Feeding Vegan Kids: Using Homemade “Larabars” To Make Raw Vegan Cashew Cookies-and-Cream Breakfast Sundaes
January 31, 2010 by Sheri
Filed under Family Fun, Feature, Feeding Vegan Kids, Green Home and Garden, In A Vegan House, What Do We Feed All These Vegan Kids?
My kids LOVE breakfast sundaes. Love love love them.
Taking fresh organic vegan ingredients and creating a layered, delicious little breakfast is such a fun way for me the kids to start the day!
A while back, my older daughter had a sweet friend spend the night, and I decided to make breakfast sundaes as a fun little sleepover-breakfast.
The night before, I made a pan of raw vegan cashew cookie Larabars:
I make these ALL THE TIME, in various flavor combinations. Cashew cookie is our favorite flavor, and I think chocolate-maple-goji is a close second. Hmmm…almond-banana-vanilla is pretty darn tasty too.
I don’t buy Larabars (or any other pre-made bars, for that matter). I think Larabars are delicious, but they’re too spendy for my grocery budget. At $1.89 or so per bar, Larabars are a small fortune! And they’re a little on the small side — my kids would polish off a Larabar in 3 bites and ask for another one. So if I bought two Larabars for each of us as a snack, and there’s 7 of us…well, that’s a LOT of money spent on Larabars.
That would run me about $28…just for a little Larabar snack for my family!
That would be a pretty expensive snacktime.
So, needless to say, it is far cheaper and healthier for me to make my own.
Cheaper, because I can make a whole 9×13 pan for just a few dollars.
Healthier, because my homemade larabars are organic (last I looked, the originals are not organic).
To make these, I simply ground up fresh raw organic cashews in the food processor (approximately 2 cups). Then I added pitted fresh organic medjool dates, one at a time, as the food processor was running (approximately 2 cups). I then added a splash of pure vanilla extract, a spoonful of raw organic unrefined coconut oil, a scoop of organic flax seeds, and a scoop of organic raw hempseeds, all while the food processor was on. I processed it all until it was well-combined and all the ingredients were mixed together.
All you really need to make these bars are the cashews and the dates, approximately equal parts of each — the rest of the ingredients are totally optional but they really boost the nutrition of these bars, and where my children are concerned, I like to add as much goodness as possible to their foods.
I press the mixture into a 9×13 pan, and let chill for a while. And then they’re ready for devouring!
For these particular breakfast sundaes, I had made the larabars the night before. In the morning, I placed a large slab of homemade larabar into each breakfast dish (the plate at the top of the picture is for my baby, and I rolled her bar into little balls):
Then we got out our topping ingredients, and, with the help of one kiddo, we got busy topping our raw sundaes:
We started with sliced organic bananas, and then piled on vegan dark chocolate chips, organic flax seeds, organic chia seeds, and organic cacao powder:
And added some organic goji berries:
LOTS of goodness on these sundaes!
While all the sundae-makin’ was going on, I made a quick batch of cashew cream. This is just soaked organic raw cashews (soaked for about 20-30 minutes), blended with some of the soak water, organic lemon juice, some agave (add according to sweetness-preference), and a splash of organic pure vanilla extract. Give it all a good blending , and if you need to thin it, add some of the soak water from the cashews. Blend until you have a nice creamy consistency. This stuff is so good that we often eat it as a dip for fruits!
Just 30 seconds in the Blendtec and I had a swoon-worthy batch of cashew whipping cream.
Of COURSE I dipped my finger in for a taste test…wouldn’t you!?
I plopped a big dollop of cashew whipped cream on top of each sundae:
And here’s what we ended up with: Raw Vegan Cashew Cookies-and Cream Breakfast Sundaes!
This was a decadent, delicious, nutrient-dense breakfast; so fun to make and eat! Each sundae was absolutely loaded with vitamins and minerals — iron, zinc, B vitamins, fiber, potassium, lots of essential fatty acids and omegas, plenty of good fats. I served each sundae with a nice hot cup of organic rooibos tea, and this was a great way to start the day!
