Lately I have been thinking about my Stay-at-home-Mom status.
I feel like I’m telling a lie when I’m asked what I’m doing and I reply by ” I’m a Stay-at-home-Mom to a 2-year-old”.
I should tell people I’m a “Mother of a two-year old who rarely stays home”. Seems like telling the truth.
In the last couple of weeks my schedule was
- 5.30- 6 – wake up, tea, read the paper, check emails
- 7.30 ish – breakfast with family
- 8 to 10 (or 11 depending on the days) – jogging and gym
- 11 to 1 – prepare and have lunch
- 1 to 4 (sometimes 5) – play-date
- (some days like today ) – dance class late in the afternoon
- 7 ish – dinner
- 8 to 10 – family time
- 10-12 – (if I’m still able to keep my eyes opened) computer time
All these activities require lots of make-ahead snacks and energy bars to keep me going. Or Chocolate Chip Brownie bars.
Chocolate makes everything better, right?
Who doesn’t crave a chocolate treat after sweating at the gym? Sometimes I think that’s one of the reasons I go, just so I can indulge into one of these chocolate chip brownie bars when I’m done.
I have been on a brownie kick in the last month. Double Chocolate Black Bean Brownies and Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookies made their way on the blog.
Today it’s time for a Chocolate Chip, Date and Nuts Brownie LaraBar
Kinda long name, huh?
The name Chocolate Chip Brownie came from the well-known Larabars.
Now I don’t have to pay $1.29 for one. I can easily make them at home.
The list of ingredients I got it from the Larabar website and after playing a little bit with the quantities I made a bar that tastes way much better than the store-bought one and I can make it whenever I want to.
I love making energy bars at home. You can add whatever ingredients you want. Peanuts instead of almonds and/or walnuts. More/less nuts. More/Less chocolate chips. Other dried fruit. They are so versatile.
Homemade chocolate chip brownie energy bar, made with dates, nuts and chocolate chips. Healthy. Gluten free. Vegan.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (25 grams) walnuts pieces
- 1/4 cup (35 grams) whole almonds
- 1/8 tsp fleur-de-sel (table salt works just as fine)
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (or carob chips for vegan bars)
- 1/4 cup (20 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups (330 grams) dried pitted dates
Instructions
- Line a 8X8 baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a food processor put the almonds and nuts. Pulse a couple of times until they resemble fresh bread crumbs. You can even leave them bigger if you prefer.
- Pour the nuts mixture into a bowl and set aside.
- Now, place the dates into the food processor and pulse until paste forms. Add the nuts, mini chocolate chips, cocoa and salt. Pulse a few more times until well combined.
- Scrape the mixture and press in (as evenly as possible) into the prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours until set.
- When set, take the pan out of the fridge, carefully remove it from the pan and transfer to a cutting board.
- Slice as desired. I prefer 16 bars.
- Keep in a air-tight container in the fridge or freezer.
- Enjoy!
Sending love your way,
Roxana
{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
You are a genius! These looks incredible! And they’re so easy to make. The only problem with these is that I’d be tempted to eat the whole pan at once.
Great idea, Roxana! I’m all about fitting more chocolate into my life
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LOL, I always tell people that the trick to being a successful stay at home parent is to stay at home as little as possible. Sounds like you have it right to me! And these bars look amazing!
What a great idea to make them at home! I know what you mean about the stay at home mom thing. Before my son was in school we were never home. We were running errands, playing with friends, at the part etc. Always busy!
Yes, “stay at home” is definitely an oxymoron… and definitely requires bars like these to keep us moving! These sound sooo good!!
I can’t wait to try this! I love larabars and I especially LOVE chocolate. This looks really good and less expensive. Have a great week Roxana
What a schedule the past few weeks – I’m amazed you still found the time to bake such amazing treats like these chocolate chip brownie bars. They look great – love the dates in them..I can only imagine how chewy and fudgy they are!
I feeel you, when did stay at home mom get so busy? It seems life is getting busier and busier each month, but these bars seem like the perfect on the go snack, missed your blog. You always have the perfect treat for us on the go ladies!!
I call myself a work-from-home mom. I figure with everything I do to keep our family ‘corporation’ going, it’s true. Other than the chocolate part, these look delicious.
I love snack bars like this! It’s nice to have these handy for those crazy days! Pinning this one so I don’t forget it!
These look like a fabulous snack. Any time I have chocolate I get in a better more energetic mood. I can never stay up till 10pm. I am impressed you can…even if it is not every night.
Wow these look amazing!!
I can see why you would need some extra energy…on the go all the time! I do the same thing. These brownie bars look so dense and wonderful Roxanna!
You and that two year old are seriously busy! I know the feeling…and love these snack bars
I look forward to my chocolate reward after exercising too! These chocolatey, chewy-looking bars would be a great motivator to get through my exercise routine…thanks!
