Choconut "Larabars"

Is it just me or is it hard to find truly healthy & affordable snacks these days?

Have no fear, Homemade Larabars to the rescue!

 

These beauties pack 7.6 grams of protein & 5.2 grams of fiber for just 300 calories. If you want a smaller snack then make them into smaller bars or energy balls to pop in your mouth when you need a little energy boost! They will fill you up and keep you going without weighing you down. 

Guilt free yummies, here for your pleasure.

Choconut "Larabars"
{12 servings}

 

1 cup water
18 pitted medjool dates
2/3 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, divided
1 1/2 cups raw walnuts
1 1/2 cups raw cashews
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Add water to a small pot. Place on the stove top on high to bring to a boil. While the water heats up, pit your dates and set aside in a bowl. Once boiling, remove the pot from the heat and add in the dates. Let the dates soak for 5 minutes.

When the dates are done soaking, drain off all the water and add them to a food processor. Add in walnuts, cashews, salt and cocoa. Process until the nuts are roughly chopped, add in coconut, & finish processing until the mixture begins sticking together.

You could use an 8 x 8 pan to press the mixture into then cut into bars, roll individual clumps into balls or, do like I did, separate the batter into 12 equal portions and hand form them into bars, squares, "cookies", whatever shape ya want! =)

Store bars in the fridge to firm up a bit & to keep them nice and fresh!