Banana Bread Energy Bar recipe with dates + dried bananas tastes just like the store-bought version, but better! Just 3 ingredients – Vegan, Paleo, and Whole30.
Do you know what makes me really excited?
When you can make one of your favorite store-bought snack bars at home, and they taste identical.
The Banana Bread Larabar flavor is one of my absolute favorites and it’s so easy to make yourself!
The label only has three ingredients listed:
- dates
- dried bananas
- almonds.
I immediately thought “There must be a way to make this at home…I just need to find some dried bananas.”
Where to Find Dried Bananas
Trader Joe’s is a great place to get a variety of dried fruits, included dried baby bananas. They look a little strange but I promise they’re delicious. You can also find them on Amazon.
What About Freeze-Dried Bananas?
Freeze-dried bananas are easier to find, and while I haven’t tested those out in this recipe, I imagine they would work. I would increase the amount of medjool dates to 16 dates, and use 1 cup of freeze-dried bananas. Then if you need a little more liquid, just add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the food processor until the mixture is sticky.
Homemade Larabar Ingredients
- mixed nuts – you can use one type of nut if you have an allergy. Walnuts or almonds are great here as a single nut. But you can also use a blend of nuts like cashews, pecans and walnuts.
- dried baby bananas – Find at Trader Joe’s or shop online on Amazon.
- Medjool dates – Medjool dates are always my go-to. They’re actually fresh fruit (not dried) and have a delicious caramel-like flavor. If your dates seem a little dry, you’ll want to soak them in water first before blending.
- cinnamon – an optional 4th ingredient but does give it the banana bread flavor.
What About Protein Powder?
If you’re looking for a boost of protein for this recipe, you can use collagen peptides (not vegan) without altering the recipe. I’d use up to 3 servings (60g).
If you’d like to use a plant based protein powder, I wouldn’t add more than 1/3 cup. And then you’ll likely have to add some water as well.
Use a Food Processor
If you’re looking to up your homemade snack game, a food processor (or heavy duty blender) is definitely a must.
You can make tons of homemade snack bars, nut butters, shred veggies, make scones, and you can even use it for preparing cake batter.
How to Make Banana Date Bars
- Preheat oven to 325ºF and place raw nuts on baking sheet. Toast nuts for 8-12 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Allow toasted nuts to cool on pan for 10 minutes. Toasting is optional but it brings out more flavor.
- In a medium sized bowl, cover pitted dates and dried bananas with warm water. Let sit for 3 minutes to soften dates and bananas. Then drain. If dates are really moist, no need to soak. My dried bananas were fairly dried out, so those needed to be soaked for a few minutes.
- In the bowl of your food processor, add cooled toasted nuts. Process until they’re in tiny pieces, almost to meal texture. Next, add in drained pitted dates and dried bananas, process/pulse until broken down and mixture starts to come together. See photos in post for visual.
- Remove S blade from bowl of processor. Transfer mixture into lined 9×5 loaf pan or 8×8 baking pan. Press mixture down flat. Transfer pan to freezer for 10 minutes, or fridge for 30 minutes allowing the bars to set.
- Once set, gently life the parchment paper to remove the bars, placing on cutting board. Use large sharp knife to cut the bars into 12 even squares (or desired number of servings).
How Many Servings Does this Energy Bar Make?
I like to cut the energy bar mixture into 12 even snacks bars. I find this to be the perfect portion amount for a quick and easy afternoon snack!
Or Make Into Balls!
You could also roll these into little balls and would get about 24 rounded tablespoon sized balls.
Either way, they taste delicious and just like rich banana bread in no-bake form!
How to Store
For best results, store the banana date bars in airtight container in fridge for up to two weeks, or freezer up to 3 months.
To thaw, just keep in the fridge and enjoy within two weeks.
More Energy Bar Recipes You’ll Love:
- Vegan Baked Banana Protein Bars
- Chocolate Almond Butter Oat Protein Bars
- Paleo Cacao Coffee Protein Bars
- 4-Ingredient Homemade Protein Bars
- Pumpkin Spice Paleo Protein Bars
If you make this Banana Bread Energy Bar recipe, be sure to leave a comment and review on the blog! I love hearing from you, and it helps others learn more about the recipe too! Xx Ashley
PrintBanana Bread Energy Bars {Vegan, Paleo, Whole30}
This Banana Bread Energy Bar recipe tastes just like the store-bought version, but better! With just 3 ingredients and the help of your food processor, these no-bake fruit and nut snack bars will be ready in 20 minutes or less. Vegan, Paleo, and Whole30, too!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Food Processor
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup mixed nuts (I used 1 cup almonds, 1/2 cup walnuts. Cashews also work here.)