What a delicious treat that is “good” for you! I bet these taste WAY better than what you can buy at the store. Pinning now and saving to make later. Delish!!!
lovely and healthy snack bar! True a mom that runs around would be more like it. Kids are one of the hardest jobs we have with not much credit for it from anyone but it’s the best job too.
Gosh…those might be the cutest and best brownies I have ever seen! I love them.
I need these energy bars to keep me going and keeping up with my kids! Love chocolate chip brownie and this will keep me sane having chocolate around and having thought of this as a healthy option… =D
Wow!!!!!! Sounds like suuuuch a hard day!!!!!! How do you do it?!?!!??!!
Lots of black tea, chocolate and early baking to keep me sane
*sarcasm*
come to me! Come to me! Come to me! Did you get that I really want these! LOL!
Thank goodness.
I need a fresh, new vegan snack recipe. Mne are getting boring! I’ll give these bars a try!
What a hectic schedule
The brownies sound terrific.
Love all the nuts in these bars – sounds like a good pick me up for a chocolate lover.
The fact that you can take an ingredient list and make something this wonderful is why I think you’re such an awesome baker. I have been enjoying your brownie recipes and this is no exception. These look perfect, Roxana. I spotted carob chips (which I never even knew existed until you mentioned them in another post) at the store the other day and I will use them when I borrow this recipe.
I can not wait to make these Sunday! I understand your busy schedule…..have been really off lately, but hoping to get back on track soon! will share these on my fb wall as well! xoxox
i know what you mean! This would really help carry me through my busy days, too!
EXCELLENT! Just what I needed to see this Sunday morning!
You are so lucky to be able to stay at home with your baby. I was able to stay at home for a few years, then work part time at our local school district. It was such a wonderful time of life.
I love these! Nothing quite like a healthy tasty snack
I totally get what you mean. These would get me through any day no matter how hectic it is.
I could use a brownie bar like this to give me a quick pick me up this morning. Some days no amount of coffee and tea will do the trick! Perhaps I should eat more chocolate?!?! These look great, your day sounds similar to mine… oh the life of a mom.
i love chocolate chip lara bars! mmm yum! i think being a stay at home is one of the hardest jobs out there!!! hug for you!
The bar looks lovely and sounds so yum!
It’s good to stay busy sweetie and even though I am not a mom yet .. i still can’t find time in hand at all! Time just fly away somehow…
Love your styling! And fleur de sel would definitely take this bars into another level of deliciousness
Now I am totally craving chocolate. These bars look great!
Chocolate makes everything better and these sound fantastic and healthy too
These look fabulous…I wonder if they’d be excusable as breakfast bars????
These bars look SENSATIONAL!!! Wow, I love the presentation. Bookmarked! Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe.
I can’t believe I missed these. I love bars like these(especially with chocolate!) and they are so awesome for kids. These look great
Yumm! I love making homemade larabars! I haven’t tried adding chocolate chips yet! I have a 17 month old and we are always on the go to so it is always nice to have easy snacks I can take with me!
Super idea! This would kick start my day! Or maybe my lunch it always seems like my breakfast is really at lunch time after getting all the kids stuff going!
LOL My name is Cindy and I blog over at Vegetarianmamma.com I wanted to invite you to link up your recipe at our Gluten Free Fridays Recipe Link up party! It happens every Friday and we’d love to have you join us with some of your awesome recipes! You can find this week’s link up here: http://vegetarianmamma.com/gluten-free-friday-recipe-link-up-1/
Thanks,
Cindy
I’m finishing my first bar and my mouth is watering for more! These are fantastic! Chocolatey, chewy, deliciousness. I originally made them for my 2 1/2 year olds, but I’m channeling my inner toddler, because I keep hearing myself say “mine, mine”. Thank you for helping me feed my little ones a healthy snack- the next time one of those moms breaks out a chocolate bar and my kidabunks ask for one, I’ll be sure to say “taa daaaa” and present them with one of your chocolatey goodness bars.
Hi Theresa,
Thanks so much for the sweet comment. Happy to hear I could help you find a healthy chocolate bar.
I hope i’ll get the other two Larabar versions ready soon
These are amazing. Made a batch and rolled them into balls instead of bars, tasted the first one and instantly went back and made another batch. Oh these are so good!
These sound delicious Roxana
! Love that they are super fudgy and full of nuts and dates! My favorite 
!
Mine won’t stay together in a bar format. I’m going to try them sandwiched between some oats like a matrimonial cake
Hi Jamie,
If your bars are crumbly, you probably added more nuts or you left the nuts to big. Adding more dates would do the trick
Roxana
which brand of dried pitted dates did u use ?
Hi Rupa,
I buy dates in bulk, I can’t tell you what brand I’ve been using. Sorry
Roxana
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