Larabars are one of my favorite snack bars. They’re not only delicious, they come in tempting flavors such as blueberry muffin, carrot cake, chocolate chip brownie, and apple pie. What I love most is how simple their ingredient lists are: fruit, nuts, and sometimes cocoa or chocolate chips depending on the flavor. No long lists of additives or unpronounceable ingredients.
My favorite is the apple pie variety, which in the original product contains just six ingredients: dates, almonds, walnuts, dried apples, raisins, and cinnamon. I discovered recently that these bars are very easy to make at home, and they often taste even better fresh. Making them yourself also saves money and lets you control the quality of the ingredients, including ensuring they meet specific dietary needs. These homemade bars are naturally vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.
Homemade Apple Pie Larabars
10 minutes
10 minutes
10 bars
190 kcal
Liv
Ingredients
- 9 large Medjool dates, pitted (available in the produce section or bulk bins)
- 1/4 cup raisins, packed
- 1 cup dried unsweetened apples
- 1 cup raw almonds, unsalted
- 1/2 cup raw walnuts, unsalted
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor. Put the dried fruit on the bottom so it blends more easily. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped and the fruit and nuts begin to stick together into a cohesive mass.
- Line an 8×8 or 9×9-inch baking dish with wax paper, leaving extra hanging over the edges so you can lift the finished block out easily.
- Transfer the blended mixture into the prepared dish, cover with the overhanging wax paper, and press or roll it out evenly until smooth and compact.
- Lift the wax paper with the pressed mixture from the pan and cut into 10 equal bars. Wrap each bar individually in wax paper or plastic wrap, or enjoy them immediately.
- Store the bars in the pantry for up to 3 months, or keep them in the refrigerator or freezer for up to 6 months.
Notes
* Use Medjool dates rather than firmer varieties like Deglet Noor. Medjool dates are naturally sticky, and that texture helps bind the bars without added syrups.
* If the dates or raisins seem dry, soak them in a cup of warm water for five minutes, drain, then proceed with the recipe. Softer fruit blends more easily and yields a chewier bar.
Nutrition
Homemade Larabars are a straightforward project: minimal equipment, a short prep time, and ingredients you can recognize and pronounce. Because they require no baking and use whole ingredients, they make a convenient, nutrient-dense snack to pack for school, work, or travel. You can easily adapt the recipe by swapping nuts, adding a few chocolate chips, or mixing in spices to suit your preferences while keeping the simple, wholesome base intact.
Try these bars once, and they may become your go-to homemade snack. They’re quick, portable, and satisfy sweet cravings with natural fruit sugars and a satisfying crunchy-chewy texture from the nuts and dried fruit.