Okay, I have to start by saying this: these cherry-almond granola bars are dangerous.
Not in a “might explode” kinda way. No, no. Way worse. You make them thinking you’ll have snacks for the week. You know, responsible adult things. Meal prep. Fiber. Whatever.
Then you blink, and there are, like, two left and you’re standing there with sticky almond butter fingers and a mouth full of shame.
But also? Joy. So much joy.
So yeah. That’s your warning.
The Accidental Snack Queen
So here’s the thing.
But then I had The Day. You know the one. The day where your whole life tilts sideways.
Mine happened at 2:14pm on a Tuesday when I fainted in a public place because I skipped both breakfast and lunch, and my body was like “You done messed up.”
Cue my mom sending me a literal care package of snacks with a note that said, “Please don’t die in a Walgreens again.”
Included in that box? A homemade ziplock bag full of crumbly, sweet, cherry-almond granola bars. I ate one. Then three. Then messaged her:
“What witchcraft is this and how do I summon more?”
And thus began my very messy, very committed relationship with homemade snack bars.
Why Cherry-Almond, Though?
Dried cherries = tart, chewy little bursts of oomph.
Toasted almonds = nutty crunch city.
And together, they just work. You ever bite into something and go, “Wait. That tasted like actual happiness”? Yeah. That.
Also, bonus: almonds make me feel like I’m doing something good for my body (even when I eat, like, six bars in a row watching reruns of Great British Bake Off).
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rolled oats (not the instant kind)
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds (toasted if you’re feeling fancy)
- 1/3 cup dried cherries (unsweetened if possible—but do you)
- 1/2 cup almond butter (or peanut butter if you’re rebellious)
- 1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup if you like that earthy sweet vibe)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Optional but highly encouraged: - Mini chocolate chips (because… duh)
- Flax seeds or chia (for your “I’m being healthy” excuse)
How to Make ‘Em (Even If You Burn Toast)
Okay, this is embarrassingly easy.
Step-by-Step:
1. Line a pan.
Use an 8×8 or whatever’s clean. Line with parchment paper, because wrestling with stuck granola bars is not part of our journey.
2. Mix the dry stuff.
Oats, almonds, cherries, salt.
3. Heat the goo.
In a small pot, warm the almond butter and honey on low heat until it’s smooth and slightly runny. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
4. Pour and mix.
Pour the goo (technical term) over your dry mix. Stir it up. It’ll look like it’s not gonna stick—but just keep stirring. It will.
5. Press and chill.
Dump it into your pan.
Then? Toss it in the fridge for about an hour. Or longer. Go live your life.
6. Slice and devour.
Lift it out, slice into bars, squares, rhombuses (math is a scam), and store in a container. Keep them in the fridge for maximum chewiness.
My Favorite Add-Ins
- Shredded coconut
- Cinnamon or cardamom (add a little spice kick)
- White chocolate chips (not traditional but we don’t judge here)
- Pumpkin seeds (for crunch and also ✨vibes✨)
