My family has a healthy obsession with Lärabars. I allot at least $20 of our grocery budget each week towards those gluten-free bars of goodness. Lately, I have been growing tired of my grocer's selection of Lärabars and decided to get creative and make a few flavor combinations of my own. This recipe is my family’s favorite! I paired two of my current flavor obsessions, cranberries and coconut, with all of the makings of a Lärabar and let my food processor do the rest. We have been taking these energy packed bars everywhere we go and our almost 2 year old son, Kash, likes them so much that he affectionately calls them cookies. I have found that by making them myself I also save money. I can make little bars for the kids and big bars for us. No more opening a whole bar for Kash, only to have it be completely dried out before someone else was ready to finish it off.
Coconut Cranberry Raw Bars
- Yield: 5-6 snack size bars 1x
Ingredients
- ½ cup almonds
- ½ cup cashews
- 1 cup dates
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
Instructions
- In a food processor combine the nuts, dates, and cranberries. Process until the dough is sticky and the pieces of nuts and fruit are all similar sized pieces. Add coconut oil and process to combine. Add the shredded coconut and pulse just until combined. Be careful not to over process at this point. Shape into equal sized bars, or roll into bite sized balls and wrap in parchment paper or plastic wrap. These raw bars should keep in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container for up to a month.
Julia says
Hi Meg,
I used a blender for this next recipe. I had bought a food processor, but it was malfunctioning and I had to return. Now I have to wait until the store returns my money and I can buy a new one. So, I thought, why not try using a blender? It takes more time, but it's possible!
I used: cashews, brazilian nuts, hazelnuts, white raisins, dried apricots and honey. I had to do it in batches. First, each nut. I used the pulse button for them. When I finished each of them, I put on a bowl. Then, the raisins, and finally, the apricots. I put everything on a big bowl, added around 2 Tbsp of honey and just blended them together with my hand, just as if it was bread dough.
It was delicious! And because I didn't use dates, which are so so so sweet, these bars ended up slightly sour, which I love.
By the way, Meg, I never mentioned it before, but discovering your blog was like a blessing for me and my family. My mom is celiac, and I'm allergic to milk protein. And I find it amazing that now I can make cereal bars that my mom can eat and carry around, as many days she works from morning 'till night and doesn't have proper food to eat.
By the way, I'll try a new gluten free bread recipe, and I'll let you know if it works!
Meg says
Julia, thank you. I am so happy that you are inventing your own bars and trying new ways to make the raw bars! I am so grateful that you found B&B and that you are sharing your discoveries with me. Keep up the good work, I cant wait to see what you come up with next!
Julia says
Hi Meg,
I've just tried a variation of your recipe for this bar:
1/2 cup almonds - I used hazelnut
1/2 cup cashews
1 cup dates
1/2 cup dried cranberries - I used dried apricot
1 cup shredded coconut - I didn't use it
2 Tbsp. coconut oil - I used honey
They were so tasty! Next time I'll try using dried bananas 😉
Meg says
Julia, your bars sound delicious! I am so glad that you liked them.
Julia says
Hi Meg,
I saw this recipe months ago at the Gourmandelle blog, and since then, I've had it in my mind that I want to make my own bars. I stopped eating bars, because the ones I find are usually full of sugar. And now I'm looking for a food processor, but never in my life I've had one and I'm completely lost as to what I should look for. I live in Brazil and I found this mini processor from cuisinart here
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-DLC-1SS-Mini-Prep-Processor-Stainless/dp/B00007IT2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370536740&sr=8-1&keywords=cuisinart+mini+processor
Is this good for the bars, are the inside blades enough, or should a look for another one, with slicing, chopping discs, etc?
Meg says
Hi Julia! I am so glad that you stopped by. I like Cuisinart products and this mini-food processor is nice, except that the bowl is so small that you will have to work in batches. I use a larger Cuisinart food processor and LOVE it! The blades are great and although I don't use the discs much I enjoy having them when I really need them. I suggest a larger model, with a 7 or 9 cup capacity bowl simply because they are sturdier, work harder, and last longer. This one is similar to mine: http://astore.amazon.com/bearandbonn-20/detail/B001413A0Q
I know it costs a bit more, but I think you will find yourself using it a lot. I hope this helps!
