Homemade Nakd Bars Recipe
After starting the week with some delicious slices of my Seeded Brown Loaf, I felt I should continue on my whiff of health theme. Especially given my recipes of late have been rather beef and chocolate based. Also, I can’t even bear to say it, there are only 7 Fridays before Christmas and those trousers I bought in a size too small as they were in the sale aren’t getting any baggier. So, in order to keep away from the festive packets of mince pies in the office, I am sharing my Homemade Nakd Bars recipe with you today.
Nakd Bars *that really is how they spell it* are delicious healthy treats predominantly made from fruit and nuts. I have quite a penchant for them and they are not cheap. Nakd Bars are the sort of treat you don’t feel too guilty eating, other than if you are me, who always thinks I could make these myself for half the price. So, I did make them for half the price. My Homemade Nakd Bars are date, raisin and cashew based with a couple of spoonfuls of cocoa nibs thrown in to assuage any chocolate cravings you may be experiencing *just me then*. These couldn’t be simpler to make, just process all the ingredients until a healthy rubble is formed, press, chill, then fashion them into bars or balls. This recipe came to me via Rosanna’s Kitchen, with thanks for saving me from spending half my grocery budget on the real Nakd Bars.
You could make these tasty treats from any of your favourite nuts and dried fruits. Almonds and cranberries are delicious or apricots and pistachios could work, just keep the same ratio of fruit to nuts and include some dates as their sticking-together qualities are needed so the bars hold their shape. These Homemade Nakd Bars keep wonderfully in the fridge. I try to ration myself to one a day, but sometimes *always* will power is low.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy. What a delicious and simple set of ingredients for my Nakd Bars. I meant to buy raisins or sultanas and got currants by mistake but they were just as tasty. It’s hard to believe that you can make something so tasty from such a wholemeal selection of items.
Make a start with your own Nakd Bars by lining a loaf tin with cling film or baking paper. Next, take your food processor or feisty blender and add the dates and raisins/currants/sultanas or dried cranberries.
Add the cashews nuts and either cocoa powder or cocoa nibs then add vanilla extract or paste for added flavour.
I hadn’t used cocoa nibs before, they are super tasty, like tiny nuggets of rich chocolate flavour.
Process this nutritious little collection together until they form a rubble like texture. When you press it together the mixture should hold its shape.
Press this rubble into your lined loaf tin and smooth the top.
Leave to set in the fridge for an hour before turning out and cutting into bar shapes.
I wrapped my bars in grease proof paper and stored them in a tin in the fridge. These wholesome treats keep for at least three to four weeks, unless you eat two a day, like me.
Just out of interest I entered these ingredients into My Fitness Pal which calculates the calories in recipes. Each serving is only 170 calories so that’s not too bad for something so filling and completely tasty. And you won’t feel too guilty should you accidentally eat a second.
Lucy x
Homemade Nakd Bars Recipe
You will need a food processor or blender
You will need a 1kg loaf tin, lined with cling film
This makes around 12 bars
175g dried dates, chopped roughly if they are large
150g raisins or sultanas, or use double the amount of dates if you don’t like raisins
225g cashew nuts
2 tablespoons cocoa powder or cocoa nibs if you have them
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Roughly chop the dates if they are quite big and add them to your food processor or strong blender. Follow in with the raisins if using, along with the cashews, cocoa powder or nibs and vanilla extract.
Process until the mixture comes together in a sort of rubble like texture. Press the blended fruit and nuts into the cling film lined tin in an even layer. Leave to chill and set for around an hour before cutting into bars and wrapping in greaseproof paper. You could also roll these into balls if you would prefer. Eat these whenever you need a delicious energy boost.
These can be kept, well wrapped, in the fridge for 3 to 4 weeks.
What a great recipe! thanks for sharing, I’ll def give these a try
Tom
The Yorkshire Gentleman
Thanks so much, Tom, let me know how you get on. Lucy x
I certainly will do! Do they have a sweetish taste?
Yes, but not too sweet. The cocoa nibs give them a dark chocolate flavour. x
I think this is a wonderful idea, I’ve made raw squares before and stick them in a tupperware tub. Your idea to make these into bars and then wrap them individually is brilliant. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Rebecca, how kind, glad you like them. They’re much easier to take to work in the paper. Lucy x
I wonder whether these would keep better if they went in the dehydrator – I will experiment.
