Ever tried your hand at homemade energy bars? With Larabars and Clif bars all the rage, we couldn’t resist trying a version made at home. These healthy vegan energy bars are similar to homemade Larabar, but with slightly more texture. Like a raw brownie (our go-to healthy dessert), they’re gluten-free and all natural, made mainly of Medjool dates and nuts. This version uses hazelnuts for a more complex flavor, and dried cherries for a tart note that compliments the sweet. They’re based off an idea from one of our favorite cookbooks, Whole Grain Mornings by Megan Gordon.
How to make vegan energy bars
Making these healthy vegan energy bars is very easy: all you’ll need is a food processor! You’ll need a large food processor for the size of this batch. Simply blend all the ingredients together, then add another handful of cherries and pulse to combine to get a little texture. Blending all the ingredients will form a sticky dough. Roll the dough onto a rimmed baking sheet and allow it to freeze for 45 minutes to harden, then cut it into squares and you’re ready to go! A few notes on ingredients: it can sometimes be hard to find hazelnuts. If you can’t find them, almonds work too! It’s easiest and cheapest to buy them in the bulk section. A note on the type of dates: you’ll need Medjool dates for this one. Medjool dates are very large, sticky dates that have a caramel flavor and a soft texture. They’re essential to get the right consistency for these vegan energy bars. Medjool dates are becoming more and more common in grocery stores in the US. Sometimes they’re packaged with the dried fruit; other times they’re in bulk in the product section.
Looking for healthy snack recipes?
Outside of these healthy vegan energy bars, here are a few more healthy snacks we love:
Cinnamon Yogurt Fruit DipHummus and Veggie Roll UpsGarlic Herb White Bean DipVery Verde Cilantro DipHealthy Banana Bread MuffinsClassic Homemade HummusHealthy Greek Yogurt Ranch DipChocolate Blueberry SmoothieSuperfood Pecan Energy Bars
This recipe is…
This healthy vegan energy bars recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free. 5 from 1 review
