Chocolate Peanut Butter Hazelnut Larabars

I don't like raisins. 

Just to clarify, I don't like them, but I don't hate them. I'll eat them occasionally in breads and cookies but not by themselves. Give me almonds or chocolate chips any day. But not raisins.  I've never liked them, ever since I was a kid. And although I'll joke it's because of raisin cookies when I thought they were chocolate chip, I don't think that was it. 

I need to start a raisin free diet. There's so many other "_____ free" diets, surely that would fit right in.  Hmm ...

(Some of my friends are canceling their subscriptions right now)

Taste, texture, flavor, I don't know, I just don't like them.  I'm sorry!  I also don't like beef jerky. Or flat, crispy cookies. With raisins in them. I feel like I'm going in a circle ... 

Moving on. 

I've been needing a good pick me up and (this is terribly ironic) raisins are supposed to be great for that.  I've made this with both dates and raisins and I like the dates better, but they're more expensive and we didn't have any when I made these.  So these have raisins. And they're good.  (How did that taste coming out of my mouth?  *like raisins*  Sorry, I couldn't resist)  Most Larabar recipes call for more than nuts than fruit, but I like the softer texture I get from having more fruit, although they don't travel as well. So, if you're in the mood, up the hazelnuts and the Larabars will be stiffer and easier to hold.  The cocoa powder, peanut butter, and hazelnuts disguise the raisin flavor and it tastes like chocolate Larabars. There is texture from the oats and nuttiness from the peanut butter and the hazelnuts. A flavor and texture combo that even a raisin free person like me will enjoy. 
 

 

Anyway, back to needing a pick me up. I've been sick this week and yesterday, I decided I was going to do nothing but lay around and stalk Pinterest.  After a week of classes, football games, all day volleyball matches, running, and lots of driving, it was nice to just sit the whole day (I did get piano and lab reports in, though, the whole day was not completely wasted ... after several hours on Pinterest:)  It did my head and stomach a world of good. Hopefully, I'm all rested and set, because the week is here and nothing is slowing down any time soon. 

 

Right now, my favorite pick me up is a warm muffin or slice of sweet bread with a cup of tea or coffee.  But these work pretty well, too:)  What's your favorite pick me up? 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Hazelnut Larabars 

Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life

Yield: 4 bars

1 cup raisins

3 tablespoons peanut butter

1 tablespoon water 

1 tablespoon honey 

1/4 cup oats, 

1/4 cup dark cocoa powder

1/3 cup hazelnuts 

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (opt)

Cover raisins with water and let soak for 10-15 minutes. Drain and add to food processor (I used my Ninja)  Add water, honey, and peanut butter.  Purée until pretty smooth. Add oats, cocoa powder, and hazelnuts. Pulse until hazelnuts are finely ground or teaches desired consistency. It will be thick. Stir in chocolate chips, if desired. Spread mixture on Saran Wrap and cut into 4 bars. Store on freezer or refrigerator.

This is the fudgy, brownie like counterpart to these Larabars:

Blueberry Larabars



Apple Raisin Larabars


 

Happy Monday! 

~Mary Frances