The kids loved this! Breakfast sundaes are always a hit around here.
And this breakfast took a short amount of time to prepare — I had made the larabars the night before, so in the morning my job was easier. Put a slab of larabar in each bowl, top with sliced bananas, add toppings of your choice, and whip up a quick batch of cashew whipping cream (4 ingredients, 30 seconds in the Blendtec, quick and easy).
That’s it from me today — heading out for a family outing, so have a wonderful Sunday!
Sheri
WHOA! All that nutrition and healthiness disguised as “sundaes”!!
Your kids and hubby are even more blessed to have you taking such good care of them.
How creative and fun….
I’m so blessed to have found your blog
You’re a pioneer in an era of fast food crappiness! Wooo hooo!
Thank you
What a wonderful breakfast! I’ll be making these soon as I have all the ingredients… That cashew cream looks wonderful… I can see it’s going to become a regular round here!
) If you’re not into this sort of thing, don’t worry… Just ignore it! 
Oh, yes, almost forgot… I wanted to let you know I’ve nominated you for an Honest Scrap award!
Hi Penny, thank you! I’m honored
Yum! I am going to the store today so I’ll be sure to pick up some new ingredients!
Looks delicious! Just out of curiosity, how much cashew does it take to make a pan that size? I’ve just recently discovered the joy of mixing cashews up into delicious things
I think I added 2 cups cashews to that particular batch. However…if you are adventurous, try subbing in some sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in place of some of the cashews. Boosts the nutrition and lessens the amount of nuts. We like to switch it up like that
Oh, how I wish I grew up eating this way! I am definitely going to make this recipe sometime soon. And, I can’t wait to have kids one day so that I can nourish them as well as you do with yours.
yum! love cashew creamm…mmm.
Yum! Another stunning breakfast. I blogged about your banana burritos today. It was perfect and is my new favourite breakfast. My boyfriend who likes a more traditional breakfast considers me odd when I have anything that is not cereal, porridge or toast!
I am anxious to amke the Larabars!
I was out last night at the Christmas Tree Shops (a bargain shop in New England) and found a relatively cheap food processor by Cusineart. I did not buy yet but am considering it after reading you latest post! Do you find that you use your food processor a lot? I have a Vita Mix and use it everyday. Could I just use the blender to make the Larabars? How come you chose to use your food processor instead of our blend tec? Forgive my nosiness! I am just trying to decide if a food processor is a good idea for me or not! (It was soooo cheap!!!)
I know I am not the person you are asking. But I finally broke down and bought a FP in addition to my blendtec. It does some stuff much nicer. I have an 11 cup one, since that is the one they had a costco. I love it. It does nuts like nothing else and with almost no noise compared to the blender and much faster with less scraping. I am so glad I got one.
Thank you so much for your input. I think that I will have to get one! It sounds like it makes things a whole lot easier! Thanks again!
I have a VitaMix and a Cuisinart FP, and I use both of them every day, usually several times a day. The FP is very different, and works a lot better for some things. When you want something to end up with a bit of texture, the FP will probably be easier to use. Also the FP does a better job of mixing and chopping dry ingredients (like most of the stuff in the Larabars) than the VM does. They are both awesome kitchen tools!
I have a 12 cup food processor and it does some things much better than the blendtec does. And since I make such large batches of dense foods, it is easier to make these items in the food processor. It is great for nuts and seeds, and makes the best nut butters!
I use my Blendtec several times per day, and I use my food processor equally as much.
Hope this helps!
YUM! I buy our Larabars by the case at WFM to get the 10% discount but I just may have to start making ours! Thanks for the idea. My 6 year old favors the apple pie flavor and the gingerbread flavor and he can easily eat 2 or 3 at a time for a snack. Funny story though– recently we were in the emergency room when he had pneumonia. He was in utter disbelief that the vending machines contained no Larabars and told the traige nurse, “No wonder so many people here are sick! All you serve in those snack machines in trash!” (Of course I had a stash of healthy snacks for him but it was still funny, to me. The nurse was not really amused.)
