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Since I first posted the recipe for a batch of copycat “Larabars” a couple years ago, I’ve received several requests to create some of the brand’s other flavors– the most popular one being their Peanut Butter Cookie flavor.

peanut butter cookie larabars

And I’m so glad I listened to you guys, because these are some of the tastiest snack bars I’ve ever had! They taste like a peanut butter cookie, but better.

They’re better because they are naturally sweetened with only fruit and have a rich peanut butter flavor, with the perfect balance of sweet and salt. In fact, these bars require only 3 all-natural ingredients– dates, peanuts, and salt. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Because conventionally grown peanuts are highly exposed to pesticides, it’s important to use organic peanuts in recipes like this one. Or, if you’d prefer to avoid peanuts all together, feel free to use another nut in its place. I have a feeling these bars would turn out well with a variety of nuts and seeds, so I hope you enjoy them!

Peanut Butter Cookie Larabars (Vegan)
Makes 6 bars

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup dry roasted peanuts (unsalted)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside.

Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor fitted with an “S” blade, and process until a sticky dough is formed– it should stick together when pressed between your fingers.

Transfer the dough to the lined pan, and use your hands or a spatula to press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the fridge or freezer to set until firm, about 2 hours.

making peanut butter cookie larabars

Use the parchment paper to easily remove the chilled mixture and slice it into 6 bars. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for the best shelf life– they should last at least a month when chilled, though I imagine you’ll eat them all before then!

peanut butter cookie larabars

These bars make an easy snack on the go, and while they get a little softer when not chilled, I actually think their flavor gets better when they come to room temperature– like a real peanut butter cookie!

stacked peanut butter cookie larabars

"Peanut Butter Cookie" Larabars

4.88 from 8 votes
A quick and easy snack bar that is naturally sweetened with fruit and tastes like a peanut butter cookie!
prep10 mins total10 mins
Servings:6 bars

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 1/2 cups Medjool dates , pitted
  • 1 cup dry roasted peanuts (unsalted)
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
  • Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor fitted with an "S" blade, and process until a sticky dough is formed-- it should stick together when pressed between your fingers.
  • Transfer the dough to the lined pan, and use your hands or a spatula to press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the fridge or freezer to set until firm, about 2 hours.
  • Use the parchment paper to easily remove the chilled mixture and slice it into 6 bars. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for the best shelf life-- they should last at least a month when chilled, though I imagine you'll eat them all before then!

Notes

These bars make an easy snack on the go, and while they get a little softer when not chilled, I actually think their flavor gets better when they come to room temperature-- like a real peanut butter cookie!

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 267mg | Potassium: 420mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: peanut butter, peanut butter cookie larabars
Per Serving: Calories: 248, Fat: 12g, Carbohydrates: 32g, Fiber: 4g, Protein:6g

Notes:

  • As I mentioned above, this recipe is easily adaptable to use any nuts or seeds you like. Just taste the mixture as you go!
  • If you don’t have dates easily available, I also used raisins to make bars like this with great success– though it will change the resulting flavor, depending on the dried fruit you use.

As always, please leave a comment below if you make any substitutions with success!

Reader Feedback: Do you have a favorite Larabar flavor? 

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. I create healthy recipes made with simple ingredients to make your life easier.

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Comments

  1. Great ideas! I recently made 2 similar batches:
    1. Citrus: using dates, lemon & orange scented prunes, chia & flax boiled in a touch of lime juice to soften fruit & jell the chia & flax. Then used cashews & pistachios to thicken, shaped into balls & rolled in oats.
    2. chocolate Orange: dates, orange prunes & orange craisens softened in orange juice. Pulsed mixed nuts & cocoa powder and added fruit til thick. No sugar needed, fruit sweetened cocoa enough 🙂

    Work crew loved them both !

  2. Hi Megan! I’ve never owned a food processor. Do you recommend a certain one, or can you recommend what size to buy?

    1. I’ve owned the same KitchenAid food processor for nearly 15 years, so I definitely recommend that kind! I don’t think they make the old model I own anymore, but this one looks similar: http://amzn.to/1OkYvmR (I think the 11 or 13 cup models would be the most versatile– I believe mine is 13 cups.)

  3. Thanks for the great recipe!

    When you measure out the dates, do you pack them down into the measuring cup or are they loosely packed?

    I guess I can adjust to taste, but was curious about your method of measuring the dates.

    Also, my peanuts were in quite small pieces using this method. Maybe next time I’ll do some nuts first to the size I see in the commercial Larabars and then reserve those to add in at the end. I love the little chunks of peanuts in the commercial Larabars.

  4. I love this recipe. I make these all the time and fight my family for them. I add a little bit of cocoa powder to give them a chocolate taste..yum!

  5. These look so yummy. I used to love lara bars, but I cannot find them where I live now… But solution found! I’ll just make them myself 😉

  6. Love this recipe however when I made it the peanuts and dates were too dry and wouldn’t stick together. Still tastes relish but not really servable other than using a spoon! Please share what I can do to moisten them up and get them to stick together. Thanks so much!

    1. It sounds like your dates weren’t sticky to begin with. If you start with drier dates, try soaking them in water for 10-15 minutes to help soften them up, then drain and use them in the recipe!

  7. I looooove this recipe and you’re right, it’s very adaptable for extra ingredients! I love to add powdered peanut butter and various seeds!

  8. I would just like to tell you thanks for the adaptation notes at the end of your recipes. So many times, I have read through the ingredients list and thought, “That sounds really yummy, but I guess I won’t get to try this today because I don’t have x ingredient on hand…” Lo and behold, you address it almost every time in the notes at the end of the recipe! And this time was no different – no dates, no problem! Off to grab my raisins from the pantry and get started!

  9. These are delish! I just made a batch using mixed roasted nuts… And I added about a tablespoon of chia seeds. I’m going to cut them more bite sized and eat them during my upcoming labor 🙂 I think they’ll be great little energy boosters!