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!
What a great idea. I need to make snacks and I think I’ll have to make these.
Hi Katie, would you recommend buying stevia packets or the liquid extract?
I use NuNaturals packets or their vanilla alcohol-free vanilla drops. Those are the only two types with which I’m really familiar.
Hey, just in case you didn’t know: So delicious has holiday flavors! http://foodfetepress.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/sodeliciousholiday.png
I only got to try the nog so far, but I love making oatmeal with half coco-nog and half water, it tastes completely delicious! Not sure about drinking it straight up, it is SO thick.. but it’s perfect for cooking and baking holiday treats. 🙂
LOL so funny you posted this comment today, because I just got a surprise package from them this morning! I love your idea to use it in oatmeal… I wonder how the mint chocolate one would be in oatmeal…
Yum. I found the mint chocolate stuff wayyyy on sale after the holiday season was over at my local foodmaxx! I thought I had died and gone to heaven- I bought at least three boxes of the stuff since it has a long shelf life! I mostly drank mine over ice as a desserty drink.
I go through energy bars phases. The last one was a big clif bar phase because they were one if the few sources of vegetarian protein to be found in my now an ex-boyfriend’s house…they were tasty, especially the peanut butter chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin flavors.
Looks great!! Just a question – where does the protein powder go? In with the cereal mixture or into the melted chocolate? Can’t wait to try these!
Oops lol fixed it! It goes with the cereal mix :).
I love all kinds of bars but they don’t make any here which really sucks. There is only one thing they call protein bar but for me a wafer is not a bar. You should come back to Japan and teach them how to do it right 🙂 .
You did a great job on these…they are so professional looking! I love making rice krispie treats and frosting them with chocolate-peanut butter frosting or just chocolate…so do those count as liking energy bars? They give me energy…haha! 🙂
Funny that you would post this today, because I ate a Luna bar this morning! I eat 1-2 protein bars every day, and I’m pretty picky about the ones I choose based on my particular diet. I’m always making different granola bars at home, too, including Larabars, so I’m so happy you tackled this project. I made Larabars and posted them this morning (www.treatswithatwist.com) and I love coincidences like this! Happy baking!
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! i would 1,000,000,000 times prefer yours over the regular Luna Bars! this gives me such a boost of inspiration to try to make some of the packaged bars i enjoy. you are beyond amazing!
xoxo <3
Homemade is just better! Love that you’re taking store-bought goods and converting them. I did something similar to my favorite gluten-free breakfast cereal this week and it was SO delicious!