Let’s talk about homemade Three Ingredient Cookie Dough LaraBars for just a moment. Rewind. Let’s just talk about Lärabars in general and then we will get to the homemade part. After that, we will get to the part where we talk about just how easy Three Ingredient Cookie Dough LaraBars really are to make.
I am guessing most of you know what a larabar is, but just in case you don’t, let’s come up with a quick definition.
Lärabar, by result of my google search, is defined as a brand of energy bar produced by General Mills. The bars come in a variety of flavors such as Apple Pie, Carrot Cake, and Mint Chip Brownie.
A little bit better of a definition, in my opinion, is… An all natural and whole ingredient energy bar made up of delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts, and spices. They are unprocessed, uncooked and never baked. They are as close to their natural state as possible! Woot Woot!
Each flavor of the store bought Lärabar contains less than nine ingredients, with the cashew flavor having only two – seriously, THAT’S IT! Just two simple ingredients. Here is my take on the cashew Lärabar, but with three ingredients instead of two. I know, I know. Things are getting complicated! 😉 Yes, three ingredients…. DATES, SALTED CASHEWS, AND VANILLA. That’s it! The vanilla makes it taste a bit like cookie dough and that is one flavor I am all about!
Let’s quickly break down the two main ingredient nutrients in these bars and then we will talk a little bit about my food processor that I am so very much in love with.
MEDJOOL DATES:
Medjool dates are a FRESH FRUIT. Most people think of dates as a dried fruit because they’re thinking of the dates you buy in the baking aisle. Medjool dates are actually harvested from the date palm, cleaned, sorted and packaged right away. There’s no processing and they’re never physically or chemically dried. That’s why you’ll find them in the produce section at the grocery store. Medjool dates have a rich, almost caramel-like taste and a soft, chewy texture whereas regular dates, commonly called Deglet Noor, are usually smaller and have a firm flesh and a sweet, delicate flavor. Medjool dates contain natural sugar, but they have a low/medium glycemic index score because they also contain a good amount of fiber, which slows the release of the carbohydrates and gives you sustained energy rather spiking your blood sugar crazy high. They’re also low in fat and packed with nutrients like potassium (50% more potassium by weight than a banana), copper, magnesium, vitamin B6, niacin, calcium, iron and vitamin K!
CASHEWS:
Cashews have a buttery, sweet, and salty taste, an unmistakable shape, and are an excellent source of several vitamins and minerals. I won’t get into the science of it all, but cashews have been linked to blood, heart and eye health. The fat in cashews is a “good fat” which is believed to help prevent heart disease and reduce the risk of stroke. The fat also helps you feel full and satisfied and may help in managing your weight! All in all, cashews are a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients.
My beloved food processor:
Ok, now let’s talk about my beloved food processor. For years a used a little Kitchen Aid that worked ok, but it was just too small and not quite powerful enough to make things like double batches of Lärabars or our favorite scones. I told my husband, Logan, that I wanted a new one for Christmas. So in true Logan fashion, he did a crazy amount of research to find the best possible food processor on the market. His research led us to the Breville BFP660SIL Sous Chef 12 Food Processor and I LOVE IT! It’s a little on the pricey side, but so worth it. It makes cutting butter into scones a breeze and it is big enough to cook in bulk! 😉 It also chops and slices veggies like a dream!
This recipe for Three Ingredient Cookie Dough LaraBars is just a VERY basic Lärabar recipe and there are many more combos to come! Let’s get the basics down first, and to be honest, sometimes this is all we have time or patients for. Throw three things in a food processor and be done with it! 😉
Three Ingredient Cookie Dough Larabars
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 lb medjool dates
- 2 cups salted cashews
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pit all of the dates and place in a food processor. (DO NOT forget to pit them! I have done this and it didn't end well.)
- Add salted cashews and vanilla to the dates and blend until they reach your desired consistency. (I like some of the cashews to be a bit crunchy, so I try to not over blend.)
- Spray an 8×8" baking dish and spread the 'dough' out on the bottom of the pan evenly. (Tip: Use a square of wax or parchment paper to pat it down evenly.)
- Pop them in the refrigerator for a few hours, cut into squares and enjoy!
Want another easy snack ideas? Check these out!
