Chocolate Cherry Snack Bars
We recently ran across this quick, easy and healthier snack idea on Sally's Baking Addiction blog that we thought would be a great way to kick off the new year. We made a couple of tweaks to make it Boomer Bear-approved and think you'll agree that the result is delicious!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup honey or brown rice syrup*
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup almond meal*
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon Cherry Republic Cherry Almond Butter
- 2 cups whole almonds, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup Cherry Republic Montmorency Dried Cherries, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
Instruction
1. Preheat oven to 300°F (149°C). Line an 8 or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper with enough overhang on the sides to easily remove the bars from the pan. Set aside.
2. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, mix the honey, vanilla, almond meal, salt, and cherry almond butter together until combined. Fold in the almonds, cherries, and chocolate chips until combined.
3. Transfer mixture to prepared baking pan and press very firmly into an even layer. You really want it packed in tight- as tight as possible. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack for 1 hour, then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for 1 more hour. This helps firm up the bars which makes them stay compact. Remove bars from the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into bars. Individually wrap each bar in plastic wrap or parchment. Store at room temperature for 1 week or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.