This is the easiest recipe you will ever make. Five minutes flat. Get your almonds out.
Well, let’s back up one hot second. This all started with my New Year’s resolution. I didn’t make a New Years’ resolution this year until I was sitting in a chair at the dentist’s office. My dentist asked me if I had made a resolution and when I said no, I felt really lame. So I made a goal: to not eat refined sugar for a week.
That might sound a little stupid, but truth: I eat way too much sugar for my own good. And truth: I’ve been meaning to cut down on my sugar intake for a long time.* And truth: I’m hoping if I can make it one week, I can make it two. Or three. Or three months. (I hear that resets your tastebuds. So really, my goal fits into the larger picture of things.)
So my goal didn’t include cutting out ALL sugar completely and forever. I had my emergency parachute ready and waiting: Larabars and PB&Js (I’m obsessed with peanut butter in case you couldn’t tell).
I had my first Larabar while shopping for Christmas presents—I was wandering around REI trying to guess what size shoe my dad wears, and with the bad judgment of a famished person, snagged a $1.68 bar off of a rack of snack bars that I would never normally touch. It was Cherry Pie flavored, natch. So. Good.
All the hype about Larabars and how there’s only natural ingredients blah blah OMG. It’s so true. They’re so naturally sweet and delicious with a great chewy texture from the dates and crunch from the nuts and yum. A perfect natural kick to trump my obsessive sweet tooth (sweet teeth?). Eating these feel like doing something good for your body. And they’re so cheap to make at home if you buy your almonds and dates from somewhere like Costco! Economical health = I like.
Now get your cherries and dates out and let’s get Larabar-eating!
Notes
*What does that mean for the blog? It means I’ll be shifting my focus to more whole foods and natural sweeteners. This year, I may not post about pancakes EVERY Friday, but you can bet Pancake Fridays will still be a thing.
More variations: These are so easy, and there are so many recipes out there for Larabar knockoffs that I hesitated about posting these, but I figured might as well spread the love. The more people eating these delicious things, the better!
For more flavor ideas, including but not limited to carrot cake, chocolate chip cookie dough and lemon bar, Maggie @ Rawified has the most complete collection of Larabar flavor ideas I’ve seen. It’s completely awesome. I want to be her friend.
Nutrition: I calculated these to be about 165 calories per bar.
1/2 cup pitted dates (small ones from Costco) = about 9 dates = ~180 calories
1/2 cup almonds = 320 calories
1/2 cup dried cherries = 160 calories
660 calories/4 = 165 yummy calories. They’re small, but the flavor is intense. And with all the dried fruit and nuts? Totally filling.
Cherry Pie Larabars
Inspired by Rawified
Yield: 4 bars
1/2 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 – 1 tablespoon warm water
In a food processor, process the dates and almonds until finely ground (I used the “grind” button on my machine). Add the cherries and process until the mixture is in uniform chunks, about the size of…oh, I don’t know. Small gravel? If the mixture seems too dry to easily stick together, add warm water 1/4 tablespoon at a time until the mixture starts to clump together. Err on the side of adding less water, because you can’t take it back!
To make nice square bars, I squished the mixture into a rough square with my hands, wrapped it in wax paper, then used a cutting board to press the top flat. I used a random assortment of flat-edged items in my kitchen to press the sides flat.
I made these and they were great! They were going so quickly,so I added about one half cup of rolled oats to create more bulk and fill hungry tummies. Thanks for sharing.
Yay! So glad to hear, thanks for reporting back, Savannah! 🙂
Looks delicious! Cherry and apple Lara bars are my faves. Hope you’re having a great week!
This recipe is awesome, I will have to try. If you have a sweet tooth like mine but are trying to cut out refined sugars check out a website called “chocolate covered katie”. It is an amazing site with hundreds of recipes that you may want to try!
Aww thanks so much–I love her site!
Erika, these look perfectly delicious. What a wonderful creation. Love the pictures 🙂
I love those cherry pie larabars! It’s so awesome that you were able to recreate these at home 🙂 I think I’m going to join you in no refined sugar for a week…maybe starting next week Monday since it’s my daughter’s third birthday tomorrow and I know it will be impossible to avoid eating cake and frosting and ice cream with her 🙂
Hello! These look great! However, I am allergic to almonds… any suggestions on what nut I could substitute to have it become the same texture and the closest flavor? Thanks a bunch!
Hi there! For the closest flavor and texture, I might suggest walnuts. Cashews would also give a similar texture, but different flavor (I think cashews, dates and blueberries or chocolate chips or would be delicious!). You could also try pecans, peanuts, hazelnuts or pistachios and different mix ins (dried fruit, coconut, peanut butter, etc.) Hope that helps and thanks for stopping by!
