When I created this recipe, I was more excited about it than I had been about almost any other post. I played around with recipes to make an easy, homemade, kid-approved, all-natural, raw, gluten-free, dairy-free, portable energy bar that wasn’t too messy.
After months of trial and error (mainly error) and a messy kitchen, I stumbled upon a recipe that is not only easy to make but tastes great and meets all of my other requirements. And they cost less to make than conventional energy bars too.
Since creating my original Wellness Bar, I’ve also come up with a couple of other varieties. I sometimes make chia seed energy bars or chocolate coconut energy bars instead. Both are tasty, simple, and packed with nutrients.
Why Make an Energy Bar, You Ask?
I know, there are already so many out there to choose from. The problem is, I’m not really a fan of the ingredients in most of them. There are several problems really. Many of them contain fillers, chemicals, and artificial flavorings. Also, since they have to be shipped and stored on a shelf, they usually contain preservatives.
Don’t believe me? Here is the list of ingredients from Clif Bar’s own website for their Chocolate Almond Fudge Bar:
Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Rolled Oats, ClifPro® (Soy Rice Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, Barley Malt Extract], Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour), Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Chocolate Chips (Evaporated Cane Juice, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors), Almond Butter, Dry Roasted Almonds, Organic Fig Paste, Cocoa, ClifCrunch® (Apple Fiber, Organic Oat Fiber, Organic Milled Flaxseed, Inulin [Chicory Extract], Psyllium), Sea Salt, Natural Flavors.
Besides the fact that the word “soy” (an ingredient I avoid) appears on that label five times, the first ingredient is brown rice syrup. On a food label, ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. If the first ingredient is a concentrated, high-carbohydrate syrup that is made from a grain, that’s a problem!
I looked for better options, but most bars have a similar ingredient list to this one. Check your favorite bar and see what is in it! I did find one bar that was pretty good; the Larabar. Unfortunately, Larabars are rather expensive. And being a do-it-yourselfer, I wanted to figure out a homemade version anyway. The end result is an improvement on Larabar, in my opinion.
Making a Wellness Energy Bar
This recipe is incredibly easy to make, takes very little time, can be customized easily, and has few ingredients. Kids love it and it can be a great alternative to the snacks they usually get!
To make the bars just chop some almonds, then use a food processor (a mini one works best) to puree some dates and raisins, and mix it all together with a dash of cinnamon. Roll it out and cut it into bars or roll it into balls for energy bites.
While the original recipe calls for almonds, dates, and raisins, you can change up the fruit and nut combination to better suit your tastes.
Ways to enjoy the Wellness Bar:
- Fast on-the-go meal
- Delicious snack for kids
- Easy dessert
- Camping or hiking food
- Energy bar for sustained workouts
- Non-messy food for road trips.
I recently saw a recipe for energy bites rolled in shredded coconut, which would make them a little less sticky and easier to transport. Maybe I’ll give it a try with my recipe…
Prefer to Buy It Rather Than Make It?
I know that life is busy. Sometimes I just don’t have time to make everything. When that happens, it’s nice to know where I can buy ready-made products that are still healthy and tasty. Here are a few sources for packaged energy bars that use great, real-food ingredients:
- Kion – cocoa nibs, coconut, and baby quinoa — mmmm!
- Paleo Valley (their meat sticks are also delicious)
- Steve’s – dark chocolate espresso bars — need I say more?

Wellness Energy Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a food processor, chop the nuts into fine pieces.
- Remove and put in bowl.
- In the food processor, puree the dates and raisins (or any combination of the two that equals ½ cup total) until they become the consistency of playdough. It will start to clump together when it is done.
- Add the fruit paste and cinnamon to the chopped nuts and mix them by hand.
- Roll the mixture between two sheets of wax paper to ½ inch thickness.
- Cut into bars. Or make it really easy and just roll into energy balls!
- Wrap in wax paper, plastic wrap, or snack size ziploc bags (or glass containers if you aren't giving to kids) and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Ever made your own energy bars? Let me know what you think of these below!
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Rice Malt Syrup? I know it is made from a grain (so that is why I am asking this question), but it is free from fructose making it a great natural sweetener alternative to honey which is higher in fructose levels. I have been loving my natural raw honey lately and have been using it guilt-free in cooking (loving Katie’s home made chocolate) and sweetening my morning yoghurt, but now I’m not sure I should be so “guilt free” with it and maybe I should still keep track of how much I am consuming… thoughts anyone?
Thank you for this easy make and easy clean recipe!
My boys loved them and so do I!
Larry
Dee-lish! I’ve been experimenting with different types of nuts and fruits with these and I love ’em! I went to an anime convention last weekend and I brought a whole bunch with me and they kept me going like you wouldn’t believe!
Also try this: make a carob dip for the bars. take a few tablespoons coconut oil and a few tablespoons carob (i usually take carob to coconut oil in a 1:2 ratio) add some stevia and vanilla essence and some trace mineral drops along with essential oil of your choice – (we love peppermint). Melt coconut oil. add other ingredients. let cool slightly and then pour over the bars..put in fridge to set.. they will last anywhere coconut oil stays stable in room temp. Its not that hot here in South africa so we keep them in a drawer in an airtight container with no problems. Love your website. Keep the recipes coming!
Do you know of a good source to get raw organic nuts?
How about shredded carrots? Suggestion for improving the protein. I am 20 weeks pregnant, and find it hard to get enough protein. I am rarely hungry and have been resorting to goats milk and instant breakfast. I have also been having debilitating sinus migrains daily. As a result my house is destroyed….
Do you ever make rosemary Gladstar’s zoom balls?
thanks for the great work. I love your creativity and tenacity.
I loved you coconut cream recipe.
As a person who must refrain from Gluten, I would like to comment, that when you include any grains in your receipes, they should not be called gluten-free. Oats, barley, rye, spelt, etc. contain gluten!!!! adn even Teff contains a form of gluten.
Millet, Quinoa, Buckwheat, Rice, don’t contain gluten.
keep on doing the good work!!!
really jude??? try to keep it positive. She does state that throught her blog, you should read more and judge less
Peanuts might not be a nut but I bet they would work just as well in this recipe.
How many does this make
Depending on how big you cut them, about 12