Do you remember that old adage "You are what you eat?" Well, that is one of those basic rules that I live and stand by every day. Every now and again I do deviate from this little rule...I mean, I am only human after all. There will always be a soft spot in my heart for a fresh Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. I think I've already told you about my affliction to peanut butter and chocolate...truly a match made in heaven.
Larabars are a staple in my house and are consumed on a daily basis. Larabars are gluten-free, come in many different flavors and varieties, and never contain more than nine ingredients. Larabars are a blend of unsweetened fruit, nuts and spices. Both my husband and I eat them as our snack in between breakfast and lunch every day. They are just what we need to sustain us until the next meal. They are also good to have on hand for long road trips, kids snacks, as a pre- or post-workout snack, etc. Larabars are delicious, and as pure and simple as they come.
Although I love Larabars, they can get pretty expensive after awhile. I usually by them by the box (5 bars) at my local Hannafod for about $5.99 for 5. So, that is about $1.19 per bar. If purchased singly, they are $1.49. Trader Joe's does have them as well and are sold individually for closer to $1.19 per bar. After a while that adds up.
So, after getting tired of spending all of this money on these, I decided to try and see if I could make them on my own. I looked at the ingredients of my favorite Larabar flavor, the Peanut and Chocolate Chip, and began experimenting. The end result, success! I actually like mine a bit better because they are not as dry as Larabars version. Most of the Larabars are pretty moist, but for some reason this one is a bit drier.
Give these a try and see what you think. I do warn you, it can get a little messy making them, but it is worth it. Be patient while blending in the food processor, and trust me, you'll be happy you were in the end.
One added tip that I would like to share with you is that if you have a measuring scoop, like the one seen below, this will make your life so much easier and the process a little less messy. I am so glad that I had decided to invest in this basic functional tool after having made these without one many times before. The one seen here is a 1 tablespoon small measuring scoop by Pampered Chef and sells for $15.50.
Homemade Peanut and Chocolate Chip "Larabar"
Ingredients:
3 cups pitted dates, 2 of those cups soaked in water
2/3 cups dry roasted peanuts, unsalted
1/2 cup cocoa powder plus an additional 1/8 cup reserved
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional)
2 oz. dark chocolate, chopped into chunks
warm water, if needed
Directions:
Take two cups of pitted dates and place in a small bowl, cover with lukewarm water. Let dates soak for 15-30 min. After they have soaked, drain water and put into food processor or blender. (Note: food processor will work better and is the optimal choice.)
Place all remaining ingredients into your food processor. Pulse 5-6 times. Scrape down sides of food processor with a spoon, then pule 5-6 times again. Keep repeating this process of pulsing and scraping down the sides until all ingredients have been blended to a coarse thick, paste-like consistency.
If you are having trouble getting the food processor to blend your ingredients and it seems like nothing is happening, add 1 tablespoon of warm water and try again. You can add in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the ingredients start to blend. Just be careful not to add too much water at one time or you will get a paste that is too moist and unworkable.
Now that the mixture is at the right consistency, take your 1 tablespoon measuring scoop and scoop out the mixture into equal sized balls and roll them in the cocoa on the plate.
Place in a airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can also form these into bars and wrap in aluminum foil, but I find this way easier to handle.
Serving size is 3 balls.
This recipe is gluten-free, and vegan.
