Homemade Blueberry Larabars

Happy Saturday!

This is my first Saturday post.  I’m so excited!  See it’s these little things that make me happy :).

But one of the things that truly always makes me happy if YOU.  Yes, you!  The fact that you come to my blog and read Krissy’s Creations puts a huge smile on my face!  You are the reason I continue baking and writing posts – Nothing makes me happier than pleasing others with yummy food.

Now, onto these delicious Larabars.  Does everyone know what a Larabar is?  These bars are healthy, energy bars made out of simple, pure ingredients.  No preservatives, no thickeners, just wholesome food packed into a small bar.  

I’ve always been a fan of Larabars because of how simple and healthy they are.  Each different bar contains different types of dried fruits and nuts.  Because of their simplicity I have always thought they would be easy to make at home.  It wasn’t until I saw some different recipes online that I actually got in the kitchen and tried it.  And they were just as easy I thought!  Within 10 minutes you have a tasty snack sitting right in front of you.  Yum!

I decided to make a Blueberry Larabar, based off of the Blueberry Muffin flavored bar.  The ingredients in the blueberry muffin bars are dates, cashews, blueberries, blueberry juice concentrate, lemon juice concentrate, and vanilla extract.  I changed mine up a bit and used dates, almonds, dried blueberries, pure vanilla extract, and a little bit of water to make them more moist.

I thought, and so did my husband Steve, that these tasted better than the original blueberry muffin bar.  Seriously!  They did!  The vanilla flavor is more apparent in my homemade version, which really adds to the overall taste and sweetness of the bar.  The dates and the blueberries add a chewy texture and sweet taste, and then the almonds add a slight crunch.  

The bar at bottom right of this picture is the original Blueberry Muffin Larabar

Be sure when making these to use high quality ingredients.  Because these ingredients are showcased in their purest form, it’s best to use the highest quality product you can find.  Since there are only 5 ingredients (2 of them being vanilla and water), you are given more room to splurge a little :).  

Enjoy these healthy, easy, tasty snacks :)!

Blueberry Lara Bars

For Printable Recipe, Click here!

Makes: 4 bars

1 cup Pitted Dates

1 cup Almonds (I used sliced, but you can use slivered, whole, or whatever you prefer or have on hand)

½ cup Dried Blueberries

1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

2 tsp. Water

In a food processor or a blender (I used a blender because my food processor is broken), combine the dates, almonds, and blueberries.  Process for about 1 minute until the ingredients are fully blended.  Add the vanilla and water* and pulse a couple times. 

*If your mixture is already sticking to itself and doesn’t need the water, do not add it.  You can also add less, or more, if needed. 

Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper, and dump the mixture onto the pan.  Using your hands, press the mixture into a square at the bottom of the pan to create an even layer, about ½ inch thick.  Using a sharp knife, cut the square into 4 rectangle pieces. 

Wrap in plastic wrap and store for about 1-2 weeks.  They keep best in the refrigerator. 

Recipe adapted from The Wanna Be Chef.