Almond Cherry Bars

I've only recently discovered that I'm a fan of almond butter and on my last trip to the grocery store, I picked up a different brand of the my newest obsession.  Turns out - I'm not a fan of ALL almond butter - only certain brands.  Whomp, whomp.  

Normal people would cut their losses and simply throw the jar of undesirable almond butter away and start over with a different jar.  Not this girl.  Wasting food is just not in my DNA.  (I'm pretty sure I inherited this conservative genetic trait from my mother.)  I am somehow UNABLE to throw away a perfectly good jar of almond butter even though I don't want to eat it.  What is wrong with me?  

Instead of tossing it in the trash - I came up with ways to add almond butter to recipes until I found myself at the bottom of the jar.  ​This was no easy task - I had to do a little google search.  I came up with recipes for almond butter muffins, cookies, overnight oats and granola bars.  These almond cherry bars caught my eye because a.) I love granola bars and b.) I was certain that the addition of sugar, salt and fat to my otherwise tasteless almond butter would improve its appeal. 

​My suspicions were correct - these bars made with even mediocre almond butter were amazing.  To be honest, that same principle applies to almost any undesirable food.  Add sugar, salt and fat and voila - improved taste.  

Almond Cherry Bars
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/3 cup almond butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 1/2 Tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
1/2 cup chopped, roasted almonds
​1/3 cup chopped dried cherries

Spread oats onto baking sheet and toast 12 minutes at 350.  Cool. 

Stir together almond butter, maple syrup and oil.  

Microwave on high for 30 seconds.  

Stir in vanilla, egg white and salt. 

Add almonds and cherries to oats.  

Pour almond butter mixture over oats. 

Press mixture into a parchment paper lined 8" square pan. 

Bake 20 minutes at 350.  

Cool 15 minutes in pan.  Remove using parchment paper.  Cut into 12 squares. 

Devour.

These soft, moist granola bars are a great little breakfast treat.    I'm happy to report that I've used up the entire jar of mediocre almond butter and I'm back to enjoying my old favorite.  (It's Sam's Choice Honey Almond Butter, by the way.)  Now I feel like I need to make these Cherry Almond Bars again just to see if the almond butter brand makes any difference.   Between you and I, it's really it's just another excuse to make another batch but let's call it research.  ;)
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​Ciao!

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