Sunday, October 14, 2012

Almond Joy Larabar


I've been going through a period of recipe failures lately, so I was pretty happy that these actually turned out on the first try. On an unrelated note, anybody know what I can do with two batches of chocolate cake that cracked when I pulled them out of their pans?

I've never bought a Larabar because they're so expensive and being that they're so basic, you can easily make them at home. This is also my new favorite flavor combination.

These are great for a bagged lunch, quick snack, or even to grab in the morning as you're rushing out the door. If you happen to know of somebody with a new baby or expecting soon, whip up a batch for them. I know I would have killed to have something like this in my fridge when I didn't want to cook just after my baby was born.

Almond Joy Larabar
Makes an 8x8-inch pan

1 cup raw almonds
2 1/2 cups Medjool dates
2 tablespoons coconut oil, unrefined
1/2 cup coconut flakes, unsweetened and untoasted
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Generous pinch sea salt
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (optional, I use Ghirardelli) 

Remove stem fragments from the end of your dates if they're still attached and then pull the dates in half using your fingers to remove the pit from the middle. In a large food processor fitted with the metal blade, add almonds, pitted dates, and coconut oil. Process until almonds are finely chopped. This is a semi-violent process, so hold on to your processor!

Continue to add each ingredient, one by one, thoroughly mixing with your processor after each addition. If you mix after the addition of each ingredient, your mixture will slowly begin to come together. 

After the addition of chocolate chips, continue to pulse until the mixture begins to stick together in large clumps. It should stay together when you pinch it between your fingers. If it's still crumbly, continue to process and/or add additional coconut oil, a tablespoon at a time until you have the correct consistency.

Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment or wax paper and press mixture evenly into the pan. They are ready to eat as is, straight out of the pan. If you prefer, remove from the pan using your parchment paper and cut into individual portions and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.


Pinit


I'm sharing this recipe at Frugal By Choice, Cheap By Necessity, Homestead Revival, Teach Me Tuesday, and  Little House in the Suburbs.

22 comments:

  1. Sonia! The Healthy FoodieOct 14, 2012, 3:00:00 PM

    Oh my yum, these look soooo good. I absolutely need to give them a try! Pinning to my 'Must Try List'

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sonia!

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  • Averie @ Averie CooksOct 16, 2012, 10:59:00 AM

    your lara is beautiful and I love making date/nut bars - generally they're pretty hard to screw up but I have my share of kitchen fails all the time! I can relate!

    the cakes - I have lot of ideas - from balling it up and dipping it for choc-dipped cake balls to using the base as a base for layered brownies/cake whereby the base isn't really that important and gets covered up with another layer. I have a mint brownie recipe that comes to mind that is topped with two more layers after the chocolate base :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for all the great ideas Averie! You definitely got some ideas flowing...

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  • Wow, awesome recipe, Loretta! I currently have 3 cases of Lara bars in the cupboard (yay Amazon prime - ugh on price) and can't wait to try my hand at these. They're such a convenient and filling snack to grab and go with. Love it!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Niki! The price really isn't even comparable when you make them at home. Then again, neither is the taste! I hope you like them.

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  • Yum! These sound awesome! It's a flavor I haven't tried yet while making larabars. It's going on the list, for when my guts are ready for nuts again...

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    Replies
    1. Ha, ha! Good rhyme. And I can safely say they're the best flavor I've had. Thanks, Nora.

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  • Amanda @ Easy Peasy OrganicOct 20, 2012, 3:33:00 PM

    YUM!!!!!

    and as for the cake ... and I'm with Averie - cake balls for the ruined cake! You can even freeze them so you don't have a gazillion cake balls all at once :)

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    Replies
    1. Amanda, I've never tried cake balls, but I think it's finally gonna happen! Thanks for the tip!

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  • Christine PowellOct 22, 2012, 10:58:00 AM

    These sound fantastic! And so easy to make, I bet my son would love them (I would omit the chocolate, but perhaps add raw cacao or something similar) :)

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    Replies
    1. Well thank you Christine! The amount of chocolate I used is pretty small so you certainly wouldn't miss it if you had to omit. I'm sure cacao would be delicious (and even healthier) as well.

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