0 from 75 votes
Cherry Almond Granola Bars
Easy, chewy granola bars naturally sweetened with maple syrup and dates and studded with seeds, flaked almonds, and tart cherries. Just 9 ingredients required!
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 12 (Bars)
Calories: 204 kcal
Course:
Breakfast , Snacks
Cuisine:
Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats (gluten-free for GF eaters)
- 3/4 cup slivered almonds (or chopped raw almonds)
- 2/3 cup packed pitted dates, measured after pitting (deglet noor or medjool // ~7-8 large medjool dates as the original recipe is written)
- 1/3 cup packed dried tart cherries (unsweetened if possible, or sub other tart dried fruit // plus more for topping)
- 1/4 cup seeds of choice (we love flax, hemp, sesame, and chia)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup (or honey if not vegan)
- 1/4 cup creamy salted natural almond butter (just almonds + salt)
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1 healthy pinch sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- Add your oats and almonds to a bare baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
- Add dates and dried fruit to a food processor and mix until small bits remain or a ball forms — ~20 seconds. It should be quite tacky / sticky.
- Add the toasted oats and almonds to a large mixing bowl along with the date-fruit mixture and the seeds. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, warm maple syrup, almond butter, and oil, stirring until creamy and smooth. Then remove from heat, add a pinch of salt and vanilla (optional), and stir again to combine.
- Pour into the large mixing bowl and then mix, breaking up the date-fruit mixture to disperse throughout (option to add 1 more handful of dried cherries to the mix). Use a spoon or your hands to mix thoroughly. It should be very tacky and hold its shape when squeezed between two fingers. If too dry or crumbly, add a bit more maple syrup and/or almond butter and continue mixing.
- Transfer to the prepared 8×8-inch dish and use a wooden spoon or your hands to disperse into an even layer. Cover with parchment and press down with something flat, such as a drinking glass, to get the mixture packed really tightly. This will prevent the bars from being crumbly. Chill in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to harden.
- Remove bars from dish and chop into 12 even bars (as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. They travel fine if taking on-the-go, though they keep their shape best right out of the freezer or refrigerator.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- *Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with tart cherries and almond butter and without optional ingredients.*Prep time includes cooling.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1bar
Calories
204
(10%)
Carbohydrates
25.6g
(9%)
Protein
5g
(10%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
1.6g
(8%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
2.1g
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
0mg
(0%)
Sodium
21mg
(1%)
Potassium
265mg
(8%)
Fiber
3.7g
(15%)
Sugar
14.4g
(29%)
Vitamin A
101IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
0.6mg
(1%)
Calcium
58.6mg
(6%)
Iron
1.2mg
(7%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12(Bars)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 204
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1bar | |
| Calories | 204 | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 25.6g | 9% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 1.6g | 8% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2.1g | 11% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 21mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 265mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 3.7g | 15% |
| Sugar | 14.4g | 29% |
| Vitamin A | 101IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 0.6mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 58.6mg | 6% |
| Iron | 1.2mg | 7% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.