That is so funny, Natasha! It reminds me of having to drag my five year old son away from a woman who was feeding her child with a well known savoury snack. ‘Don’t give him those!’ he was yelling. ‘They contain monosodium glutamate!’ Now, as an adult, he gets very embarassed when I remind him, and he reckons your son will be the same when he’s older, too!
That is too funny. Yep, I think mine will be the same! He also said some kids were teasing him at school about how he eats so healthy and he told them, “You’re teasing me? You’re the ones who don’t take good care of your body!”
Those larabars look delicious! Definitely gonna have to try making those soon.
I would love to spend a week at your house to eat all the yummy stuff you make for the kids. Do you have a homestay program?
HA!!
Do you do laundry and potties?
The way you feed your little ones is so inspiring and playful! Every time I see a post, it motivates me to be a more conscious eater.
Looks SO GOOD! My girls would chow those down!
I am running to the kitchen right now to make those bars! Thank you for sharing the recipe. The mugs the tea came in are so familiar to me. My grandparents had a set that looked just like that and I about flipped out of my seat when I saw yours. They bring back so many good memories. See I told you I belong at your house!
Those are old Corelle mugs! Virtually UNBREAKABLE. Which is awesome in a house full of kids! Found 12 at the thrift store for just a few dollars.
I am drooling. MMMMM the girls and i NEED this for breakfast tomorrow. Off to make Larabars
LOVE LOVE LOVE Lara bars. Keylime pie is the best!
Oooh yum…I’m going to try that flavor today for snacks!
I just ordered a caisse of Larabars though my Organic Bulk order club, thinking it was going to last me a few months and so far, I’ve been eating one every day or two. (I’d eat two a day, if I’d allow myself, but they are too expensive for that!) So you have perfect timing with your recipe
And can I say I am so drooling at the sight of this breakfast! How could you not? Cashews are my all-time favourite nut and this looks like food heaven to me! Thanks for sharing. Will be making it this week for sure!
Cashew Cream. The ingredients you posted there is exactly the filling for my raw vegan cheezecake I posted last week…love me some cashew cream. Whether you call it cheezecake filling or creamy sundae topping, I call it delish!
Also larabars. I have a linkback to the time I made them in a fairly recent post where I just made what I am calling Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein bars. Only mentioning it b/c once you get to the larabar post, I have another great link to a lady who “perfected” the make your own at home lara’s complete with PB & J to Cashew Cookie to you name it flavor combo. I don’t want to link drop in your comment field cuz it can be a little tacky
This: At $1.89 or so per bar, Larabars are a small fortune! And they’re a little on the small side — my kids would polish off a Larabar in 3 bites and ask for another one.
Dear god, I totally agree!!!!
xoxo
Variations of that cashew cream/raw cheesecake float around the internet…it’s a goodie, isn’t it? Simple ingredients that taste wow together.
You can link drop in my comment box anytime…I love exploring great new sites and learning new things!
Yep…I never buy premade bars because they’re too spendy for my big family. And I can make my own pretty easily
Yum! I want to come to your house for a snack!
I need to make my own larabars! You are right, they are a small fortune! Cashew Cookie is my favorite!
Might have to make your recipe, thanks!
This whole meal looks wonderful! I’m excited to try out some cashew cream
You are always such a HUGE inspiration….
I hope I can feed my kids like this when I have them!!
xo Jessica
You’re a doll, Jessica! Thanks
Cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, macadamias, dates–bless the trees.
YUMMY! Man next time you make these can we come over??? I love cashew whipped cream, so much than the real thing, LOL!
Yum! I just whipped up a batch of Cashew larabars, and they are so good! We let them chill for about 7 minutes before we couldn’t wait any longer and had to dig in
I’m thinking that I might make some cocoa/agave syrup to pour over them, and then top it all with sliced strawberries for a really decadent dessert tonight. Thanks for the ideas, as always!
