These homemade Larabar Bites can be made in minutes and are full of wholesome plant-based ingredients. They taste like chewy mint chocolate brownies & are perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings!
Larabars are great but they aren’t cheap and they are so easy to make yourself. I spotted the new Mint Chocolate Truffle Larabar Bites recently and they look awesome. They are a little bit more decadent than regular Larabars and are more truffle-like, but they are pretty expensive for the amount you get in the bag. I knew that I could probably whip some Homemade Larabar Bites myself and they would be much more budget friendly.
I make my Peanut Butter Amazeballs a lot as they keep for ages in the fridge and are perfect for quick snacks and lunch box additions. These Homemade Larabar Bites are similar in style but are more dessert-like. They are perfect for when you feel like something sweet after dinner or for when chocolate cravings hit, which if you are like me, could be anytime!
SIMPLE WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS
These Homemade Larabar Bites are dairy-free, gluten-free and have only 6 ingredients. Dates, almonds, chocolate chips, cocoa, coconut flour, peppermint oil and water.
They are date based but don’t let that put you off. You really can’t taste the dates. They give the bites a lovely chewy, brownie like texture and mean that you don’t need to add any sweetener of any kind.
HOW TO MAKE THESE HOMEMADE LARABAR BITES
They are a breeze to make. Literally throw everything in a food processor and blend until smooth. Then you just have to shape them into balls and you’re done. I left mine just like that but you could also roll them in cocoa powder, dip them in chocolate or roll them in finely chopped almonds to make them look prettier if you wanted to.
If you don’t want to roll them into balls you could line a brownie pan with baking parchment, press the mixture into it, refrigerate, then cut into squares once it has firmed up a bit.
If you give these Homemade Truffle Larabar Bites a try be a star and let me know what you think in the comments section below. You can share your pics on Instagram too. Tag them with #avirtualvegan so I don’t miss them!
Mint Chocolate Truffle Larabar Bites
Ingredients
- 130g | 10 large medjool dates , pitted
- 200g | 1½ cups raw almonds
- 180g | 1 cup chocolate chips , I used semi-sweet dark ones
- 20g | ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 28g | ¼ cup coconut flour
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon peppermint extract , or 5 - 10 drops peppermint oil, (start at the lower end of the scale then taste once it's mixed together. If you would prefer it a little stronger then add some more but do it very gradually)
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Put the almonds in a food processor and blend until a fine flour.
- Add the dates, chocolate chips, coconut flour and cocoa and process again until well combined.
- Add the peppermint extract/oil and water.
- Process until well combined and balling up.
- Taste a tiny bit and add more peppermint if required. Process again to combine if you do,
- Remove the blade and form the dough into balls. You can make them whatever size you prefer. Mine were the size of walnuts.
Recipe Notes
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for up to 3 weeks.
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
I love dates! I definitely prefer to make these at home instead of spending so much money on Larabars.
A Virtual Vegan says
Me too! They are so expensive to buy and homemade ones taste just as good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Mint chocolate is my favorite chocolate combo, always and forever! I love making my mint chocolate energy bites!
A Virtual Vegan says
You just can’t beat mint and chocolate together!
Dianne's Vegan Kitchen says
I love how easy this recipe is! So much better than store-bought!
A Virtual Vegan says
They are. Thanks Dianne :O)
Linda @ Veganosity says
I love Larabars! These sound heavenly!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks Linda!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says
Mint and chocolate is one of my favorite all time combos!! And I love the Lara Bites. SO good! Awesome you made your own version!
A Virtual Vegan says
I agree. It has got to be one of THE best combos ever! Thanks Sophia :O)
Tazim says
These would be awesome for hiking!
A Virtual Vegan says
They would! They travel really well although if it’s warm they get a little melty. Nothing an ice-pack couldn’t cure though!
Sarah says
I love making homemade Lara bars in all flavors!!! So quick and easy!
A Virtual Vegan says
They are amazingly quick and easy to make! That’s half the appeal I think ;O)
Mary Ellen @ VNutrition says
These look like such a healthy dessert and so easy to make! Much better than store-bought bars!
