These Cashew Cookie bars are just as creamy and sweet as traditional cookie dough but without any added sweeteners or flour! These bars will seriously blow your mind not just in the simplicity but the flavor. After trying the recipe, friends and family always give me the “this tastes just like cookie dough what is in it?!?!!” Then I get the “I can’t believe it’s just dates and cashews.” Yep, folks that is it! Delicious without any guilt and easy clean up with this dump and go food processor recipe. Fun family tip: Have the kids join in and help press the crumbled granola mixture into the baking tray along with some chocolate chips!
Reasons these are the best Granola Bar:
- Easy
- Minimal prep and clean up
- Simple three ingredients recipe
- No added fillers, sweeteners, or oil
- Non baking recipe
- Packed with healthy fat, vitamins minerals, and protein
- Less than half the cost of traditional Laura bars
- Gluten-free, Dairy-free and Vegan
- Nut free substitutions
Ways to modify the recipe:
- Add your favorite protein powder for additional protein. Note: You’ll likely need to add additional dates or water to get desired consistency of slightly sticky cookie dough. Ex: 2 dates plus 1 tbsp of water for every scoop of protein powder roughly.
- Change cashews for your favorite nut just noted cashew and pecans lead to best cookie dough flavor
- Toast the nuts to add a nutty notes to the bars
- Sub cocoa nibs for chocolate chips for WFPB bars
- Add additional flavorings like vanilla powder, cinnamon, maca powder
Storing the Bars
Store in the fridge wrapped in plastic wrap or wax paper for up to two weeks or in the freezer for about a year. I personally eat them right from the freezer.
If you want to be professional wrapping them for easy grab and go I highly recommend buying aluminum foil pre-cut sheets and wax paper along with food labels. I love doing batches of these to make customizable bars in less than an hour. They look so cute with their labeling.
Larabar Nutrition Breakdown
How to hack your favorite granola bar. Most Laura bars are usually 2-4 ingredients maximum which makes it fairly easy to break down the ratios of the ingredients based on fat and sugar. In general most bars range in the following ratios per serving. Just multiply serving amount by eight to get 8” by 8” brownie pan.
Per serving:
25 grams pitted medjool dates ~16 grams sugar ~76 calories
18-28 grams of nuts ~ 12-18 grams of fat ~120-180 calories
Single Bar Total Calories: 200-260
Classic Cashew Cookie from Laura Bar
1 oz of cashews : 25 grams pitted medjools dates ( 1-2 dates depending on size)
8 oz nuts : 9-12 pitted medjool dates depending on size
Easy 3-Ingredient Copycat Cashew Cookie Laura Bar
A chewy, creamy, and sweet granola bar that tastes just like cookie dough but without all the flour, butter, and sugar.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Place ingredients in food processor and ups for about a minute.
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Line a 8 inch square brownie pan with parchment or foil for easy removal. Press the batter into pan with bottom of cup or your hand until flat. Chill in fridge for 30 minutes before slicing and storing for longterm storage. Keeps in fridge wrapped for 10 days or freeze for longterm storage for about a year.
