The Toddler Energy Bar You Can Make At Home
A not-small portion of the mommysphere would have you believe grinding up a $10 bag of nuts is a cheaper and easier alternative to store-bought energy bars, of which we are sure your child is already—or will be—a fan. Um, not quite. But! If you do have extra cashews and dates lying about, to say nothing of a need to feed your child a hearty and healthy snack, there are few better or guaranteed winning options than to knock out a quick Larabar dupe—just be sure to secret some away for yourself
Now, a quick search on the Interwebs will show you that there are a lot of recipes out there already; ours are a little different. For starters, the portion size is smaller: it’s going to make you about four modest bars—but also not going to require you to use a whole bag of nuts. (Save those cashews for our overnight oats or tofu dip!) We’re also a little less minimalist than most, with some friendly child add-ons: adaptions and remixes welcome. (See Adapt section for some ideas.) Feel free to strip it down to just cashews and dates, but know it works just as well—if not better—with some sweet additions.
- 6 pitted Dates
- 1/2 cup Cashews
- Vanilla Extract
- Cinnamon Powder
- 1 piece Dark Chocolate (optional)
- Soak dates in warm water for roughly 20-30 minutes. Peel skin off the dates.
- In a blender, pour in a splash of the vanilla, a shake of cinnamon, and the cashews; toss in the dates and pieces of the chocolate (if using). Blend until it forms a thick, coarse paste. (Have a rubber spatula handy in case you need to stir or push down the sides.)
- (If the mixture is too loose—more like nut butter than energy bar—add more cashews or oats and blend further.)
- In a small container or pan lined with parchment paper, spoon the blended mixture into bar or ball form.
- Refrigerate for 60-90 minutes before serving. (If short on time, freeze for 20-30 minutes, then transfer to fridge until ready to use.)
Because the mixture will still be pliable after refrigeration, you can adapt the form and size of the serving, so feel free to roll into a ball or break into smaller bars. It will be dense, so be sure to have a beverage ready.
For a looser, more tootsie roll texture, soak the cashews for 20-30 minutes before blending. Add-ins are easy: dried fruits (ie, dried cherries, raisins) are a great addition; you could add nut butter as well (though add a spoonful or two of oats with it to ensure it remains in solid form).
Brad (the Dad) is the founder and Chief Recipe Officer of New Dad's Kitchen. His own cooking/feeding journey started humbly during his son's infancy, preparing and managing his son's bottle intake in order to support his wife; it has since blossomed into a full-on passion to feed his child and family delicious and healthy meals that can satisfy both a toddler and his very tired parents.
