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)
- 2-3Â 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!
Awesome, I love lunabars! My favorite lunabar is the s’more bar, but I haven’t tried the nutz over chocolate bar.
Yum!!! How many bars did this recipe make??
It fills an 8×8 pan.
Nice job tackling the ‘never been done before’! I think Luna bars are more intimidating to do at home because of the soy crunch part – rice crispies + protein power is better than the soy stuff if you ask me so I need to give these a try!
I’m not a HUGE fan of energy bars because I sometimes wonder where all of that energy is coming from! lol
I love these! So new and exciting!
I’m really picky about bars, because some taste AMAZING but have the nutritional content of a candy bar, and others don’t taste so good. My absolute favorite are peanut butter chocolate Zing bars. I just wish they weren’t so expensive! I guess that is to convince me to not eat them too often. 😉
I am definitely going to have to try this! I LOVE Clif and Luna bars…I have to resist them very often and try and save them when I don’t have time to eat a meal but am very hungry. I love the Brownie flavour Luna bar…it is amazing!! (You should try and replicate that one…)
choc chip z bars are my pre workout bar of choice!
white chocolate macadamia nut clif bars are also amazinggggg 🙂
yummy looking recipe looks like chocolate dipped rice krispie treats 🙂
We don’t have Luna Bars here In Oz, so much as loony bars! 😉 But my girls have a playdate this morning and what better way to coerce a group of 3 year olds into doing what you want them to do than by bribing them with said Luna Bars!!! Thanks Katie, you’ve saved the day again! I think I’ll chuck in a handful of cocoa nibs and see how they go, I’ll let you know…
It’s like a healthier chocolate dipped rice crispy treat! Most energy bars are sort of glorified candy bars in my opinion, except several companies like larabar that really take the time to make a nutrient dense energy bar. I haven’t purchased an energy bar in a really long time though.
Very cool! I’ve only ever had a Luna Bar once, but it was delish. Plus, this is awesome because their protein bars aren’t vegan!