Chocolate Cherry Protein Bars
Wow chocolate is amazing – I never add it to things unless I’m making brownies or something, but that may change.
This awesomeness, from Dramatic Pancake is like make-your-own Lara Bars, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.
I made a few of changes and they came out tasting great, but they were a little crumbly. Here’s what I think happened:
I used Deglet Noor dates (just looked up the name) which are not as plump and sticky as Medjool. This, I think, is the main reason they didn’t end up sticking together well. (Medjool are better in my opinion anyway, hence the reason they were out of them at the store). In remedy, I added a few tablespoons of almond butter, which helped a lot, but I think the dates are the key.
I used pumpkin seeds instead of almonds – totally tasty, and such a good crunch!! Will definitely make that choice again.
The cherries are super intense! Delicious, but I almost want to cut it with something (like ice cream!) So next time I will either skip or replace them with something less rich, like currants.
Also, apparently my mom doesn’t like dates. I have never heard of this. But it made me think that Turkish apricots might make a good substitute, since they’re super gooey too. Something to try!
(And, if you haven’t already, and you’re interested, please click to “Follow” me at the bottom of the page – super appreciate it!!)
I HIGHLY recommend Angela’s Oh She Glows site. It’s one of my top 5 sites to go to for healthy food. She has many Lara Bar recipes. This link is to her site’s Lara Bar posts: http://bit.ly/ZEgWOT
Thanks Laura! I’m gonna try to make her pecan pie one – I’ll let you know how it goes!!
I’ve incorporated figs into my few attempts at Lara Bars. They are rich and have a relatively high glycemic index but they’re also a great source of complex carbohydrate and will help it all stick together.
Oh awesome suggestion!
I nominated you for an award! http://domesticdivamd.com/fun-facts-and-favorites/inspiring-blog-award/
Oh my goodness – thank you so much!! I’m very new to blogging so I don’t know much about this kind of thing, but I will look into it!!
It’s a way to share other blogs you like with your own readers than anything else, and you’re welcome! 🙂
I recently discovered the secret to being able to use any kind of date in these Lara bar type recipes. You soak them in water for a couple of hours first and that softens them and moistens them, making them easier to grind into a paste.
Awesome – thanks so much for the tip!!