021 at 6:41 am

        I am so happy to hear you enjoyed Rebecca!

        Reply
    3. Cindy

      February 21, 2021 at 5:08 pm

      Hi Kristen,
      We just tried both Lara bars and dates for the first time. The dates I got last time had pits, so I'm assuming I have to buy pitted dates. They were also chewy, but didn't seem dried. What kind of dates you buy, and are they dried?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 22, 2021 at 7:22 am

        Hi Cindy. I use pitted whole dried dates. They are chewy, sort of like raisins. This brand of dates is easy to find at most grocery stores.

        Reply
    4. Chi

      February 19, 2021 at 2:32 am

      This recipe has too many dates. I used medjool dates and it was wet and date-heavy. I salvaged it by putting an extra 3 cups of nuts in the food processor. (2 cups cashews, 1 cup almonds.) it then turned out perfect. So for me it was 1&1/2 cup soaked medjool dates and 4 cups nuts.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 22, 2021 at 7:24 am

        Hi Chi! Larabars are pretty soft and date heavy. It sounds like you made a delicious, crunchier bar.

        Reply
    5. Gary Dessert

      December 25, 2020 at 6:48 am

      Hey Kristen,
      I really like the way you lay things out in a understandable way. Just finished making yogurt in my insta~pot. Can’t wait to try some of your other recipes as well.

      Thanks,
      Gary

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 25, 2020 at 6:58 am

        I am so happy that you find my directions easy to understand and I hope you enjoy the yogurt Gary!

        Reply
      • Andrea

        January 09, 2021 at 12:46 pm

        Do you toast the nuts?

        Reply
        • Kristen Chidsey

          January 09, 2021 at 1:08 pm

          Not for this recipe, unless they are raw.

          Reply
    6. Stacey LaBeau

      December 01, 2020 at 7:54 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is amazing! Thank you so much! I was gifted a large amount of raisins and prunes. So I used raisins and walnuts with a pinch of salt and they are so tasty!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 02, 2020 at 7:09 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed--the raisins and walnut combination is so good.

        Reply
      • Jessica

        December 23, 2020 at 12:06 am

        I don't want to rate this yet because I'm not sure what I have done with mine. Mine are so wet. I'm not sure why. Maybe I soaked my dates too long, but i followed everything else to the t. I put them in the fridge for 30 minutes, but they weren't set. They've been in there for hours now, and still not set, just wet. I'm so sad.

        Reply
        • Kristen Chidsey

          December 23, 2020 at 7:15 am

          Hi Jessica. I am sorry you are having issues. It may be because you did not drain your dates well. Don't panic though, place the wet mixture back into the food processor and add in 1/4 cup more nuts and process again until drier, adding more nuts if needed. Hope that helps.

          Reply
    7. Amy

      November 02, 2020 at 2:07 pm

      My kids LOVE Larabars, so I am excited to make these. Can you use a blender to make these too? I have a BlendTec.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        November 02, 2020 at 2:23 pm

        Hi Amy! Because your blender is such a high powered blender, you should be able to make these. Just be sure to pulse lightly instead of blend to keep some texture.

        Reply
    8. Abigail Raines

      May 07, 2020 at 9:55 am

      5 stars
      My hubby and I are addicted to larabars! Love how the recipe is so easy, tasty and versatile! Thanks for giving us so many yummy options!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 07, 2020 at 10:19 am

        So glad you all enjoyed!

        Reply
    9. Ashley

      May 06, 2020 at 10:01 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe couldn't get any easier. They are so much cheaper to make them at home too. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 07, 2020 at 7:41 am

        I am so glad you enjoy these Ashley--and I agree, what a money saver!

        Reply
    10. Rhonda

      March 29, 2020 at 9:30 pm

      Hello Newbie here. One of things that I didn't care about of Lara bar's was the dates and the other ingredients in them. I like strawberries, blueberries, apples, almonds, and cashews. What can I substitute for the dates? I am looking at saving money and making things I enjoy at home.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 30, 2020 at 8:09 am

        Hi Rhonda. Unfortunately, dates are what hold the larabars together. You can try prunes or raisins, but the texture will not be the same.

        Reply
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    Simple, wholesome ingredients come together to form a delicious, healthy copycat version of larabars. Homemade Larabars will quickly become a staple at your house, and with eight different varieties, you will never tire of eating them! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan friendly, this is one healthy snack that is perfect for everyone!

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

    A Picture of A Mind"Full"Mom

    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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    Simple, wholesome ingredients come together to form a delicious, healthy copycat version of larabars. Homemade Larabars will quickly become a staple at your house, and with eight different varieties, you will never tire of eating them! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan friendly, this is one healthy snack that is perfect for everyone!

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