Cherry Almond Snack Bars

I resisted for a really long time and it literally took weeks of home isolation to get me here but... I'm finally recording some of my recipes on video!  There was a definite learning curve to making recipe "vlogs."  Those short little recipe videos that you see on Facebook - not nearly as easy to make as I once believed.  😂

I started out video taping myself talking to the camera while I prepared a recipe - Rachel Ray style.  Turns out - I'm not cut out for the Food Network. 👩🏻‍🍳 I found it much easier to video my hands doing the work while listing the instructions on the bottom of the screen.  Why is listening to upbeat music, more tolerable than hearing the sound of my own voice?  

Making a batch of homemade granola bars is kind of like making a one of a kind homemade chili recipe.  There are general guidelines to follow but there's also a lot of room for interpretation.  Change out the nuts, the fruit, the nut butter, the sweetener.  Create a granola bar that is perfect for YOU.  So many granola bar combinations.  ​

Enjoy this cooking video and by all means - change up my recipe to make your own granola bar combination.  

Cherry Almond Snack Bars
1/3 cup brown rice syrup or honey
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup almond meal
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon almond butter 
2 cups whole almonds, roughly chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

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.  
Preheat oven to 300.
Stir together honey, vanilla, almond meal, salt, and almond butter together until combined.
Fold in the almonds and cherries.
Transfer mixture to prepared baking pan and press very firmly into an even layer.
Bake 22 minutes.  Let cool in pan 1 hour.  Transfer to refrigerator to chill for 1 more hour.  
Remove bars using parchment paper.  Cut into squares.

If you change up my recipe - send me your interpretation.  I'd love to hear about the granola bar that you create.  

Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe