Larabar Original Nut & Fruit Bar – Cashew Cookie is an energy bar made with only two ingredients – cashews and dates. At 48 g, it provides 220 calories, 5 g of protein, 12 g of fat, and 25 g of carbohydrate, of which 15 g are sugar. Despite its soft texture, the bar holds together well, even during outdoor activities.
When I saw “Just 2 ingredients” on the front of the package, I had to flip to the back label to make sure. (For example, Rxbar lists only four to five ingredients on the front wrapper, but the actual list is much longer. (Read our full Rxbar review here)
Lara wasn’t lying. Cashews and dates, the label said. An energy bar can’t get any more simple than that. As a former manufacturer of energy and protein bars, we were amazed.
- Don’t you need some form of binder to ensure the bar doesn’t crumble?
- Will the bar taste too much like dried dates?
- How can you deliver a balanced nutritional profile with just two ingredients?
We had to pick up a few of the bars to investigate further. Here is our review of Larabar Original Nut & Fruit – Cashew Cookie.
Marketing claims
Larabar is added sugar-free and made with 100% real ingredients, the company says.
The Original product line includes 32 flavors, and none of the bars contain more than nine ingredients. Carrot Cake and Pumpkin Pie, for example, include nine foods, and Cashew Cookie, the flavor we reviewed, is the simplest with two.
Ingredients and nutritional facts – what’s in a Larabar Original bar?
At 48 g, Cashew Cookie provides 220 calories, 5 g of protein, 12 g of fat, and 25 g of carbohydrate, of which 15 g are sugar. It also contains some micro-nutrients, including 5 mg of sodium, 1.7 mg of iron, and 200 mg of potassium.
It’s remarkable but not surprising that two quality ingredients can provide so many nutrients. Cashews and dates are two of the world’s most nutritious foods, after all.
What are the taste and consistency of Larabar Original?
Cashew Cookie is a delicious bar. The date flavor isn’t overwhelming, and the bar delivers just the right level of sweetness. While many all-natural energy bars tend to be bland when it comes to taste, this Larabar is flavorful. We are amazed by how the brand managed to accomplish this with just two ingredients.
The texture is soft, but it doesn’t crumble. It held together during hikes when I had it in a fast pack and ate it on the move.
Cashew Cookie tastes so good that I can eat it as a daily snack. Incredibly, it does taste a little like cookies.
Is Larabar Original’s packaging convenient?
Larabar Orginal is not a big bar, about the length of your palm. It will fit most fuel-carrying gears (belts, shorts pockets, vests, etc.). The wrapping material is standard. Easy to rip open even on the move.
When should you eat Larabar Original?
Larabar Original is tasty and made with natural ingredients, making it suitable for pre-, mid-, and post-exercise. It should be categorized as more of an energy bar with 25 g of carbohydrates and only 5 g of protein per bar.
With its soft texture and high caloric count (220 calories), it is a solid fuel for more extended efforts such as trail ultramarathons.
(Here’s some recommendations for ultramarathon fueling)
You might be in the wilderness with no aid stations for hours during these events, meaning solid foods that are tasty and easy to chew and digest should be part of your fueling game plan.
We have also been eating them as mid-day snacks. My willpower is especially low after long, draining meetings. It’s nice to have these bars on hand to prevent myself from raiding all the junk food in the office pantry.
Conclusion
Larabar Original Nut & Fruit Bar – Cashew Cookie is an energy bar made with only two ingredients – cashews and dates. At 48 g, it provides 220 calories, 5 g of protein, 12 g of fat, and 25 g of carbohydrate, of which 15 g of sugar.
Despite using only two natural foods, the bar is flavorful with a soft and very chewable texture. It held together well, even during outdoor activities.
We highly recommend Larabar Original for pre-, mid-, and post-workouts. It should also make an excellent fuel for long efforts such as trail ultramarathons.