Homemade energy bars are a delicious and healthy way to incorporate energy-boosting snacks to your diet. These lemon coconut larabars are divine and only require a handful of ingredients to prepare.
The chewy dates and crunchy nuts combined with sweet coconut flakes and fresh lemon zest make for a variety of palate-pleasing textures and a delicious flavour combination.
I jumped on the energy bar bandwagon a few years ago and since then I’ve spent more money on them than I care to divulge. After creating this recipe as well as other homemade larabar recipes such as; Chocolate Coconut Larabars and Pumpkin Coconut Larabars, I made the conscious decision to spend my money on fresh, good-quality ingredients…and make my own from now on.
My pantry and fridge are almost always well-stocked with essential ingredients, which means these bars are not only healthy, but quick and easy to make.
Ingredients
(Yields about 6 2 x 3 inch bars)
1 (packed) cup Medjool dates
1/2 cup raw walnuts or cashews
3 tbsp. almond butter
1 tbs. agave nectar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut flakes
1 tbs. ground flax seed (optional)
1/8 tsp. sea salt (optional)
Place the nuts in a small food processor and pulse until crumbly. Add the remaining ingredients and process until combined and the mixture is uniform, with no large pieces unprocessed.
My sous-chef needed to assess the consistency before I continue!
The mixture should be crumbly yet it should still hold together well when pressed together. If the mixture it too sticky add 1-2 tbs. of nuts, or if it’s too crumbly, add 1-2 tbs. of almond butter or agave then blend until combined.
Dollop the mixture into a biscotti pan (or pan of choice) lined with parchment paper. Flatten the mixture with your fingers until about 3/4 – 1 inch thick and press down firmly.
Place the bars in the fridge and let sit for at least 2-3 hours until very firm. Once firm, simply lift the parchment paper from the pan, peel off and discard then cut the bars into desired sizes.
These are an ideal treat for toddlers as you can break up them up into smaller pieces yet still adult-friendly and a great snack option to bring to work or pre or post-gym workout!
Grab a bar for an on-the-go treat or enjoy a bar in the comfort of your own home with some coffee or tea.
I just made these, and oh my goodness are they good. My batch tasted like lemon pound cake. Thank you so much for sharing!
Glad you loved them! And thanks for the feedback-it’s always nice to hear 😉
Wow you have my mouth watering right now. THe recipe sounds great. I am going to try it tonight. I do have a question: Would you allow me to post this recipe over at my site http://bestproteinbarsreport.com? It be great if I could share this with my readers. Thanks.
Thanks Vincent! I am a chocoholic but this one is definitely my favourite…I just love the combo of the lemon and coconut. Of course you can post this on your site, if you could just share a link or refer back to my site that would be great! Hope you check out some of the other energy bar recipes!
Thanks. And of course I would give you a link (a good one too. One that matters…I am a bit of SEO enthusiast.)
Thanks for letting me post your recipe. I will definitely check out your others recipes. But for now you can go to my site and your recipe if you wish…and yes there is a link right back you guys. Thanks for sharing. You rock.
Awesome, thanks!
I made these yesterday! My only mishap is that I processes the ingredients too long (I was going for a smoother texture) and the cuisines got warm, which then made the coconut oil runny! Forming the bars was a little messy, but the taste is fantastic! I also added more lemon zest, and chia seeds. Great recipe!!
Wow, I just saw this message today! If you’re still around (I mean, checking out the Blog) thanks for the feedback and I love the idea about adding the chia seeds 😉
I just saw this post today! If you still check out the Blog thanks for the feedback 😉
I’m pretty sure the recommendation is after 1 year. Having said that, some doctors are now saying to introduce common allergens earlier rather than later! You hear something different all the time…I would speak to your doctor and go with you instincts as well. If you choose not to use walnuts you could try substituting with sunflower seeds or another seed. You might not get the same consistency and have to alter the quantity but it’s worth a try!
thank you, i think he should be ok, no allergies and he eats almonds fine. cant wait to make these and the others to come
That’s great! He’s be happy that you’re making them for him 😉
are walnuts safe for a 20 month old to eat? i bet my son would love these- and so would I! thank you for posting!