FoggyRock General Forum

I haven't tried these recipes but thought I would post them here so I will know where to find them once I have the time.  I have tried the Larabar fruit and nut bars from the health food store and they are yummy....

Larabar Fruit and Nut Bars--Knockoff Recipe

SERVES 3 , 3 bars (change servings and units)
Ingredients

    * 1/4 cup dates
    * 1/4 cup walnuts
    * 1/4 cup cashews

Directions

   1.  Pit dates.
   2.  Pulse.
   3.  It shouldn’t stick together much on its own but when you squeeze it together it      should stick.
   4.  Squeeze into desired shape.
   5.  Enjoy and refrigerate extras for a quick snack.


Another Recipe:

Sort of Like Larabars

Makes about 3 bars or a quarter or a 4×4 inch square which you can form and then cut or punch into shapes.

1 1/2 ounce almonds (about 1/3 cup)
3 ounces pitted dates (about 14, if you don’t have a scale)
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon prune puree
1 tablespoon quick cooking oats.

Place almonds in food processor and process into crumbs. Pour into a bowl. Place dates in processor and process as much as possible. Add almond crumbs back into processor and process until well mixed. Add cocoa, prune puree and oats. Process a little more, then dump into a bowl and knead until ingredients stick together. Shape into a rectangle. If it’s too sticky, knead in some more almonds or oats. Slice into about 3 bars or press into a square and cut out cute shapes.

HOMEMADE LARA_BARS
makes 1 bar
1 Tablespoon dates, pureed
3 Tablespoons dry ingredients (nuts, dried fruits, coconut, oats, etc.)

pit dates and whir in a food processor or mash by hand until they're one sticky mass. this will be the base, the "glue" that will hold it all together. to this base, add about 3 Tablespoons of finely diced dried ingredients - the nuts of your choice (almonds, cashews, pecans, hazlenut, etc.), dried fruit, oats, spices, etc. with your hands mix it all together and form into a tight ball. roll this ball into a rope and then pat it flat into a rectangle. tightly wrap in plastic wrap (the wrapping will help the bar hold it's shape as you further mold it) and apply pressure to the top using a flat surface - a cutting board works well. to shape the sides you can take two knives and apply pressure to opposite ends of the bars. refrigerate wrapped. for larger batches shape into a larger square, chill and cut into desired bar shapes with a very sharp knife.

some tasty combinations:
cashew: 1 Tablespoon dates + 3 Tablespoons cashews
almond coconut: 1 Tablespoon dates +2 Tablespoons almonds + 1 Tablespoon unsweetened coconut
almond spice: 1 Tablespoon dates + 3 Tablespoons almonds + 1/4 teaspoon each: cinnamon & nutmeg + 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger.
cranberry coconut: 2 Tablespoons minced dried cranberries, 1 Tablespoon unsweetened coconut


CHERRY PIE LARA-BAR
Ingredients

    * 1/3 cup dried sour cherries (packed tightly into measuring cup)
    * 1/4 cup almonds
    * 9 dates (pitted)

Directions

   1.  Using a good chopping knife, begin to coarsely chop your piles of nuts, cherries and dates.
   2.  The dates will be very sticky, but just do you best to slice, and then cube them up.
   3.  Combine your piles and chop together.
   4.  It will be pretty rough at first, but just keep chopping and the ingredients will begin to combine and stick to each other.
   5.  Once the ingredients begin to stick together, use your knife to squish it into a single mass.
   6.  Chop up that mass and repeat.
   7.  The mass will continue to hold together better, and eventually your chopping will be more like taking slices off of the mass.
   8.  If at this point you feel your mix is still too dry, try adding another date.
   9.  Continue on until the mass reliably sticks together.
  10.  At that point, you will be able to knead it a couple of times using your hands.
  11.  Just fold it over on its self and mush down.
  12.  It will be a little sticky, but not too much.
  13.  Press it into a rectangular shape about 3/4″ high.
  14. Using a clean knife, cut the mass into bars.
  15  They can be wrapped in plastic wrap for later use.



NATURALLY SUGAR_FREE CHOCOLATE BARS

Makes 6 bars or 24 “truffles”

2/3 cup walnuts
1 cup packed, pitted dates (about 24)
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-processed
2 Tbsp cacao nibs or finely chopped dark chocolate

Toast the walnuts in a preheated 325F oven for 15 min., or until browned and fragrant. Stir the nuts half way through baking.

In a food processor, pulse the walnuts until they are pebble sized pieces. Set aside in a medium bowl.

Place the dates in the processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Process until they’re smooth and form a ball around the blade. (At first, you will get lots of sticky pieces.) Add the cocoa and process until smooth.

In a bowl, knead the date mixture with the walnuts and cacao nibs until they stick together. If the mixture is too sticky, add more nuts or cacao nibs. If too dry, add a couple teaspoons of water.

On a cutting board lined with plastic wrap, shape the mixture into a long 1″-wide rectangle. Slice pieces with a sharp knife. Or, roll into 1″ balls. Store leftovers in the fridge.

Note: You can use natural or Dutch-processed cocoa, depending on your tastes. Natural cocoa has more complex flavors, but it is more acidic. I like to use it in cooked recipes. Dutch-processed cocoa has some the edge taken out, but you also loose other flavor elements. I like it for frostings and other raw uses. Generally, don’t swap one cocoa for another in baking recipes, since it can throw off the pH and affect the way cakes rise.

Sesame Bars

makes 16, 2"x2" bars

!!NO DEHYDRATOR NEEDED!! These bars are sweetener free – they’re kindof like a Larabar. Just fruit and nuts!
Ingredients

    * 1 cup walnuts
    * ½ cup sesame seeds
    * 1½ cups dates, pitted
    * 1½ cups raisins
    * ⅛ teaspoon sea salt

Preparation

   1. Pulse all ingredients in food processor until mixture holds together when pressed.
   2. Press mixture into 9inch square pan, and chill. Cut into squares to serve.

Last edited by shannonj (2008-08-26 16:52:22)