- 6oz dried baby bananas (equal to 1 heaping cup)
- 10 medjool dates, pitted
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon, optional
Instructions
- Toast Nuts: Preheat oven to 325ºF and place raw nuts on baking sheet. Toast nuts for 8-12 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Allow toasted nuts to cool on pan for 10 minutes. Toasting is optional but it brings out more flavor.
- Soak Dates & Dried Bananas: In a medium sized bowl, cover pitted dates and dried bananas with warm water. Let sit for 3 minutes to soften dates and bananas. Then drain. If dates are really moist, no need to soak. My dried bananas were fairly dried out, so those needed to be soaked for a few minutes.
- Make Bars: In the bowl of your food processor, add cooled toasted nuts. Process until they’re in tiny pieces, almost to meal texture. Next, add in drained pitted dates, dried bananas, and cinnamon, if using, process/pulse until broken down and mixture starts to come together. See photos in post for visual.
- Remove S blade from bowl of processor. Transfer mixture into lined 9×5 loaf pan or 8×8 baking pan and press mixture down flat. Transfer pan to freezer for 10 minutes, or fridge for 30 minutes, allowing the bars to set for easier cutting. Then gently life the parchment paper to remove the bars, placing on cutting board. Use large sharp knife to cut the bars into 12 even squares (or desired number of servings).
- Store bars in airtight container in fridge up to two weeks, or freezer up to 3 months. Enjoy!
Notes
Bars can also be rolled into tablespoon size balls. You should get around 24 balls. Store in fridge or freezer.
Feel free to add up to 3 servings of collagen peptides, which would be very similar to the Pumpkin Spice Paleo Protein Bars.
If you’d like to use plant-based protein, you’ll likely need to add some liquid. I’d recommend adding no more than 1/2 cup plant protein powder, and add 1-2 tablespoons of water at a time until mixture is no longer dry and holds together well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12th
- Calories: 207
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: Banana Bread Energy Bars, Banana Bread Date Nut Energy Bars, Copycat Larabars
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Izzy Bruning says
These look so good – I love how simple they are!
Izzy | Pinch of delight
Ashley says
Thanks Izzy! Sometimes simple tastes amazing 😀
Emily says
I totally agree that a good food processor is a must in the kitchen; it’s perfect for nut butters, energy balls, and I’m sure, these delicious looking and sounding banana bread bars. <3
Ashley says
Not sure how I went so long without a food processor! I use it so many times a week 🙂
Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says
I thought you were going to say your trip to Chicago made you excited but NO. Also, good use of those bananas. I tried to eat them by themselves and thought they were awful, but I bet they’re good in this!
Ashley says
lol well that is a given! I am craving some travel and girl time 😀
And yes, the baby bananas by themselves were not the best… eek.
Laura says
I didn’t even know that dried baby bananas were a thing!!! Totally need to get my hands on some!
Ashley says
Yes I hope you find some!
Rachel (LittleChefBigAppetite) says
I love that Larabar flavor! I am sure your version is so yummy as well! Pinning 🙂
Ashley says
Thanks so much Rachel!
Katie @ 24 Carrot Life says
YUM! I have a weird obsession with chewy dried bananas so these look right up my alley. Trader Joe’s also has flat dried banana that comes in sheets in the package and I love it!
Ashley says
Oh interesting I haven’t seen the sheets before! I wish I had a Trader Joe’s closer.
Melissa says
Could I add protein powder to these? And BTW the smashed bananas from Trader Joe’s are addicting! ?
Ashley says
Yes you can add protein powder 🙂 Which kind were you thinking? Depending on the type (plant vs whey) you might need to make some minor modifications! Plant powder might need a touch of liquid to come together. Whey is probably okay, but you may actually need something like coconut flour or oat flour to help it not be super sticky. I don’t recall trying just whey with a recipe like this. If using collagen peptides, you shouldn’t need any other substitutes. I would stick to around 3-4 servings of protein powder per batch. Let me know how else I can help!
Miriam says
These look amaze! Could I use regular ripe bananas in these instead of buying dried ones?
★★★★★
Cynthia says
I was wondering about regular bananas also??
Ashley says
They don’t really work here as you’d have to add more dry ingredients to soak up the extra moisture.
Sue says
It looks so yummy and healthy! I’m going to try this next week!
Ashley says
Awesome! Let me know what you think Sue 🙂
Gina says
Do you know the nutritional numbers for these bars? Thank you!
Ashley says
I don’t actually! But if you plug the ingredients into the recipes section of My Fitness Pal it will calculate the approximate nutrition for you 🙂 They should be fairly similar to the larabar banana bread flavor.