Goodness your dessert idea sounds great! I love a cocoa/agave drizzle over over treats. Two minutes to whip it up and it takes dessert to a whole new level
Hi Sheri! Great post! I’m going to make these larabars tonight. Can you share your recipes for the other variations? Thank you!! Emily
WOW, YUMMY!!!! I’ve been meaning to give this a go for a while (home made Larabars)… You have just sweetened the deal for me – YAY
I love the cashew cookie idea! It’s the element that has been missing from our raw sundaes! Thanks for your fantastic photo essays!
Goodness gracious! Those look and sound soooooo DELICIOUS!!!
Hi Sheri,
Just wanted to say that I find your blog absolutely inspirational! I made the best breakfast of my life this morning thanks to you… It was “banana soft serve” (from Gena’s Choosing Raw) topped with a sprinkle of raw cacao powder, home made granola (we call it muesli here and mine had all the good stuff in it – mixed chopped nuts, seeds, dried goji berries & sultanas), agave nectar and a pinch of cinnamon.
What a delicious, energising start to the morning!!
Cheers,
Nachos
P.s. I’m not crazy, it’s summer here in Australia and 35 degree weather totally warrants a cold breakfast!
That is one heck of a good breakfast! We like to make that too — start with banana soft serve, and start piling on the goodies! Your muesli sounds amazing.
I know – your blog totally inspired me to do it! It seemed too good to be true… Still, for some reason, I feel guilty about having ice-cream for breakfast even though it’s just made from frozen bananas! Ridiculous. Haha.
I had to make those Lara Bars! You think Lara Bars are expensive where you are, they are rare to get where we are have to be exported, so it’s quite pricey!
We have a Nak’d Bar, but thats a bit different. However I was eager to try make my own, in particular the Chocolate-Goji-Maple one, since I have a sweet chocolatey tooth!
Love your recipes as always.
You always have the best, most creative ideas!! My kids will love these.
Hi Sheri!
These look deeeee-licious!!
I wanted to let you know that we watched Food, Inc. on the week-end and I think it gave us the nudge we needed to finally go vegan. (We were close, but not quite there). Do you have any cook book recommendations? I don’t think we’re quite ready to go raw vegan yet (although we do like lots of raw stuff!), but just a general cookbook to get started. Most of my vegetarian cook books are heavy on the cheese.
Alissa
I highly recommend “Refresh” by Ruth Tal & Jennifer Houston! It’s a vegan (raw & cooked) book but does contain honey in a handful of recipes.
It’s amazing – not only has it got sections for entrées, breakfasts, desserts, wraps/burgers, noodles & rice dishes, but it also has specific sections for sauces & marinades (including dressings), juices & smoothies! It’s really inspirational
Thank you so much for these ideas! I just made my first batch of Lara Bars and we are going to pack them in our tiffins and take them to Disneyland today!This should be fun explaining the tiffns at the security check point! They always wonder why I bring all my own food in! Thanks for all your inspiration, I couldn’t feed my kids as well without you:)
Hi Sheri!
THanks for your sweet comment! I was so tickled to see you over on my blog, because I have to admit, I’ve been lurking around yours for a few months now! You even inspired me to go out and buy my own set of glass straws, instead of wasting so many plastic ones. Hope you and your little army enjoy the soup – I’d love to hear any feedback!
PS, I LOVE the idea of a breakfast sundae, it’s just so much more fun than the standard boring fare!
That looks fabulous! I’ve made my own larabars –cashew cookie is my favorite, too, with PB & J a close second– but I didn’t think to add all the other healthy stuff, I’m totally adding the extra healthy add-ins next time.
Hi all,
I wanted to thank you for the sweet comments — I loved receiving each one! I’m sorry that i don’t answer your comments promptly or thoroughly…I am short on computer-time most days
Sheri
Can you sub regular California dates for the medjool?
I’ve never had California dates — I think as long as your date is nice and sticky, it will work. The medjools i get are pretty moist and they blend up nicely.
