Homemade Lara Bars

There are recipes all over the internet for these, but after much trial and error I have come up with an easy-to-memorize recipe that allows for any number of flavor combinations.

You want to start with some dried Madjool dates.  If you have a Sams Membership, they carry them from the fall until after the holidays.  Buy the ones found with the fresh fruit, not the bagged ones in the bulk aisles.

You will also need 1 cup of nuts.  I use peanuts and almonds, mostly, but any nuts will work.

Then you will need 1 cup of add-ins.  Dried Cherries, unsweetened coconut, chocolate chips, cacao nibs, etc etc.

Pour your nuts and your 'add-ins' into a food processor.  Here, I am using peanuts and 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup cacao nibs for a "Reeces Bar."

Process until they are chopped, but not decimated.

Now, add in your PITTED dates and process.  Depending upon how sticky they are, you'll probably need between 8 and 12 of them (1 to 1-1/2 cups).  You want them to glue everything together.  If the mixture is crumbly, add more dates.

Press into an 8x8 pan and chill for a bit.

Cut into about 8 bars.

I store them in baggies in the fridge.  The kids know to bring the bags home from school, so I wash them and reuse them indefinitely.

Another of our family favorites uses 1 cup of almonds, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut for "Almond Joy Bars."

These are a delicious snack, but they are obviously not low-calorie.  Hubby takes them to eat after he works out, and I limit the kids to one per day, but they are a much better alternative to other bars that are out there.