PS – We have the same food processor!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks Mary Ellen. It’s quicker to whip them up yourself than it is to go to the store! And I love my food processor although there seems to be something wrong with it at the moment. It only works if I press the top down with my hand. I don’t usually mind but making nut butter at the weekend gave me arm ache!
Uma says
Looks very delicious! Healthy and fun treat for kids:)
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks Uma :O)
SFerd says
I have a large number of flours–but not coconut flour. Can you suggest a substitute? I don’t require GF, if that helps.
A Virtual Vegan says
I haven’t tried them with any other flours so I can’t guarantee the results if you try it. Coconut flour behaves a little differently to other flours and tastes good raw. Other flour such as all purpose or wholewheat don’t taste so good raw and might make the balls a little gummy. Of all of them oat flour might be the best or just some mornealmodn flour. You might need to adjust the quantity slightly though as coconut flour is extremely absorbent.Start with the same amount and add an extra tablespoon at a time until it all binds together well enough to form into balls. As I said though I haven’t tried it myself so can’t guarantee how it will turn out.
Melissa @ Vegan Huggs says
Yum! This looks & sounds way better than Lara Bars. I used to be addicted to those back in the day. The cost really adds up over time. So nice to create a better version at home for much cheaper.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Melissa!
Jacqui Pappas says
Do you think I could start with almond meal/flour instead of grinding the whole almonds?
A Virtual Vegan says
Hi Jacqui. I am sure that would be fine although I haven’t tried it myself so I’m not sure exactly how much almond flour you would need. I am guessing 1.75 – 2 cups of almond flour. It’s. A pretty flexible recipe so if you find after mixing it all up the mixture is too dry just add a drop more water and if it’s a little wet just add a bit more almond flour until you can roll it into balls easily. Hope that help :0)
Jacqui says
Thanks for responding so quickly!
kimmythevegan says
“They are date based but don’t let that put you off.” How would that put me off?? I love dates.
These sound so good! I haven’t seen the lara truffle bites, but I’d prefer to make my own anyway.
These sound amazeballs! Can’t wait to try them =)
A Virtual Vegan says
Dates don’t put me off either as I love them but I felt the need to mention it as some people don’t like a datey flavour. It’s covered up so well in these with the chocolate and the mint that I don’t think it’s detectable at all. I am sure you would love them and yes they are amazeballs! Thanks Kimmy :O)
Jenn says
I used to eat a ton of Larabars. They are so good!! My hubby is a huge mint lover, so I’ll have to make these. I know the kids would love them too!
A Virtual Vegan says
They work out so expensive when you buy them from the store don’t they? Much cheaper and more satisfying to make them yourself. And they are great for kids to make too! Hope they all enjoy them :O)
Amanda says
I made these without the mint, and they’re delicious! I rolled the balls in coconut flour when they were done so that they don’t stick together. Thanks for this recipe — it made a ton of bites at a fraction of the cost of the store-bought ones. 🙂
A Virtual Vegan says
That’s great Amanda. So glad you enjoyed them!
Rachel says
These were SO tasty and quick to make! I wrapped them in parchment paper and rolled it out to a rectangle and cut them up into bars like the Larabars. I am going to introduce them to the kids in the morning! So excited
A Virtual Vegan says
So glad you like them Rachel and I hope the kids enjoy them too! My son certainly does. They disappear before I get a look in!
Teresa Chrisinger says
Hi Mel, I’m just going back through all of your recipes and am diving in to trying this oldie but goodie. I have a question about the dates, do they need to be pitted? (and if so do you have any recommendations for pitting dates)
Cheers,
Teresa
A Virtual Vegan says
They do need to be pitted. I just added it to the recipe so that it’s clearer. As for tips on pitting, medjool dates are usually pretty soft and I just pull them apart with my fingers and pick the pits out.They come out really easily. Sometimes the dates are a little tougher if they are a bit old so I use a little knife and just slit each one lengthways then go back through and pull out the pits. It doesn’t take long at all.
Funnily enough, my husband asked me if I could make them this week as he’s riding 240km at the weekend 😱 and they are great for an energy boost. He loves them. Hope you enjoy them too!