Five-Ingredient Double Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars {copycat Lara Bars}

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Chewy chocolaty-cherry bars, dotted with bits of pistachio and white chocolate, when you need an on-the-go, portable snack, or even a healthy treat, whip up a batch of these easy, tasty, gluten-free, and easily-made vegan Five-Ingredient Double Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars {copycat Lara Bars}.

Disclaimer: Mini Babybel® provided me with product for this review. However, thoughts and opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the brand. Writing this post enters me in a random drawing sweepstakes to win a $200 American Express Gift Card. I received no additional compensation and wa sunder no obligation to write this post or review the product. 

Five-Ingredient Double Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars {copycat Lara Bars}

I swear, my kid is on the “See Food Diet”. You know, the one where if he sees food, he has to eat it. He will have eaten a decent-sized breakfast and snitched a piece of daddy’s breakfast bar or a quarter of my grandma’s muffin or waffle, and if I so much as pull a piece of fruit out of the fridge or make a smoothie, he immediately needs more food. After a snack a school, a hefty lunch (if you follow my Facebook page, you see what I pack for him), and an afternoon snack, if he sees me open a package of cheese to put some in his lunch for the next day or to add to dinner, he immediately requests a piece. All of this to the wails of “I’m starrrrrrvvvvvinggg!!” Mind you, three seconds ago, he was happily playing with no concerns about eating.

My mom told me that today, after finishing his two servings of mac & cheese with ham and veggies, he found his little brother’s leftovers, and proceeded to polish them off. He tells me he thought it was lunchtime.

#bottomlesspit

Since he he always on-the-go and always hungry, I always pack snacks so that I’m not stuck with a whiny child or limited options that will likely leave him bouncing off the walls and hungry again in ten minutes. And with as much as he eats, I like to make sure his snacks and meals are pretty healthy, so that we can allow for some sweet treat indulgences, especially on a fun trip to grandma’s.

These Five-Ingredient Double Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars are low in refined sugar, and packed with fruit and nuts, but they are so sweet, chewy and delicious that you’ll think you are having dessert! You don’t even have to tell your kids that your giving them good stuff to keep them (and you) satisfied and energized!

You can cut them into larger bars, but for the little guys, I like to cut them into smaller squares to be kiddie snack size.

Since we were heading to my mom’s for about ten days, and I knew that between the 3 1/2 hour drive and all the activities we had planned I would undoubtedly get wails of “I’m huuuuuuuunnngggryyyyy!!”, I made sure to pack these Five-Ingredient Double Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars plus a stash of the varieties of cheese I received from the folks at Mini Babybel®. These definitely came in handy when we went for a late lunch one day, and even on the ride down to my mom’s when both of us got some snack cravings.

Chocolate, fruit, cheese – what more could you need from your afternoon pick-me-up, to help keep you satisfied and fueled up for all of the spring break adventures between now and dinnertime!

What is your favorite snack to pack when you are on-the-go?

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Five-Ingredient Double Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars

Chewy Double Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars, dotted with bits of pistachio and white chocolate, are for when you need a portable snack or just a healthy treat!

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 30 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 12 -16

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Ingredients

• 1 cup shelled pistachios
• 1 cup Medjool dates pitted
• 1 cup dried cherries
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt optional
• 2 tablespoons white chocolate chips use vegan, if desired

Instructions

• Toast pistachios in a small pan over medium heat until lightly browned and they give off a nutty aroma. Set aside to cool.
• Line a 8×8 or 9×9 square pan with wax or paper.
• Place dates, cherries, cocoa powder and salt in a food processor, and process until the mixture forms a large mass.
• Break up slightly with a spatula, add pistachios to the mixture in the food processor, and pulse until there are small chunks of pistachio.
• Break up the mixture one more time, add white chocolate chips and pulse a few times to slightly break and distribute the chips.
• Press the mixture into the prepared pan. You can cover the top with more paper and press an equal sized pan to roll the top with a glass to flatten completely.
• Refrigerate for 30-45 minutes, then slice into bars or squares.

Nutrition Facts

Five-Ingredient Double Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 139 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 1mg0%

Sodium 28mg1%

Potassium 210mg6%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 16g18%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 420IU8%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 34mg3%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips, adapted from 5 Ingredient Chocolate Energy Bars from Knead to Cook

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keywords: chocolate cherry bars, healthy energy bars, homemade chocolate energy bars, homemade energy bars

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Enjoy!

Need some more packable snackables?

• Banana Nut Bread Granola Bars
• Gluten-Free Cheddar Crackers
• {healthier) Glazed Mexican Chocolate Popcorn

And here are some from my friends…

• No-Bake Oatmeal Fruit Cookies from Food Done Light
• Apple Cinnamon Graham Crackers from Heather’s French Press
• Chocolate Chip Brownie Bars from Roxana’s Home Baking