make your own larabar type thing!

A ridiculously healthy whole food bar that’s school safe and shit even! Fuck buying this shit in the store - you can whip it up super quick in your own home. The initial recipe below is for a school-safe Apple Pie version but I've added a ton of variations on the bottom for you to mix and match the flavours!

Serves: 8 (or, you know, cut 'em up any which way you fancy for your desired snack size - my wife often takes half of one - which drives me fucking nuts - but you do you)

INGREDIENTS (Apple Pie edition):

1/4 cup dates

1 cup dried apple

1 cup hot water

1/2 cup tiger nuts**

1/2 sunflower seeds

2 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

Boil the water and add to the dates and dried fruit to soften. Let sit for a few minutes.

Meanwhile throw the tiger nuts and seeds into a food processor and whirl till that shit is chopped up and combined. Add cinnamon and pulse.

Drain water off the fruit and pat it down with paper towels. Add to the food processor and pulse until everything is combined.

In a wax lined loaf pan spread the mixture out evenly. Stick it in the fridge for 30-60 minutes and then cut into 8 pieces. Put it back in the fridge - it’ll stay nice and fresh for about a week - any longer and you’ll want to freeze it.

TIPS:

**Tiger nuts are fucking delicious and you can find them at most health and/or bulk stores. If they’re really hard soak them first. If you can’t find them sub them with walnuts or pecans or just more sesame to keep that shit school friendly.

If you want to amp up the protein in these feel free to add a few scoops of unflavoured protein powder. Start with 1/4 cup and see where that gets you.

Honestly - you can swap out any dried fruit (not the dates) and any nut in the same quantities as above. Change up the spices to go with whatever the fuck your brain is cooking up.

VARIATIONS:

(Prepare the bars according to the above recipe, substituting the following ingredients)

Cherry Pie: 1 cup packed dried cherries, 1/4 cup packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup raw almonds, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Dark Chocolate Brownie: 1 cup packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water, 1/2 cup raw almonds, 1/2 cup raw walnuts, 3 tablespoons bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder.

Cashew Cookie: 1 1/4 cups packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water, 1 cup raw cashews, 3 tablespoons bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips (optional).

Peanut Cookie Dough: 1 1/4 cups packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water, 1 cup 
raw peanuts, 3 tablespoons bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips (optional).

Pecan Pie: 1 1/4 cups packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water, 1/4 cup raw almonds, 3/4 cup raw pecans.

Gingerbread: 1 1/4 cups packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1/2 cup raw almonds, 1/2 cup raw pecans, 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves.

PB & J: 1/2 cup packed dried cherries, 3/4 cup packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water, 1 cup raw or roasted peanuts.

Cappuccino: 1 1/4 cups packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water,
1/2 cup raw almonds, 1/2 cup raw cashews, 1 tablespoon roasted coffee beans, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Tropical Escape: 1 cup dried, unsweetened pineapple, 1 cup warm water, 1 cup raw cashews, 1/4 cup dried, unsweetened flaked or shredded coconut, and 1 tablespoon finely grated tangerine or orange zest (preferably organic).

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup warm water, 3/4 cup raw cashews, 3/4 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking rolled oats, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon..

Blueberry Cobbler: 1 cup packed dried blueberries, 1/4 cup packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water, 3/4 cup raw walnuts or raw pecans, 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (preferably organic).

Carrot Cake: 1/2 cup packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1/4 cup raisins, 1/4 cup dried, unsweetened pineapple, 1 cup warm water, 1 cup raw walnuts, 1/4 
cup peeled, shredded carrots, 1/4 cup unsweetened flake or shredded coconut, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Apricot Ambrosia: 1 1/4 cups dried apricots, 1 cup warm water, 2/3 cup raw almonds, 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked or shredded coconut, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Key Lime: 1 cup packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water, 1 cup raw cashews, 1/3 cup unsweetened flaked or shredded coconut, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest (preferably organic).

Lemon Pie: 1 1/4 cups packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water, 1/2 cup raw almonds, 1/2 cup raw cashews, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest (preferably organic).

Coconut Cream: 1 cup packed, pitted, soft whole dates, 1 cup warm water, 1 cup raw cashews, 1/2 cup unsweetened flake or shredded coconut.

Banana Bread: 1 cup raw or dry roasted almonds, 1 cup dried bananas, and 1 cup Medjool dates.

NOW TRY YOUR OWN VERSION AND LET ME KNOW WHAT THEY ARE!!!

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