Super Bars

6/18/2014

Super Bars

Larabars are my go-to snacks to help get me through the 3pm lull at work. What I love about them is their simplicity - just 3 or 4 natural ingredients, nothing fake, nothing I can't pronounce. It's the perfect little pick me up, but I've been getting tired of stocking up on them every single week and spending way too much on these little 3-ingredient bars. I figured, since they're so simple and I always have the ingredients on hand, I'm going to be domestic and cost-efficient and make my own Larabars. Then when I started making them, I kept adding more and more ingredients to my mini food processor, and the result was a thousand times better than even my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Larabar. I threw in a bunch of superfoods and added some cinnamon and salt for my favorite salty-sweet combo, taste tested-along the way, and came up with none other than the Super Bar. It's absolutely delicious right out of the fridge and has the perfect consistency - a little bit soft and a little bit crunchy from the nuts and cacao nibs. And it's packed with healthy ingredients and tons of satisfying flavors. I think I can confidently say that I'm going to ditch the Larabars and make a big batch of Super Bars every week to get me through my work days with extra pep and energy. 

I started out with some of my favorite healthy ingredients - almonds, dates, chia seeds, and cacao nibs. I pulsed up the almonds in the food processor first, and then added the rest of my ingredients.

The honey was a great touch for a little sweetness.

Followed by a big spoonful of Justin's Honey Almond Butter. MY OBSESSION.

Next came some salt and cinnamon, then a quick (and loud) run through the food processor, and the result was this.

Yum. 

You could either roll the "dough" into balls and put them right into the fridge OR you could form an even layer in a rimmed cookie sheet, and freeze it until its solid enough to cut into perfectly shaped bars.

How easy and yummy is that!? Who's ready to make some Super Bars??

Ingredients
1/2 cup raw almonds
1 cup dates - pitted and roughly chopped
1 tbsp chia seeds
1/4 cup cacao nibs
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp Justin's Honey Almond Butter
A dash of cinnamon
A dash of salt

Makes 6 bars. 

A recap: Pulse the almonds through the food processor first. Then add the rest and pulse through until it forms a sticky-dough. You'll know it's the right consistency when you can roll up a ball of the "dough" and it sticks together easily. Transfer dough to a rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and press into one uniform layer, about an inch thick. Freeze for about 5 minutes, then remove and cut into bars. Go enjoy a little snack attack!

Feel free to use any of your favorite nuts or superfoods! See ya Larabars!