3 Homemade Health Bars for Any Taste Bud

Over the past few days I have made several types of homemade health bars. From super healthy to a little sweet, my three favorite recipes will satisfy anyone in your family, hopefully! The best part about these recipes is that you don't need to bake them in the oven and sit around and wait for them. You just put them all together and then set in the fridge or freezer! So let's start with the healthiest one first....

#1 The 3 Ingredient Energy Bar

Ingredients
1 cup nuts (examples: almond, pecan, walnut, macadamia, cashew...)
1 cup dried fruit (examples: cherry, cranberry, apple, apricot, ...)
1 cup dates or dried prunes

My favorite combination = almond, apricot, dried prune, & chia seeds

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse to break up. Now, process in 30 second intervals until well chopped, clumped together, and somewhat gathered into a ball. You might have to stir or break up the larger chunks between intervals. After processing, scoop the power bar dough onto plastic wrap, wax paper, or foil and press down until you reach a desired bar thickness. Wrap and freeze for at least an hour before cutting into bars. After I cut them, I usually put them back in the freezer or fridge and let my family know where to find the stash! For any of these bar recipes, you can always cut and package in baggies to take as a snack on the go!

Other ideas:
-shape into energy balls instead
-try different add-ins such as shredded coconut, chia seeds, chocolate chips, cinnamon, etc.
-for more information, check out the original recipe at The Kitchn

Steps to 3-Ingredient Energy Bars

 

 

#2 Peanut Butter Protein Bars

 

Chocolate Covered Katie has an awesome, easy recipe for homemade Peanut Butter Protein Bars. All you have to do is mix all the ingredients together, dump into a gallon size plastic baggie, form a ball, roll out with a rolling pin to a desired thickness, then cut into bars and store in the fridge or freezer until all the hungry little children come to eat them!

 

Ingredients:

-1/2 cup peanut butter

-1/4 cup protein powder

-3/4 tsp baking soda

-1/4 cup brown sugar

-2 tbsp applesauce

 

My family thought they tasted like peanut butter fudge, whoa did they know how healthy the ingredients were! So, the second time I make them I plan on reducing the 1/4 cup brown sugar to 1/8 cup brown sugar and 1/8 cup ground flaxseed. Try whatever makes your taste buds happiest!



Peanut Butter Protein Bar from Chocolate Covered Katie!
Mine turned out just like this! Enjoy :)

#3 Gwyneth Paltrow's Candy Bars
(aka cashew and chocolate-y goodness)

These were hands down my favorite, but I am a chocoholic so I expected nothing less! My brother and I found this recipe when we were drinking up some healthy juices at the The Gem Juice Bar in Dallas. While sipping, we read Gwyneth Paltrow's new cookbook It's All Good they had sitting out. The recipes all looked delicious so you might want to check it out!





One recipe, specifically, caught out attention, "Candy Bars." Would it catch your attention?! After reading the ingredients to find cashews (my brother's favorite snack) and dark chocolate (my favorite sweet tooth calling), we knew we had to try this recipe! If you are anything like us, you will love this recipe. You might just never buy store bought bars again after tasting this homemade deliciousness!

Ingredients:
-1 1/2 cups raw cashews                                        

-1 1/2 cups dates, pitted and roughly chopped

-1/2 cup almond butter

-1/2 cup maple syrup (preferably Grade B) 

-1/2 cup coconut flour (or any flour will do the job) 

-1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

-1/2 teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla extract) 

-1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips (60% or higher cacao)

-1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil

 

In a food processor, grind cashews to a fine meal or until roughly chopped. Add dates, almond butter, syrup, flour, coconut and almond extract; pulse until a sticky dough forms. (If you don't have a food processor, stirring with a spoon by hand will do the job... it just requires a little muscle!) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. With a drop of water on hands, press cashew mixture onto parchment, forming a 1-inch-thick rectangle. Refrigerate until firm, 6-8 hours. Set a stainless steel or glass bowl over a pot of simmering water (water not touching bowl). In the bowl, combine chocolate chips and oil. Stir until just melted, 3-5 minutes; remove from heat (second option heat in a microwave safe bowl for 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until right chocolate-y consistency). Pour chocolate mixture over cold cashew mixture; smooth with spatula. Refrigerate until chocolate coating sets, at least 1 hour. Using parchment, lift bar out of baking sheet. Cut into 18 rectangles.

 

You can find the recipe in Gwyneth's book or at Self.com!

 

Gwyneth's Professional Candy Bars look like this...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours might look like this but taste heavenly so don't worry...