Raw Lemon Cherry Energy Bars: sure to give you zesty burst in every bite!
Last winter when I first stumbled upon Ricki Heller’s Raw Fig and Cherry Bars recipe, I was struck by how appealing tart dried cherries and lemon zest sounded together. I quickly made them and discovered that her bars did not disappoint! I stuck pretty close to the original recipe and over time have boiled (not literally since these are raw bars:) the recipe down to four main ingredients. If you know me, you know I LOVE recipes with minimal ingredients. I love recipes that I can just make off the top of my head and not dig out a recipe for or have to conduct an Internet search for. AND they are made in less than 10 minutes. Bonus!
I like a little (or a lot) of texture and crunch to most of my food, so I add in some whole almonds. My neighbor and I agreed, being able to crunch down on a bite leaves a feeling of satisfaction at the end. I seriously think that it’s the lemon zest makes this recipe. And pairing the zest with dried tart cherries, EXTRAORDINARY! But don’t just take my word for it. Make them yourself.
My kids seriously can’t get enough of them. My husband loves them, and I love them. 4 Ingredients. Portable. Vegan. Fresh. Delicious. Heavenly. Zesty.
I like to cut them into squares and share them as a little portable snack.
This recipe works best in a food processor for most people. My Vitamix hates processing more than a couple of dates at a time, but my Blendtec eats them up and works perfectly for this recipe. But in general a blender is NOT a good idea to use for this recipe.
Raw Lemon Cherry Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw almonds divided
- 1 1/4 cup dates pitted
- 1 cup tart dried cherries divided
- zest of 1-2 organic lemons
Instructions
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In a food processor (or Blendtec) mix dates, 1 3/4 cups almonds, 1/2 cup of cherries, and lemon zest until it forms into a ball. Give it a few minutes.
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Place the date ball mixture on a cutting board, and add the remaining almonds and cherries.
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Mix all ingredients with your hands until thoroughly combined.
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Use a rolling pin, side of a mug, or hands to flatten the mixture.
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You can place the date mixture in an 8x8 pan lined with parchment paper, if desired.
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Cut, enjoy, cover and refrigerate the leftovers if there are any:).
Have you tried a Double Chocolate Energy Bar?
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Sharing at Weekend Potluck, and some of these great link parties.
Sonja, these look great! I can’t wait to try this recipe. Are they tart with all the lemon, or do the dates sweeten them enough?
Hi Laurie. I think the dates sweeten them enough. You can add a dash of honey or agave, if needed. Hope you enjoy!
Awesome recipe! Thanks so much for sharing at Weekend Potluck. Please come again soon.
Looks like LaraBar is a little behind on this one. It sounds amazing! Going out to get lemons today.
Hi Sarah. You are sweet! I hope you enjoy!!