What is your favorite store bought bar???
I used to eat a lot more power bars, but a few years ago, I cut WAY back. I now stick with bars that have only a few ingredients that I can actually pronounce. Two of my favorites are KIND bars and PURE bars. Although I love the convenience of these ‘on the go’ energizing snacks (especially around 5:00pm at work when I know I have 3 more hours until dinner), I’m not a huge fan of the cost. So I was inspired by this readable ingredients list on the Cherry Cashew Bar (and my new Door County dried cherries) to try making my own PURE bars.
And they turned out fantastic! I made the base using dried dates, cashews, a drizzle of oil, and dried cherries.
I pressed the mixture into my pan and then topped it with extra dried cherries and walnuts before putting it into the fridge.
I did take a quick taste test before cooling off the bars. I just had to see how they turned out!
You can make these into balls, bars, or use cookie cutters for fun shapes. Either way, they are a winner!
One thing is for sure…if I’m going to continue to work the long days that I am, I will need a healthy pre-dinner snack. And one as tasty and filling as these will be prefect!
I was so excited about my bars (and leftover dates) that I dove right into another RAW recipe. This one from Katie. I had to modify the recipe some based on what was available in my pantry.
And all I can say is WOW…these guys are good!
The mixture of chocolate and coconut make these guys actually taste like a German Chocolate Cake…maybe even better!
These are rich and tasty and would squash any chocolate craving! I even fed one to the BOY for dessert without explaining what it was (I just called them German Chocolate Balls). He LOVED it!
The moral of today’s post…go buy yourself a LARGE container of dates (I think Costco has them) and get experimenting with these simple recipes! You don’t have to tell anyone that they are healthy and trust me, they won’t even know!
Looking for more recipes? Try these favorites…
Coconut and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
Date, Cherry, Walnut PURE Bars
Recipe inspired by my favorite Fig, Date, Nut Energy Bars
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup dried dates, chopped
1 cup cashews
1 tsp safflower oil
1/2 cup dried cherries
1 tsp agave
Dried cherries and walnuts
Coconut, optional
Directions
Combine dates and cashews in food processor. Stream in oil until well blended.
Add dried cherries. Process again while streaming in agave until a large ball forms.
Press mixture into 8×8 pan sprayed with oil or covered with wax paper.
Press remaining, cherries, walnuts, and coconut (if desired) into bars using hands.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Cut and serve.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
German-Chocolate Fudge Bites
Adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie (based on what I had in the house)
***Katie says these should make 10 balls, so hers must have been MUCH smaller than mine
Ingredients
3/4 cup pitted dates
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/16 tsp salt
2 tbsp cacao powder
2 tbsp shredded coconut
1/2 cup raw cashews
1-2 tsp of agave
Directions
Blend all ingredients together in a food processor until dough forms into a ball.
Using your hands, form into balls. Refrigerate until set.
Note: The recipe calls for pecans, but I didn’t have any, so I subbed in the cashews. I added the agave to help everything stick together. Katie even recommends using this as a pie crust. YUMMY!
I’ve never had a Pure bar and don’t even think I’ve seen them. Perhaps they’re not in canada yet?
Anyway, they look like a delicious, healthy snack. I’ll have to make some!
Love PURE bars, so I’ll definitely give these a try! The fudge balls look pretty tasty, too 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipes!
I just made these tonight for the road trip to IMFL: http://www.wassnertwins.com/updates/2012/10/12/project-diy-energy-bars.html
Haven’t tried them yet, but they look really good!
Thanks for sharing the recipe. I can’t wait to check it out. I love things like this for a road trip and camping trips. Have a great time!
Those look awesome! I am not a Costco member but I have people at work who have offered up their cards to me so I may need to take advantage and go buy some dates!!
Yes, you should def borrowing their card. The dates are a great deal and so are many of their grains and fruits. I don’t know how we wold eat without Costco : )
This looks so good! I love making homemade bars/energy bites. They are so much cheaper.
For sure! And they are so easy to experiement with. You can add whatever you want!
I love homemade granola and energy bars. I used to live off of store bought granola bars, but haven’t touched one in years now because they have so much weird stuff in them. These look super yummy!
I was amazed to learn how much crap was in a lot of the bars that I used live on too. I don’t always have the time to make my own, but this batch tastes JUST like the Pure bars. They just might be my new favorite homemade bar!
Great recipes and great filling snacks. Man, you get lots done when you’re sick. Very impressive. I make similar date balls but then cover them in melted chocolate and you have truffles. I got the idea from spabettie.
LOVE the idea! These would make amazing truffles. Thanks for sharing.
[…] is no secret that I have been having tons of fun with my food processor making energy bars and chocolately treats. I had some leftover dates in the fridge, so I was excited to try out some new RAW […]
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