Homemade Larabars w/ Peanuts & Chocolate Chips

Homemade Larabars w/ Peanuts & Chocolate Chips

Homemade Larabars with chocolate chips are the perfect snack for busy people. Make with just 4 ingredients - cashews, peanuts, dates, and chocolate chips - for a delicious vegan and gluten-free sweet treat.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 10

Resting Time: 1

Total Time: 1 10

Servings: bars

Calories: 176kcal

Author: Sarah McMinn

Ingredients

1 ½ cup pitted Medjool dates, packed
1 cup roasted peanuts, unsalted
½ cup raw cashews
pinch of sea salt
⅓ cup vegan chocolate chips

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Soak the cashews and dates for 30 minutes. Once they are slightly soft, drain and rinse. Place them, along with the peanuts and salt, in a food processor and blend until nuts are broken into tiny pieces and the dough sticks together when pressed.
Transfer the dough to a small bowl and mix in chocolate chips. The dough will be quite thick and you should use a wooden spoon or your hands to thoroughly mix.
Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a little extra to hang over the edges. Place the dough inside the dish, pressing down so that it is evenly distributed. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Cut into 12 equal bars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

Serving and Storing - You can serve the bars as soon as you cut them or store them for later. Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Make in Advance - These are the perfect make ahead snack. You can bring them to work, school, or the gym. You can also freeze these bars for up to 3 months. For added convenience, store the bars individually in sealable bags and grab them as you need.

Recipe Tips

Do not skip the soaking step! Soaking the dates and cashews make them soft enough to break down when blended together.
Depending on the moistness of your dates, you may need to add a little water to get the mixture to the right consistency. Add 1 teaspoon at a time until it sticks together when pressed.
Make sure to use parchment paper to ensure the bars are easily removable from the baking dish.
Store in individual bags for a quick take along snack. You can store them in a big container, but if you put them in individual bags you have an easy, ready to go snack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use something other than cashews? Cashews, along with dates, make up the base of this bar. They are fatty, relatively soft, and neutral flavored. I do not recommend using a different type of nut for the cashews.
Can I use something other than peanuts? For sure! Feel free to swap out the peanuts for almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, or pistachios.

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