Delicious Homemade Fruit and Nut Snack Bars

Craving a nutritious snack? Try our delicious homemade fruit and nut bar recipe! Perfect for on-the-go munching, they're simple, healthy, and satisfying. These snack bars are easy to make, use up all the goodies in your pantry and freeze beautifully.

This recipe was originally posted in 2011. I've updated with clearer instructions and new photos. Hope you enjoy!

I am totally guilty of making impulse bulk food purchases and often find myself with strange quantities of unusual items after a trip to the bulk food store. 

My toxic trait... is I go to the bulk food store for just one thing and find 20 other interesting things. Things that have no plan. Which I then throw into the pantry, where they are forgotten until someday.

Fortunately, this recipe for homemade fruit bars has helped me put my impulse purchases to good use. At least when it comes to dried fruit and raw nuts, I know I have this recipe up my sleeve. 

Basically, we are making our own Larabars. While this recipe is flexible, I rely on a good quantity of almonds, coconut and dates for the base.

Below is a basic recipe. I modify it slightly every time I make it so I can use whatever I have on hand. There is a generous amount of salt and lemon in them.  Both the lemon and the salt wake up the flavours of dried fruit, cutting some of the sweetness. So don't skimp.

I like these bars for packing in the kids' lunches or grabbing on the way to after-school or weekend activities. They are just right for snack time. Each bar provides a little energy and some good, healthy fat from nuts to keep you satisfied between meals.

🥄 How to make fruit + nut bars

In a food processor, pulse almonds into a fine powder.  Don't add the remaining ingredients until your almonds look like the first picture.

Add remaining ingredients and pulse until well blended, and it starts to come together.  Your food processor may want to wobble across the counter while it does this.  Use the pulse function to prevent the motor from overheating.

The mixture will start to stick together. You know it is ready when you can grab a tablespoon or so of it, easily press it into a ball, and have it stay together.

Press the mixture into an 8x8-inch or 9x9-inch baking pan. I've used an 8x8-inch pan. If you use a 9x9-inch pan, your bars will be a bit thinner.

To get the bars flat, I like to use one of my dry measuring cups and, using the bottom, push the mixture firmly into the pan.

📋 Ingredient and substitution notes

The basic formula for these bars:

• 2 cups nuts (I like mostly almonds, and sometimes substitute in ½ -1 cup of pecans or cashews)
• 3 cups of dried fruit. I like a base of dates and then add dried plums, cherries, cranberries, blueberries, apricots, or goji berries
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• sea salt
• and one lemon (zest and juice)

As I already mentioned, you need dates, coconut, and almonds as a base

Substitutions and add-ins

• You can use large quantities of apricots, cranberries, cherries, and plums. Dates are sweet and neutral -- and sticky. So use some dates - at least 1 cup, then feel free to use other dried fruit to vary the flavour profile.
• Pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts have robust flavours. I find I don't like them on their own. Use at least half, if not ⅔ almonds for their neutral flavour. Peanuts and cashews are also good, not too strongly flavoured options.
• I like goji berries (totally an impulse purchase) and currents, but I find the flavour overpowering, so I tend to keep these to ¼ cup.

Lemon and lemon zest - adds a nice fresh zing to these bars. Don't skip

Sea salt - brightens all the flavours; the bars will taste flat without salt.

More easy grab-and-go snacks:

• Carrot Cake Breakfast Bars

• Almond and Cherry Granola Bars

• Cranberry and Dark Chocolate Snack Bars

Health benefits of fruit and nut bars

Since these snack bars are made with dried fruit and nuts, they are full of fibre, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. Dried fruit adds natural sweetness, while nuts provide healthy fats, making this a well-balanced and satisfying snack.

One of the significant health benefits of fruit and nut bars is their high fibre content. Dietary fibre is crucial for maintaining a healthy digestive system, regulating blood sugar levels, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Nuts, in particular, are an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fibre, which aids in digestion and supports overall gut health.

These bars are calorically dense. But dried fruit and nuts are high in calories. So keep portions small and snack-sized. A small piece is perfect when you need a little energy boost on your busy days.

Storage

Once chilled and set, cut bars into 25 snack-sized pieces. Cut bars will keep refrigerated for about 1 week. For extended storage, these bars freeze well and keep for several months in the freezer.

For easy grab-and-go snacks, wrap cut bars in plastic wrap or waxed paper and store either in the refrigerator or freezer. These bars are perfect for stashing your purse of workout bag for a quick snack on the go.

📖 Recipe