That’s a thought, Elisabeth, keep me posted. I don’t have a dehydrator but would be interested to hear how you get on. Lucy x
I made them today and added a few drops of bergamot oil and the juice of half a lemon to give them a little citrus hit (the original ones I buy are chocolate and orange flavoured, but I fancied an “Earl Grey” flavour) – I made them into truffle sized ball and rolled them in cocoa powder.
The size is too big (they make true gob-stoppers with their chewiness) but they taste very good. I put them in a tupperware between layers of greaseproof. Won’t dehydrate them, they are so nice as they are, and so dense I am sure they will keep well in the fridge.
How wonderful, I bet they taste amazing. I am desperate for one as we speak. Thanks for your comments, Elisabeth. Lucy x
Hi Lucy, These bars were AMAZING at our picnic last night! I can’t recommend them highly enough (nor wait to whip up a batch myself – and then wrap them teasingly, like yours!). Can’t wait for the carrotty ones with peanut butter… Much love – Kathy XX
Thanks so much my love, will get onto posting the carrot cake variety asap. Lots of love. Lucy xx
Great recipe! I was craving Nakd Bars but I have yto buy them online, so… trying this instead!
xoxo
Marina
Thanks so much, Marina, I hope you like them. Am posting a Cherry Bakewell version next week too! Lucy xx
You’re not alone- I eat 4 Nak’d bars every morning : O. Its an expensive habit as I can’t even buy by box is they are still sold per unit at approx $1.50 ea CAN
Having only four ingredients, I have been wanting try making them. I an so happy to have found your recipe.
Thank you- I will try this!
Thanks so much, Trudy. Hope you like them, and they are tons cheaper to make your own, but it does mean I eat even more! Lucy xx
I like Nakd bars but they are so expensive, so glad I found your site. Looking forward to making and eating them for pre/post workouts.
Thanks for taking the time to share this recipe.
Thanks so much, Dee Dee, so glad you visited Lucy Loves. Let me know how you get on with them, I eat far too many! Lucy xx
This is my favourite recipe Lucy! Thank you SO much for sharing your recipe. I have made these many times and lately change out the nuts to ground almond, or whatever we have in the pantry. I also experimented with roasted sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in place of some of the nuts. This is a keeper of a recipe. Delicious every time! Thanks again Lucy!
Thanks so much! Am so pleased you like these and your experiments sound lovely. I love them too and have a new carrot cake flavoured bar to share with you soon. Thanks for your lovely words. Lucy x
I tried this recipe as instructed in my vitamix food processor and managed to break the food processor!!!
Have you done the Bakewell Nakd bars yet if so where can I find the recipe as they are my favourite ones and the blueberry muffin ones
Hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Sammie. Yes, I have done the Bakewell ones, here’s the link:http://35.178.169.200/healthy-option/homemade-cherry-bakewell-nakd-bars/ And funnily enough I’ve just bought some dried blueberries so will be trying the Blueberry Muffins ones asap – I’ll keep you posted! Many thanks. Lucy x
Thank you for your recipe! Just made a batch of these and they were delicious! Even my partner liked them. We ate them much quicker than one bar a day though so I’ll have to make a lot more next time.
Thanks again this will be my easy go to recipe for any chocolate cravings.
Thank you so much, Angie. I’m so glad they’re a hit. I can never only eat one either! Lucy xx
Thanks so much for this recipe!
It had been a real hit with grown ups and toddlers in the house! They never last more than a couple of days. So greatful for such an easy, healthy recipe.
Thanks so much, Fiona, that’s great to hear. Lucy x
We have been thrilled to discover these bars and now they are a regular fixture in the house. Everyone loves them and it gets dried fruit and nuts into the kids. I usually make them with my youngest who loves getting involved in cooking from time to time. Fantastic recipe. Thank you
Thanks, Dave, so glad these are a hit with you and the children. They taste way to good to be healthy! Lucy x
Do you have the nutritional value breakdown?
sadly not, I’m afraid, maths not my strong suit! Lucy