Whenever I go food shopping (which, btw is like my favorite thing to do) one of my favorite isles to visit is always the one with organic and healthy foods.
While on one of my usual organic isle strolls this summer, I discovered the most delicious raw, vegan bars that were just out of this world. My favorite combo? Berry-Coconut. Ever since then, I’ve been obsessed.
A few days ago I came across this awesome recipe and I knew that I had to give it a try. The bars came out amazing. They are actually very similar to my 5 Ingredient Raw Caramel Bites and I’d go as far as to say that these bars are even better than the ones I get at the store.
CRANBERRY COCONUT APRICOT RAW BARS*
Ingredients:
1 cup of dates
1/2 cup raw, unsalted almonds
1/2 cup macadamia nuts (you can also use cashews)
2 TBS coconut oil (you can also use honey if not vegan)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried apricots
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
Place nuts, cranberries, dates, and apricots in a food processor and blend until well-combined and the texture becomes sticky. Add coconut oil and blend to combine. Add flaked coconut and blend just until well-combined. Shape into equal-sized bars and wrap in parchment paper. These can be stored in the fridge for a week or two.
These are so easy to make (it literally took me about 10 minutes to make these), they’re tasty, sweet and nutty and not to mention a great alternative to store-bought “healthy” bars, which a lot of times aren’t as healthy as they seem. Make a small batch of these on a Sunday, and you have yourself a healthy on-the-go snack to grab before leaving the house in the morning- and, it’s totally guilt-free.
*adapted from Beard + Bonnet
31 Comments
Kate
October 22, 2015 at 1:23 pmThese look lovely! I love the idea of making things like this. As you say, very often shop-bought “healthy options” aren’t actually that healthy at all. At least this way you know what goes into them! x
Kate Louise Blogs
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 3:24 pmThanks so much Kate! I love making things like these, for that particular reason, because I know exactly what ingredients are in them ! :) x
Hillary H
October 22, 2015 at 2:14 pmOooo yum! Those looks delicious and they are two of my favorite things put together: cranberries and coconut. Very holidayish :D
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 3:26 pmThanks so much Hillary! I love both cranberries and coconut too hehe ;)
Kelly
October 22, 2015 at 2:21 pmThese look so pretty and they sound healthier than store bought bars for sure. I love how these look so festive too with the colors, I’ll have to try and make these.
http://perfectshadeofmauve.blogspot.com/
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 3:29 pmThanks Kelly! They’re very easy and quick to make :)
Jodie Vernon
October 22, 2015 at 2:52 pmYes, yes, yes to this recipe! I’m all for anything vegan and when it looks as good as this I just can’t resist making it to try!
Jodie, xo // Jodie Loue
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 3:36 pmHehe thanks so much Jodie! it tastes even better than it looks :D
MargaritaChi.co
October 22, 2015 at 4:36 pmI can’t wait to make these!
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 3:40 pm:D
Linda Libra Loca
October 22, 2015 at 4:46 pmNow these sound delicious. I somehow always figured they were very complicated to make!
Linda,
Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 3:43 pmOh not at all! Super quick and easy :)
Alina
October 22, 2015 at 5:17 pmI always like buying these kind of healthy bars as a snack but never even think about how I could easily make them at home… definitely need to try this recipe soon! I just love your photos x
Beauty with charm
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 3:55 pmThese are seriously so easy to make and they taste a lot better than the ones bought at the store. Thanks so much Alina!!
Mikéla Davelyn
October 22, 2015 at 5:22 pmYummm! These look absolutely delicious! And I love that you wrapped them – adorable.
xo, mikéla / simplydavelyn.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 3:57 pmThanks Mikéla!!
Chelsey A. Thornton
October 22, 2015 at 8:02 pmCooking raw always seems so daunting but it is so much easier then you’d think! This looks great and are deff better then my current post workout options.
Chelsey | http://www.chelseythornton
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 4:04 pmOh it’s definitely much easier than it seems :)
The Sunday Mode
October 22, 2015 at 8:13 pmI love food shopping too! I feel like so many people dread it whereas I’m always excited to do it?
These bars look really delicious, I love anything with cranberries and apricots and it’s great that cashews don’t need to be used! I’m allergic and I feel like so many raw recipes call for cashews.
http://www.thesundaymode.blogspot.com.au
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 4:10 pmHaha yay!! I love cranberries too, I pretty much always have a small baggie of dried cranberries and almonds in my handbag :)
Ariadna Morell
October 23, 2015 at 7:56 amI literally love every single ingredient these bars have, I’m a sucker for anything coconut so I must try these!! x
Ariadna || RAWR BOWS
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 4:10 pmYay! :) Thanks so much for visiting Ariadna!
Sadie
October 23, 2015 at 1:47 pmThese look amazing! As soon as I saw them on your Instagram I knew I had to come on here and find the recipe! Thanks for sharing :) xx
eat-sleep-breathe-fashion.blogspot.co.uk
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 4:12 pmHehe :) Thanks so much Sadie!! Ohh I didn’t know you had Instagram, will have to find ya!! :D
nikkiann
October 23, 2015 at 2:31 pmSomething I can actually eat and they look so yummy! :) Many thanks for sharing these with us.
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 4:18 pmThanks so much!!
Rita Macedo
October 25, 2015 at 6:04 amOmg, these look amazing! So delicious! I love trying new things! Xx
riitamacedo.blogspot.pt
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
October 26, 2015 at 4:18 pmThanks so much Rita!
ForDogzSake4Ever
April 13, 2016 at 8:17 pmThis looks and sounds really good, however, I was wondering what you might use if you do not like apricots. Any suggestions?
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
April 13, 2016 at 8:30 pmThank you! You can use dried blueberries, dried cherries or skip the apricots and add 1/2 cup more of dates. You could also add raisins instead of the cranberries, substitute apricots with unsweetened dried apples, add a dash of cinnamon and make these as apple pie raw bars.
ForDogzSake4Ever
May 7, 2016 at 3:03 amThanks for the ideas! Sounds great and can’t wait to try them out.