Dried Apricot Bars with Walnuts packed full of healthy vitamins and nutrients and made with just 7 ingredients! Perfect for taking with you on the go or as a quick breakfast or afternoon snack. Ready in 20 minutes. Gluten Free & Vegan 
Dried Apricot Bars with walnuts are so easy to make, especially with a food processor. Is the food processor the best kitchen gadget ever or what? I am seriously missing mine, and I mean really really missing it here in Colombia. Without a food processor wave goodbye to homemade pesto, home made dips, hazelnut truffles, energy balls, and yes energy bars too.
Sure the apartment I am renting in Medellin has a blender, but I mean, first of all it looks like the cheapest blender on the market and let’s be real blenders and food processors – not the same.
Not the same by far. So yesterday as D and I boarded a 2 hour bus to head out of town on a day trip (which subsequently proceeded to break down 20 minutes outside of town) I really wish I had these dried apricot bars to snack on during the ride.
Without the food processor, I was simply left with a bag of dried apricots and walnuts to munch on. Cue sad face.
These energy bars I made at home last month and looooved them. I got the inspiration from my copycat larabars bites that I made years ago. Walnut + apricot + goji + lemons = match made in heaven.
These four are made to be together. The walnut is a light nut with a soft delicate flavor that blends nicely with the sharp zesty lemon, tart goji berries and smooth and sweet apricots.
These ingredients just work together. For a hint of sweetness I add a few dates – my favorite ingredient to add in place of refined sugar. Dates work like magic in terms of sweetening up a recipe. And for added healthy measure I threw in some chia seeds and hemp seeds because never take away from the taste and simply add bonus vitamin and nutrient points to this dried apricots bar recipe
Let the food processor do all the work, and stand back, hopefully amazed at home much better this is than a blender. Seriously my all time favorite kitchen gadget.
These naturally sweetened vegan walnut dried apricot bars make for a perfect on the go snack, or even an easy breakfast to grab on your way to work. They’re fruity and nutty and just bursting with flavor.
Definitely my new favorite snack bar.
Now if only I could make these in a blender for when I’m traveling….
Other snack bars you need in your life:
- Vegan Energy Bars with Coconut Macadamia and Cranberry {GF}
- Gluten-Free Blueberry Granola Bar with Golden Berry {GF, DF}
- Vegan Fruit and Nut Bars with Granola Recipe {GF}
- Dried Fruit and Nut Bars {GF, Raw, Sugar-Free, Vegan}
How to make vegan walnut dried apricot bars
Dried Apricot Bars with Walnuts packed full of healthy vitamins and nutrients and made with just 7 ingredients! Perfect for taking with you on the go or as a quick breakfast or afternoon snack. Ready in 20 minutes. Gluten Free & Vegan
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup dried apricot
- 1/4 cup goji berries
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 dates pits removed and softened in water for 10 mins
- 1 lemon zested
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
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Soak dates in warm water for 10 minutes to soften then a bit. Drain the water.
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Combine all ingredients in food processor and process until almost smooth (not completely).
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Pat bars into baking tray and freeze for 10-15 mins.
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Cut into bars and store in the refrigerator.
Oriana @Mommyhood's Diary says
These apricot bars look delicious! I love making the homemade bars because they are super easy and I can control what goes in them. Bookmarking your recipe to try soon.
Vicky says
Thanks! Yes making home made bars is the best : ))
Sarah says
These look so tasty! I’ve never tried goji berries before but I’m starting to see them everywhere. When I find some I’ll have to give these bars a go 🙂
Vicky says
You’ve got to get your hands on some goji berries! They are super healthy for you and delicious :))
kate @veggie desserts says
These sound great – I bet the lemon really lifts them. I know what you mean about not all blenders being equal. I love my Froothie and powerless ones are a waste of time!
Vicky says
Yes I find that the lemon really makes these super light and more refreshing. Bad blenders are the WORST!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Wow! These energy bars look absolutely DELICIOUS!! I love that it’s vegan! Can’t wait to try this!
Vicky says
Thanks!
Jill says
I like that these are ready so quickly. They sound great!
Vicky says
Thanks!
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
We’re on a bit of a health kick at the minute so this is PERFECT!!! I love that they are vegan too 🙂
Vicky says
Thanks! Perfect for your health kick indeed : )
Mercedes says
I’m definitely making these bars. Gluten free, and looks delicious. Thank you for great recipes.
Vicky says
Thanks! Enjoy!
MyCookingSecrets.com | Krystallia Giamouridou says
I can’t agree more that the food processor the best kitchen gadget! Mine was broken the other day and was thinking to buy another one because I think that it is very handy and makes things easier for me when cooking. About your recipe, it is very easy to make… and the ingredients used are simple, yet tasteful.
Vicky says
I miss my food processor so much! It’s by far my favorite kitchen tool!
Nicole says
I started making energy balls a few weeks back (usually only nuts/seeds, oats, dried fruit and no sugar or honey). I was intrigued by your recipe the minute I saw it and I finally tried it today. love it!!! the apricots are so sweet, might even leave the dates out nxt time. I cut it in little pieces – as the apricot are sweet only a tiny bit is enough. will def make them again, thanks for an amazing recipe!
Vicky says
Yay so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and let me know what you thought. I am sure these would be great without the dates too – just depends on how sweet you want them!
Laura says
“a baking tray” What kind of instruction is that? There are many different sizes and kinds of baking trays. The size matters because it will determine the outcome of your recipe as well as the accuracy of your nutritional information.. Baking, or cooking for that matter, is not relative. It is a science. Measurements matter. Just some food for thought.
Vicky says
Laura, these bars are not baked so the size of the baking tray does not matter. It is up to the you how thick you want the bars to be, so if you want them to be thinner you can use a larger baking tray to pat them out. If you want them thicker you use a smaller baking tray. You could skip the baking tray and simply using tin foil shaped into the form of a tray, placed on a cutting board. The size of the baking tray in this recipe makes no difference, as these are not being baked. While I do agree that baking is a science, I do not consider cooking a science. You can adjust the ingredients in cooking frequently, and there is rarely a recipe that needs to be followed absolutely precisely in order for a dish to turn out well.
Mary Preciado says
What size baking pan do you use? My energy bars aren’t as thick as your photo. I used a square baking pan. They taste really great.
Vicky says
I don’t have a small baking pan, so I actually made by “own” baking pan with heavy duty aluminum foil. Unfortunately I did not measure out how big it was. These bars will be delicious no matter how thick they are so don’t worry about the thickness!