Julia says
Hi Meg,
thanks for your answer! I'll look for a bigger one from Cuisinart here, and if I can't find it, I'll try a similar one to yours, from another brand. Thanks so much for the help!
Meg says
No problem Julia!! I would love to know how you like the bars once you try them.:)
Lynn says
I clicked the link for Cascal and it went to a page for coca cola....is this correct? If so, not cool....how can I trust anything coca cola puts on the label of their "natural" products? If the link is wrong at least you know you need to correct it.
Meg says
Hi Lynn, it is my understanding from Cascal that Coca-Cola bought them out and then decided to discontinue the product. Sorry for any confusion that this may have caused, we were really sad to see Cascal go away.
Glorianne Garza says
Thank you for this great recipe. Glad you are making your own bars instead of buying Larabars. Although they may not contain GMOs ( not sure) I just wanted to tell just in case you did not know that their parent company, General Mills spent $1.2 Million to stop GMO labeling in California I will not buy Larabars or anything from those companies who poured money against Prop 37.
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma) says
These sound delightful!! YUM!!! I got them tweeted and pinned! Thanks for linking up at Gluten Free Fridays! Cindy
Lauren says
These look delicious! I love cranberries, but have never thought to pair them with coconut. The idea is very appealing though, so I will have to try these out! Beautiful pictures by the way! I love that first one. 🙂
admin says
Thanks Lauren! I have to admit I am a little obsessed with this flavor combo right now. I hope you enjoy them!
Dana says
Not sure how I missed this one, but OMG - I'm buying dates asap and making these for myself. There is a slight chance my picky girl will try them, but coconut isn't really her thing... but it is mine! Oh, I envy your adventurous eaters 🙂
-Dana
admin says
Hey Dana,
Thanks so much:) I am working on a few more recipes for bars like these and I will be sure to include some without coconut! You must make a batch of these for yourself though and indulge your love of coconut.
Dana says
Quick q - what kind of dates do you use, and do you soak them first (to soften)?
Thanks!
-Dana
admin says
Hi Dana,
I use fresh Medjool dates that I can pick up from the fresh veggie section at Trader Joe's. (The package says "fancy".) I simply cut them in half, remove the seed, and then cut the halves into quarters so that it is easier on my food processor. If you have dried dates, I am guessing that you will need to soak them first. Hope this helps!
Emily says
Just wanted to thank you for posting this recipe! I tried them last night and they are completely brilliant. I rolled some of my'batter' into balls and dipped a few in dark chocolate for an extra special treat. Have recommended the recipe to everyone. Will keep checking back for more healthy recipes on your website.
Thanks again!
admin says
Emily,
You just made my night, thank you so much! I have to try them dipped in dark chocolate.
Gretchen says
I can't wait to try this, and about a million other recipes I have found on your lovely blog. I would love to know how you went about shaping this dough into bars, any tricks or tips? Thank you!
admin says
Hi Gretchen, thank you so much! Shaping the bars is really easy. All I do, is pour the dough onto a cookie sheet and mold it into a rectangle that is about 1 inch tall. Place the cookie sheet in the fridge to set for a few hours or overnight. Then score the dough into the size bars that I want and cut with a sharp knife. Thanks for stopping by!:)
Jo@foodepix.com says
Your pictures are lovely, would love for you to share your pictures with us at foodepix.com.
Joe says
Sweetened or unsweetened coconut?
Thanks!
admin says
Hi Joe, I had sweetened coconut on hand when we made this batch. If you give it a try with unsweetened let me know how it turns out.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
I love Cascal too! I also have a weakness for fizzy drinks, but the sweetness of most regular sodas is too much for me now--or at least, too much to have on a regular basis. And these bars look amazing! SO much better than the store-bought ones!
admin says
Thanks Kiersten! When they contacted me I remembered having read about it on your blog. I was so excited to try it!