Homemade Lara Bars
Ingredients
- 2½ cups pecans
- ¼ cup cacao powder see note
- 15-20 large Medjool dates pitted, or about 8-9 ounces (see note)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- Optional Add In’s: coconut flakes mini chocolate chips, any dried fruit
Instructions
- Lightly toast the pecans by spreading them out on a cookie sheet and baking at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes. You will smell them, toasty and wonderful. Careful not to burn them, it will happen quickly!
- Blend toasted pecans and cacao powder in a food processor until powdery and coarsely ground. Do not process so long that you have nut butter.
- Add in dates and process until blended into dry ingredients, this might take a minute.
- Pulse in the vanilla until well combined.
- Add dried cranberries, pulsing a few times to mix.
- Press mixture into an 8×8 inch dish. Freeze or refrigerate for 1 hour, or until firm, and then cut into 16 squares.
Notes
Use unsweetened and high quality cocoa. It makes a big difference in the taste. I love Dagoba.Don’t use other date varieties. Medjool are the Cadillacs of the date world-- much softer and more caramel flavors than other varieties.