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 Energy Date Bars

Almond Butter Cacao Balls

Coconut and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Vegan Cookie Dough Balls

Date and Almond Truffles

 

 

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!