Homemade ‘Lara’ Bars
Serves: 3
Happy Sunday! I bet you didn’t think you would see something from me pop up in your inbox, did you?! ? Sneaky! As this is posting, I am on my way to the start line for the P.F Chang Rock N Roll Marathon! I am sure I am shaking right now from excitement, anxiety and the chills! (For some reason I am always like this before a race starts!)
As most of you know I really enjoy eating Lara bars! I eat them as my snacks the day before a race and I eat them regularly throughout the week (as you have seen in my WIAW posts)! They are definitely my favorite bar! However, they can get expensive after awhile. The store near me sells them for $1.89 a piece. Also, sometimes it is nice to create your own flavors! Bloggers all over the world have been recreating Lara bars for years, so this recipe is not something new that I created in the sense that the base quantities of each ingredient remains about the same. The flavor combination is what makes it new! (Well, to me anyway!) I have been toying with the idea of trying to make my own at home and I finally went for it (and made some to take with me on the plane!) I hope you try them out! This is my recipe that I made. Below, I have given you the basic instructions on how to make a Lara Bar and how to create your own flavor combinations! Enjoy!
Fit Ingredients
- 1/2c (56g) cashews
- 1/4c (40g) whole, pitted dates
- 1/4c (38g) dried mango
- 2 tbs (7g) reduced fat shredded coconut
- 1/2 tsp coconut extract (optional)
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- food processor (or magic bullet)
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Directions
1. Add your dates, mango and extract to your food processor.
2. Process until you get a paste.
3. Transfer your paste to a bowl.
4. Process your nuts until they are chopped (you do not want to turn them into flour).
5. Add your chopped nuts and coconut to your paste.
6. Now get your hands in there and knead and mix away until fully combined (this takes some muscle, so get those guns out!)
7. Shape into bars or balls.
8. EAT!!! (or seal in individual ziplock bags to grab on the go!)
No words are necessary to even express my deep love for these bars!! YUMMY! ?
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Nutrition (for 1 out of 3 bars) (about 48g a piece)
Calories: 198.3, Protein: 4.2g, Carbs: 25.3g, Fat: 9.0g (2g Saturated), Sodium: 0mg, Fiber: 3g (Net Carbs: 22.3g)
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Now, the basic instructions on how to create your own bars!
(Creating 3 bars)
Nuts & Seed: use 1/2 cup of nuts/seeds or a combination of both
- almonds
- cashews
- sunflower seeds
- walnuts
- pecans
- pumpkin seeds
- etc…..
Paste: use 1/2 cup dried fruit (at least 1/4 cup should be dates to make sure you get the right consistency)
- Dates
- Dried Mango
- Dried Cranberries
- Raisins
- Dried Apricots
- Figs
- Dried Cherries
- etc…..
Flavoring & Extras: use a 1/2 tsp of extract, a teaspoon of spices or 1 tbs of zest to give your bars a little kick!
- Lime/Lemon/Orange – Zest/Juice
- Vanilla Extract
- Coconut Extract
- Cinnamon
- Cocoa Powder
- Sea Salt
- Peanut Butter
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Almond Extract
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- etc…..
Here are some examples of some current Lara Bar flavors:
Pecan Pie
- 1/2c dates
- 1/4c almonds
- 1/4c pecans
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
Cherry Pie
- 1/4c dates
- 1/4c dried cherries
- 1/3c salmonds
- 2 tsp cinnamon
Chocolate Coconut Macaroon
- 1/4c dates
- 1/3c cashews
- 3 tbs dark chocolate
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4c shredded coconut
Let me know if you get creative and try a new flavor combination!!
**Lara Bar base information and recipes (excluding mine) were borrowed from DAMY Health.