If you have dry or hard dates, you can soak them in water for a few minutes before using in a recipe. This will soften them a bit.
I thought about you this evening when Steven shared this site with me. Your kids will find this totally revolting, but funny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSTWqRkBN74&feature=channel
(The guy blends EVERYTHING so watch out for your precious blender if they see anything that ’sparks’ their interest…)
Hey Karen!
Oh, we’re big fans of the “will it blend” videos!
We watched a bunch of them before we purchased the Blendtec.
When he blended the rake and the garden hose, we were pretty impressed!
P.S. I do watch out for my precious blender — my kiddos don’t touch it
Well, with Valentine’s day around the corner, I really really really really want to make my hubby the raw-cheeze cake you’ve been showing off
I know you kind-of wing it, but is it too much to ask to get a recipe :-p
Sorry, mine’s not written out! But if you google you should come up with some yummy recipes
Sheri, these look awesome. About to make them and take them with me on a 20-mile run tomorrow. One question though: Will you ever post how to make the other versions? They sound dreamy! Thanks for such a great Web site!
the other versions — I always start with dates and some type of nut, and then add in whatever you please. By switching up the types of nut used and adding in goodies, you can make endless combinations. Try basing it off your favorite Larabar version!
Wow! I have followed your blog on & off for a while & am constantly amazed at your creativeness & passion with your food & family!!! I just have one question! How on earth do you find the time to fit all this in!! With 5 kiddies, your own fabulous blog & all that great food, I need some tips!! You must be one organised Mumma! Do you sleep!! Ha ha!!
Thanks for the kind words!
Yes, I do sleep! maybe not enough, but yes, I sleep. Love sleep
I just tried to make something similar to your larabars! its my first adventure into this kind of noncooking!
i started with cashews and dates then added chia and sesame seeds, bee pollen for the B12, organic blackstrap molasses for iron , agave syrup, goji berries and some vanilla extract. it was a test run so i made about 2 bars worth but i think it tastes great! (they are in the fridge now but i did lick the spoon!) im now tucking into a caramel ‘milk’shake, almond milk with organic blackstrap molasses.
Oooh! I like your creative uses of blackstrap molasses! I love to dip fresh bananas in molasses, but I will have to try your caramel shake
I have a question about reverse osmosis water. I know tap water is bad for you but I understand reverse osmosis is bad also. Here’s an excerpt:
by removing alkaline mineral constituents of water, produces acidic water. Acidic water can be dangerous to the body system, causing calcium and other essential minerals to be stripped from bones and teeth in order to neutralize its acidity. Trace elements of minerals were intended to be in water; their removal leaves tasteless, unhealthy drinking water.
Do you advocate reverse osmosis? If not, do you use a filter of some kind on your water?
Thanks!
Lola
We do filter our water for drinking and for bathing — we have city water which contains lead, chlorine, and fluoride, among other harmful contaminants. We did very thorough and careful research before investing in filtration systems that we felt were right for us. I do not feel safe feeding my children chlorinated and fluoridated water to drink/bathe in. Filtration does remove good minerals and so we deliberately add those minerals right back into our diets.
I have to tell you this. We have been listening to a new CD we got a few days ago and it has a song on it called “Becky Brown” and is about “pretty Becky Brown” and one line in it says “She can’t cook and she can’t clean…….”. Well we were singing it and I asked my 5 year old son if he was going to marry a girl that could not cook – to which he replied “NO! I am going to tell her to look at the Green and Crunchy lady’s site!” HA!! BTW – you are forever known in our house as “The Green and Crunchy Lady”…..
Hilarious! 5 yr olds are SO STINKIN’ CUTE!
I made these LaraBars this weekend and let me tell you, they were awesome (I say “were” because they disappeared the day I made them). My littles loved them. I couldn’t even get it in the pan before hands where grabbing the mixture. I know I will be making more of these. So simple. I will probably try different combos too.
Thanks for letting me know! Have fun experimenting — so many good combinations to try
Sheri