Do you want a healthy snack that will give you energy without the sugar crash?  No, this isn’t a pitch for the latest infomercial on the next new food secret.  I’m peaking your curiosity, right?  So what is it?  Homemade Lara Bars!  This fruit and nut bar is a really popular and healthy energy snack, but they can be super expensive in the grocery store, even at our favorite bulk store, Costco.  Well, turns out these are really easy to make.  I can’t really use the whole food excuse on this one, because according to the Lara Bar website, they only use whole foods.

This is a really easy recipe.  If you know how to push a button, you can make these.  Truthfully, I was scared of the food processor because I had never used it before, but I’m over my fear.  I bucked up and pulled it out of the cupboard all by myself and now we have awesome homemade Lara bars!

Note:  You will need a food processor for these recipes.  If you don’t have one, consider buying one, not just so you can make my homemade lara bar recipe of course, but they are a really good investment and super handy in the kitchen.

Homemade Lara Bars: Cherry Pie

Time: about 20 minutes.

1 1/4 cups dried pitted dates (use no sugar added if you can find it.) Remember to check your dates for pits.

1 1/4 cups dried cherries (use no sugar added if you can find it.)

1 cup pecans

2 tablespoons peanut butter (we use All Natural from Skippy)

Eight servings:  207 calories, 11.9g fat, 19mg sodium, 26.5g carbs, 3.1g protein  (Approximately.  about.com calorie counter was used to calculate nutrition information.)

Instructions:

1. Add the fruit to the food processor.  Blend on high until crumbly.

2.  Add the nuts and blend on high until crumbly.

3. Add the peanut butter and pulse until well mixed.

4.  Line a baking sheet with wax paper.  Add your mixture to the wax paper and begin to press the mixture into bars until it sticks together.

5.  Then fold the remaining wax paper over the top of the bars, and place in the fridge to cool over night.

6. Remove from fridge and cut into 8 bars.  Store in the fridge with wax paper.  Eat within about 2 weeks.

Homemade Lara Bars: Banana Bread

Time: about 20 minutes.

1 1/4 cups dried pitted dates (use no sugar added if you can find it.) Remember to check your dates for pits.

1 1/4 cups dried banana chips (use no sugar added if you can find it.)

2-3 tablespoons peanut butter (we use All Natural from Skippy)

1/2 cup walnuts

Eight servings:  171 calories, 6.8g fat, 19mg sodium, 27.8g carbs, 3.8g protein  (Approximately.  about.com calorie counter was used to calculate nutrition information.)

Instructions:

1.  Add the dates and the bananas to the food processor and blend on high until crumbly.

2. Add two tablespoons peanut butter and blend on high until mixed.  If the mixture looks too dry, you may add a third tablespoon of peanut butter.  (We only used two.)

3. Add the walnuts and blend on high until crumbly.  The mixture should begin to come together now.

4.  Put a piece of wax paper on a baking sheet.  Add the mixture to the baking sheet and press until the mixture into bars, until it comes together.

5. Fold the remaining wax paper over the top of the bars and place in the fridge to cool over night.

6. Remove from fridge and cut into 8 bars.  Store in the fridge with wax paper.  Eat within about 2 weeks.

These are fruit and nut bars are really tasty, and we hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

What’s your favorite fruit and nut bar flavor?  Let us know in the comments section!

Until next week, SPFers, stay happy and healthy!

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crystal sykes

Crystal is the founder of Simply Playful Fare. She has been in the kitchen for as long as she can remember. She has a degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing.