Homemade Lemon Larabars ~ Healthy ~Vegan ~ Gluten Free Recipe

Homemade Lemon Larabars by Tiffany

My household must have Larabars on hand – ALWAYS! I got savvy real quick after spending too many dollar$ on these tasty babies. With seven of us, all with an addiction to Larabars, I felt my wallet getting lighter day by day. They’re very simple to make and that helps save on my family’s food budget. Plus they’re healthy for you. Win win. To get more similar plant based recipes, you can take a look at janeunchained.com.

I developed these after the hubs brought home a Lemon Larabar. You see, I have a slight addiction to anything lemon. When he saw that Lara made a lemon version, he knew I’d be alloverit! And I was. 😉

*SEE NOTES*

Ingredients

• 4 cups pitted dates
• 1/2 cup raw almonds
• 1 1/4 cup raw cashews
• 1 small lemon – reserve juice and approx. 1 teaspoon of grated rind
• 2 teaspoons pure lemon extract

Directions

1. In a food processor, combine dates, almonds, cashews, juice of one lemon and grated rind; pulse until you get a sticky paste. You will need to stir in between pulsing to get the mixture evenly processed.
2. Remove sticky date mixture from food processor and place into a medium sized bowl, add pure lemon extract. Spray hands or heavy duty spoon with a little non stick cooking spray. Use hands or heavy duty spoon to mix in lemon extract. Line a 2.2 qt. baking dish with plastic wrap. Press mixture evenly into dish.
3.  Refrigerate over night. Cut into bars or see notes.
4. Keep bars refrigerated. Wrap bars individually in plastic wrap for an easy take and go snack or store bars in a covered Pyrex baking dish.

*NOTES*

• The date mixture will be very sticky, this is normal.
• I went a head and added pure lemon extract to give these bars the extra lemon flavor that was missing using only the rind and juice. For me, it was perfect. If you’re a lemon lover and not afraid that the extract will be overpowering (I promise, it’s not.) go a head and add it to the mixture when you add the lemon juice. However, if you only like lemony tasting snacks, I suggest tasting your mixture before adding the extract. If it’s not enough lemon love for you, add the lemon extract 1 teaspoon at a time and taste before adding the next.
• Also, just want to let you know that it’s harder to add the lemon extract after it’s been processed in the food processor. The mixture is too thick & sticky. This is why I pulled the mixture out of the food processor and had to stir it in the bowl.
• If you find that the bar is too sticky for your taste, chop finely, some extra almonds. Remove uncut bars from baking dish, peel off plastic wrap and sprinkle evenly with finely chopped almonds on both sides of the bar, pressing gently, before cutting into bars. Store bars in the refrigerator.