Since beginning this blog, I’ve created many flavors of Homemade Larabars.
But when, out of curiosity one day, I googled homemade Luna bars, I was surprised to find zero relevant results. Really? No one had made these yet? It was definitely time to change that.
I don’t usually buy Luna bars, but every now and then I find myself craving either one of their chocolate-dipped coconut or nutz over chocolate bars. The following recipe more-closely resembles the latter:
Homemade Luna Bars
Inspired by Homemade Rice Crispy Treats.
- 3 cups rice crispies (I used brown rice crispies. For a less-crispy bar, you can sub 2 cups of the crispies for 1/2 cup oat flour.)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt (I used salted pb, too)
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons nut butter of choice (for lower-cal option, see below link)
- 1/2 cup sticky sweetener, such as agave or brown rice syrup (I used agave)
- 2-3 tablespoons protein powder (you can omit)
- melted chocolate chips or Sugar-Free Chocolate Sauce
Mix your pb, sweetener, extract, and salt. Melt (either in the microwave or stove), then pour over the cereal and powder, and stir very well, making sure to coat all the crispies. Smush and smash the crispies. (Get mad; it’s fun!) Line a pan with wax paper and spread the mixture evenly into the pan. Place a sheet of wax paper on top of the mixture, then press down as firmly as you can. Really press it down! Spread the chocolate on top, and freeze for at least a half hour before slicing.
Click for lower-sugar and Lower-Calorie Options.
I didn’t bother to figure out the nutritional info for these, as it will vary depending on what protein powder and chocolate sauce you use. But they are probably pretty comparable, calorie-wise, to packaged Luna bars. (The bars in the photos were made with the no-sugar chocolate sauce.)
Do you like energy bars?
My favorites are probably my Hot Fudge Brownie Larabars.
But I don’t always have time to make homemade bars. So if I’m in a hurry and need a quick and portable snack, I’ll often grab a cookie dough Larabar or a chocolate-chip Z bar, or a chocolate Jocalat bar… I’m picky about my energy bars; I only like the ones that have chocolate!
So I just read you don’t like measuring your ingredients while baking/cooking… well, I’m sure it’s tedious! But I bet writing down the recipe is just as much work, since you’re constantly adapting it. I’d be curious to sometime see what your recipe creation process is like! Maybe you should set up a video camera in your kitchen and just turn it on while you cook. 🙂 It might help you remember what you did in the recipe, and if you were really brave, you could share it with us then too, so that we can see your creative genius. 😀 Haha. Anyway…keep up the good work!
Luna bars are ok. I like the coconut chocolate one the best, because I am obsessed with coconut. You should try to re-make that one… you are halfway there! Yours would be tastier, I think, because I don’t really like the taste of the soy they put in it.
These are so very good, I couldn’t help but pin them Katie. You are a blessing!
And a person can add whatever they prefer to this recipe and they still turn out
wonderfully! Kudos and {{{BIG HUGS}}} for all you do!
I just made these this afternoon. OMG!!! These are amazing! I used Puffed Rice instead of Rice Krispies. I used your No Sugar Chocolate Sauce recipe for bottom. I was going to bring them to some friends on Saturday (This is Monday), but they are NOT going to last that long! My husband and I have already eaten two of them.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful recipes! You are a gem!
Thank you for trying them! 🙂
how long to they last if not in a fridge?
I think these are fabulous! Thank you! Katie do you think my 3 year old is able to eat these? It is hard for me to get her to each protein other than egg and dairy, she is a very high nugget consumer and even when I try to always make those nuggets myself so that they are healthy I sometimes feel she isn’t getting enough protein… Is it safe for her to eat the protein powder?
I wouldn’t see why not, but I really don’t know anything about toddler eating habits or safety. I’d ask her doctor if you are unsure.
I doubled this recipe in a 9×13 pan and got 18 large bars. I’ve never had real luna bars but I know they probably cost $1.50-$2/each like most fancy energy bars. This recipe cost only about $5 (one bag bittersweet chocolate / half jar peanut butter / 6c krispies / 1c agave). Probably one of your most frugal recipes! I stored them in individual snack bags in the freezer to grab and go. I will probably end up eating them as dessert though.
Interesting I love Luna bars
Me too
Omg so much in common
Yeah want to be BFFs?
Hi,
SO I made these, but had to add like 5 cups of crispies (I used Edison Organic Brown Rice Crispies), with sunflower seed butter trader joes, (12 tbsps), raw agave nectar trader joes (10 tbsps), 2 tsp Vanilla, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tablespoon of vega sport vanilla protein powder. 70g of dark chocolate nestle morsels, and 42g of white chocolate chips (melted together and spread on top).
I sort of feel like i could have even added more crispies and they still would have been covered.
I did the nutrition breakdown. If you put them in a 8.5 inch square pan, cut into 8 pieces (servings).
For ONE bar:
319 calories
45g carbs
14g of fat
7g protein
246g sodium
27g sugar
I just made these bars and, although the “mouth feel” is SPOT ON, I found them to be a little too salty. I am guessing this was caused by one of two things; either the peanut butter I used ( “Justins” ) is too salty or the fact that I used maple syrup as my liquid sweetener upset the balance?