Thank you so much =) I’m definitely going to try these out.
nice one – will be giving these a go – have been (bar the festive season) trying to eat more ‘clean’ myself and I feel great! definitely a step in the right direction although it does bring in to question our blogging existence!!
ps> laughed.out.loud when i read ‘1 week’ lol – but I get it – baby steps! 🙂
VIC you understand me!!! I feel so much less bloated (ha!) after eating “clean” (umm…I don’t know if my version counts) for just a week. And it is totally making me question my blogging identity/existence. Also, I think I made it the one week. WOOHOO!!!!
I love the way you wrapped them. Also, um hello, dentist? Hahaha. I’ve been downing so much sweeteners since starting d-school. Unclear if that’s any better.
Hahaha well at least sweetener is probably not as fattening as the stuff I’ve been eating. Omg. Holiday season was bad. I am a whale. Hope school is going well!!
I agree – great photos!!
Thank you 🙂
These look so delicious! I LOVE Larabars. If you can not eat refined sugar for a week+ that’s amazing! I know I sure couldn’t. LOVE me some dark chocolate.
Well, Skinny Muffin, I’m guessing you have much better self-control around refined sugar! (It would be hard to be worse than me!) But good news: I (sort of, mostly) made it!!! Also: what is your favorite larabar flavor? I want to make every kind, but can’t decide what kind to try next!!
How clever! I love larabars and now I can make them at home! So healthy and great for quick energy. Thanks!
You’re so welcome–glad you like the idea! I hope you get to try out all the different flavors Rawified mentions 🙂
Phew- so glad your pancake Fridays will still be around! Was getting worried reading down the post then.
Your photo work is incredible btw. Do you mind me asking what camera you use?
Aww haha you are sweet 🙂 I was using a Nikon 1 for awhile (and I really want to buy my own!) but now I’m back to using my old Canon point and shoot! I don’t know if this is the exact one, but something akin to this…http://www.pcrichard.com/catalog/product.jsp?modelNo=A2300SILVER&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=GoogleBase&CID=Google_PLA&CAWELAID=1492210501&catargetid=1560495289&cagpspn=pla
Thank you so much for the compliment; I was just worrying that everyone would think my photo standards had gone down!!
absolutely not. you make me want to eat everything on your page!
These look so yummy, and I love how you wrapped them. What a cute gift!
Thanks so much Kristi! If only I knew more health nuts…I want to try making every flavor and giving them to everyone I know! 🙂
These look fantastic – and wonderful presentation, as per usual! Love the parchment paper and twine bows 🙂
Thanks so much Hannah 🙂 It was actually great that I wrapped them up for the photoshoot because I could just stick them in the fridge after…if I hadn’t taken pictures, I probably would have just thrown them in a container together in a giant lump lol
I wish I had pitted dates and almonds..dried cherries 😀 the only thing I have is water 😀 i would love these bars I am sure!
Yes, I was a big fan. You should try them out when you have a chance!!
I’ve never even heard of larabars before so thank you for deliciously enlightening me 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I never make resolutions but I have been wanting to cut down on my sugar intake for a loooooong time. As you can see from my blog, I’m obsessed with sweets. I crave something sweet after every meal and then I stress eat or snack from boredom between those meals (usually something full of carbs or sugar). Very very bad for my health! To wean me off the sweet stuff, I should start with these super simple bars. I can just imagine how tasty they are! And thanks for introducing me to Rawified. I need to incorporate some of her recipes into my diet.
i’ve been meaning to make a homemade larabar for weeks now. Now, I must try them – I have no excuse. and cherry pie is my favorite variety of them. these are so easy and much cheaper than buying, too.
Yum! You know I’ve never had a Larabar! Now, I really don’t need to…I can just make yours!! I LOVE how simple they are. I agree on the less sugar…most of my recipes are refined sugar-free but I’m making them even more with really natural sugars like fruit, as well, lots of experimenting going on but so much fun. I’m also pretty much trying to make all my recipes going forward oil-free and so far has been sucess! I love it! I need to make these…I love dried cherries…mmmmmm!
That’s funny, I’d been curious about Larabars for the longest time before I finally tried one! They really are super simple and delicious!
I know, I love your recipes!! I will definitely be trying more of them out as I embark on my healthy eating journey…
Also, I am obsessed with dried cherries. I would gladly welcome any recipes with dried cherries you come up with in the future! 🙂
What a great idea! So easy and healthy! Who needs to go to the store now when you can whip these up? Thanks for sharing, Erika!
My thoughts exactly 🙂 It pained me to shell out almost two dollars for that little bar! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Awesome! And your post is Paleo-friendly!! I look forward to seeing more sugar-free recipes (not that I don’t love ALL of your creations though). I don’t need any more temptations while on Paleo haha. Good luck with your resolution!
Thanks Leah! Yes, yay, our resolutions go so well together!! I’m looking forward to more of your recipes!!