This post is sponsored by the Cherry Marketing Institute as a part of my on going partnership with them. As always, opinions are my own.
Tart Cherry, Dark Chocolate & Cashew Granola Bars
These snack bars are sweet, tart, salty, crunchy, healthy, yummy, and easy to make… what else can you ask for in a snack!?
February is coined the “Month of Love”, but it’s also National Snack Month and National Cherry Month. How are we going to fit all that goodness into the shortest month of the year?
I think I’ve got you covered. Check it. Tart Cherry, Dark Chocolate & Cashew Granola Bars.
These bars are the perfect snack bar to share with your loved ones or eat at the office. Chocolate= Love, right? In my dictionary Tart Cherries + Chocolate = Love.
Did you know that more than half of all eating occasions are now snacks and more than half of Americans are now snacking at least twice a day?! While I think this is a good trend, it’s super important that we redefine snacks and make sure they are smart nutritious choices that give back.
Some of my favorite snack combos include tart cherries, dark chocolate, and nuts, so I just made them into bar form for you. It’s a power packed snack trio filled with fiber and protein for a nourishing snack that lasts. These bars have it all sweet, sour, salty, and crunchy.
Tart cherries are available in dried, frozen, juice and concentrate forms which makes it easy to enjoy these superfruits year-round. To learn more about going tart at snack time and to find recipes and serving ideas for tart cherries, visit ChooseCherries.com or follow Choose Cherries on Pinterest.
Oh and please note, I’ve tested this recipe with several different sweeteners… maple, honey, agave and the ONLY sweetener that gives a good product (like the images you see in this post) is BROWN RICE SYRUP! Please don’t sub in any other sweeteners into this recipe, unless you want a crumbly granola rather than a bar. Happy Snacking!
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Tart Cherry, Dark Chocolate & Cashew Granola Bars
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 10 bars 1x
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Pin RecipeDescription
Tart Cherry, Dark Chocolate & Cashew Granola Bars. These snack bars are sweet, tart, salty, crunchy, healthy, yummy, and easy to make… what else can you ask for in a snack!?
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped raw cashews
- ½ cup chopped raw almonds
- ½ cup dried tart cherries
- ½ cup puffed rice cereal
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon whole golden flaxseeds
- ¼ cup brown rice syrup
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F; line 8X8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- In small bowl, stir together syrup and almond butter until combined and gently fold into nut mixture until complete incorporated.
- Transfer bar mixture to prepared baking dish.
- Using an extra sheet of parchment paper, press down on the mixture to form it to the pan and ensuring there are no spaces in the mix.
- Bake for 15 minutes; allow bars to cool completely in pan on a wire drying rack. Place in fridge or freezer for faster cooling.
- Remove parchment paper with cooled bars from the pan and using a serrated knife, slice into 10 even bars. Remove parchment paper from bottom of each bar.
- Wrap each bar individually with plastic wrap to store for snack time. Place wrapped bars in airtight container and store on counter for up to 5 days or in fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 recipe
- Calories: 224
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
More Irresistible Granola Bars:
Peanut Butter Pumpkin Chewy Granola Bars
Soft Baked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar
Gluten Free Honey & Orange Coffee Cake
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Hi I’m Kristina LaRue, RD (registered dietitian nutritionist), Peloton addict and mama to two active and hungry boys. On Love & Zest, you’ll find healthy-ish recipes that fuel the whole family. I’m all about veggie-filled breakfast, meal prep recipes, healthier sweets, and easy weeknight dinners made in the Instant Pot or sheet pan.
Did you make one of my recipes?? Leave a review in the comments and tag @loveandzest #loveandzest on Instagram!
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these look wonderful…any idea of what calorie count is for each bar & sodium? I’m not a fanatic…but do watch my sodium…thanks.
These are delicious! I just made them, with my own spin, of course, and they are so good! However, I wish I had read the comments before hand. I used honey since brown rice syrup would be impossible to find where I live, and as you mention, the bars are crumbly. 😐 also,I didn’t add chocolate chips which may have exacerbated the problem. Any ideas of what might be used instead of brown rice syrup?
ahhhh– bummer. It’s still good as a “granola” that you can serve over yogurt or with milk/kefir. I don’t think omitting chocolate chips is a big deal… but my mom uses corn syrup instead of brown rice syrup and she says it works perfectly. 🙂
I’m wondering if maple syrup would work as well. Just looking for the healthiest option and don’t know much about brown rice syrup.
I also would be interested in receiving the calorie count and any other nutritional info
on these @ trperret@cox.net
★★★★★
Actually maple and honey do not work in this recipe (tried it)… brown rice syrup is very sticky which is needed since there are large chunks and nuts that need to hold together. Nutrition info right below the recipe.
Hi there!
I was looking for granola bar recipes and stumbled upon this one, is it okay for me to use oats instead of rice cereal? 🙂
Thank you!
I’m not so sure that would work because the rice cereal is crispy. You could try puffed oats! 🙂
These bars look delicious. Is it possible to get nutritional information on them?
Yes, I’m interested in that too – before I try them.
You got it! Just updated the recipe to include nutrition info for the bars.
Can I use agave syrup instead of brown rice syrup? If so, would I use the same amount? I’m so excited to make these!
★★★★★
No please don’t! I tested this recipe with maple syrup and honey before I used brown rice syrup. The agave will sweeten it, but the bars will fall apart and not stick together.
So did honey and Maple work?
nope… recipe failed with maple/honey- the brown rice syrup is essential in this recipe (I’m sure you could probably use corn syrup, but I didn’t test it with that)
Oh my! These bars look perfect! I love the combination of nuts with the cherries, so yummy! …Plus they are super healthy! =)
xoxo
★★★★★
Hi Kristina! These bars looks so good! I’ve never made my own bars before but I think I need to jump on this trend! So glad I just found your blog! Looking forward to reading 🙂
Thanks Heather!!
These granola bars definitely rival any store bought granola bar I have seen before. They look perfect!
★★★★★
Gah, thank you!!!
Wow – these are amazing! These remind me of Cliff Mojo bars – but way way more delicious!
Thanks Shashi– that’s kinda what I was going for 🙂
These look so yummy! Can’t wait to try them.
Thanks Caitlin!
These are amazing!!
Glad you liked them hun.
These beat store-bought bars ANY day!
I love homemade everything.
These look divine!! Tart cherries and chocolate make the perfect combo! Pinning!
Thanks for sharing!!
Mmm, I do love cherries! These bars look delicious. Especially the dark chocolate!
yes– dark chocolate all.the.way.
I have been buying KIND bars for snacks lately and they’re almost $2 per bar. I’ve started researching recipes to start making them at home to save money– will have to put this one on the list! 🙂
Thanks Em. I haven’t calculate ingredient cost, but I would hope that they save you some $!
I’m not really fond of tart, can you recomend something to replace the tart cherries?
Thanks!
Sure– try raisins or cranberries– really any dried fruit that’s small would work here, you could dice up dried mango too.
Sure– try raisins or cranberries– really any dried fruit that’s small would work here, you could dice up dried mango too.
These look incredible. I just bought some dried cherries so these bars might be in order! I agree that snacking is a great trend as long as we can be sure we’re snacking on sustaining, healthy foods like these bars.
DO it!!
These really do look like the PERFECT snack- I love everything you packed into these awesome bars!
You are so sweet. Thank you!!