Chocolate Cherry Vanilla Bars Recipe

Hello there! I hope you all are having a GREAT week! Mine has been busy but awesome at the same time. Between work and trying out a new workout (blog post to follow) I decided to get a little creative.

I had been playing with the idea of finding some healthier options for the most important meal of the day, breakfast. I decided I wanted to make a super healthy breakfast bar. It is perfect fit for my busy lifestyle. Since I am working two jobs this winter and trying to fit in preparing healthy meals and working out on top of that, something that I can grab on the way out the door is perfect for me!

Related: The Best Healthy Breakfast Ideas For A Healthier You! A Week Of Choices

I also wanted to create a recipe with simple ingredients and that didn’t involve a lot of work. I wanted something I could whip up fairly quickly on a Sunday night and not have to worry about breakfast for the rest of the work week. I think it was a total success!

I chose to use these three ingredients:

Applesauce, cherry vanilla granola and creamy peanut butter.

I also used a few other ingredients from my pantry.

Dark chocolate chips, homemade vanilla extract, organic honey and salt.

Here is the recipe and if you prefer to make your own cherry vanilla granola the recipe is below:

1. Preheat your own for 350.
2. Line a brownie pan with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray.
3. In a medium sized mixing bowl mix together 1/2 a cup of applesauce, 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/4 of a cup of creamy peanut butter.
4. Then add 2 cups of cherry vanilla granola, a 1/2 a cup of dark chocolate chips and a few shakes of salt.
5. Spread out the mixture evenly on in the pan.
6. Bake for 25 minutes and then let them cool for about 15 minutes.
7. Cut onto bars and enjoy!

Homemade Cherry Vanilla Granola

If you would prefer to make your own cherry vanilla granola instead of buying it from the store, it’s actually pretty easy to prepare at home. Just take the following ingredients:

• 1 oz coconut oil
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup almond slices
• 2 tbsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup dried and diced cherries

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
2. Now in a small saucepan over medium heat, you want to combine both the honey and coconut oil and whish so that the mixture is well combined. Once complete take off heat and let cool.
3. Combine all the remaining ingredients besides the diced cherries, into a large bowl and add both the coconut oil and honey mixture. Make sure the oats are well coated.
4. Take a large baking tray and cover with parchment paper then spread the mixture evenly.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, then let the granola cool and after add the cherries and mix.

Easy peasy!

These bars are simple, nutritious and amazing! I’m pretty sure I know what I am having tomorrow for breakfast too!!!! Next time I have friends over for brunch, I think I will whip up a batch of these and send folks home with them as little favors. They are so easy to make and so tasty!