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Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars

Liz DellaCroce Avatar

LIZ DELLA CROCE

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An ideal snack or breakfast on-the-go, these chewy granola bars are filled with tart cherries, dark chocolate chips and protein-packed walnuts.

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prep time15 minutes

Chewy Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars - The Lemon Bowl

As though I needed one more, reason #9497214758 that I love living in Michigan is because we are the Cherry Capital of the World. In fact, I have been picking and consuming tart cherries my whole life. As a result, I was delighted when the Cherry Marketing Institute asked me to develop a cherry recipe.

Michigan Cherry Tree - The Lemon Bowl

With a name like The Lemon Bowl, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that I love sour flavors. Tart cherries have the perfect sweet-tart flavor that pops in a variety of recipes.

Fun Fact: The same phytonutrients that give them their unique tart taste and ruby red color have been linked to a variety of health benefits – like reducing inflammation and improving muscle recovery after exercise.

Chewy Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars - The Lemon Bowl

Even though my boys won’t be heading to the bus stop any time soon, I always find myself getting in the back to school spirit this time of year. I am a huge fan of any season that encourages and inspires people to get in their kitchen to create nutritious and delicious foods to fuel their families through these busy months.

Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars - The Lemon Bowl

Homemade granola bars are not only easy to make but by making them at home you can control the quality of ingredients. Antioxidant-rich tart cherries and dark chocolate combined with whole grain oats give these granola bars a major nutritional bang for their buck. Walnuts also add protein and heart-healthy fats to give your little ones long lasting energy, without the sugar crash.

I like to wrap the bars individually in plastic wrap to throw in my gym bag or so my husband can grab one on his way to work in the morning. When stored this way in the refrigerator they will last up to 10 days.

Chewy Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars by The Lemon Bowl

Although I’m here to warn you, they won’t last that long.

No forks required.

Have you tried my


Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars?

Leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how you liked it in the 📝 comments and share it on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest.

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Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars - The Lemon Bowl

Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars

Liz Della Croce
5 stars average
An ideal snack or breakfast on-the-go, these chewy granola bars are filled with tart cherries, dark chocolate chips and protein-packed walnuts.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
CourseSnack
Serves12

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup dried tart cherries
  • 2 cups oats old fashioned or quick-cooking
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • ¼ cup flax seed meal
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • cup honey
  • ¼ cup dark cocoa powder regular works too
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips I used Ghirardelli baking chips
  • optional: extra dried tart cherries and dark chocolate chips – for sprinkling on top before baking

Instructions
 

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray.
  2. In a food processor, pulse together dried tart cherries, oats, walnuts, flax seed meal and salt until finely chopped, roughly the consistency of sand.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, honey, cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth. Add the oats mixture to the bowl and stir until evenly coated with the chocolate honey mixture.
  4. Add dark chocolate chips to the bowl and stir again. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and spread out in an even layer.
  5. Sprinkle additional tart cherries and chocolate chips on top before baking 20-25 minutes.
  6. Let bars cool completely before slicing.

Liz’s Notes

While the bars will taste delicious warm or room temperature, they slice best when chilled in the refrigerator 3 hours or up to overnight.
Wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 36.6g | Protein: 6.5g | Fat: 10.2g | Saturated Fat: 1.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8.9g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 214mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 22.1g

Have you tried my


Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars?

Leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how you liked it in the 📝 comments and share it on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest.

We love hearing from you! This helps us continue to provide free, high-quality recipes.


5 from 3 votes

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41 responses to “Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars”

  1. Freya Avatar
    Freya

    Hi Liz! I love this recipe and I wanted to let you know I’ve included it in my Recipe Roundup of 36 recipes featuring foods high in antioxidants. I find it hard sometimes to plan so that I’m eating well so thank you for making it a little bit easier! Once I made the swap to dark chocolate I could never go back!
    Here is the link if you want to check it out.
    https://www.happierwithtea.com/index.php/2020/02/13/antioxidant-challenge-recipe-roundup-36-recipes/

  2. Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking Avatar
    Roxana | Roxana’s Home Baking

    Cherries are my favorite summer treat and sour cherries always remind me of childhood. My grandma used to have a big sour cherry tree in front of her house.
    Pairing chocolate with cherries is so good and these bars sound amazing!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh that’s so cool Roxana!! Aren’t cherry trees gorgeous?

  3. Lori @ RecipeGirl Avatar
    Lori @ RecipeGirl

    Perfect homemade recipe for after-school snacking!!!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Exactly!! Also good post workout!

  4. Carla Avatar
    Carla

    I love The Cherry Marketing Institute! I have some of their recipe cards from a long time ago and have made several of their recipes. Anyway, I’m not a huge breakfast person, so these on-the-go granola bars would be great for me as a mid-morning snack.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Aww that’s so cool you have their recipe cards!! Cherries are the best!

  5. Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet Avatar
    Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet

    We are huge fans of granola bars! I love tart cherries and can’t wait to try this recipe! Pinned!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Thank you Anna!!

  6. Christina Avatar
    Christina

    These look amazing and I can’t wait to stock my fridge for a healthy snack! My question is – what do you recommend using to chop the first several ingredients if one doesn’t have a good processor. Just use a knife and chop up up finely?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Yes just use a sharp knife – works perfectly!! Enjoy!!

  7. Joanne Avatar
    Joanne

    Cherries and chocolate…what a perfect pair! I would happily eat these for dessert…and a snack…and a second snack. :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Not much better in life right? Thanks girl!

  8. Sophia @ NY Foodgasmq Avatar
    Sophia @ NY Foodgasmq

    These look and sound delish! Another awesome back to school recipe, your kids must be stoked to have a food blogger mom!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      haha I hope they appreciate it one day!

  9. Emily of Sugar Plum Avatar
    Emily of Sugar Plum

    These bars look amaaazing!! I love chocolate and cherry together. Yum.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      You and me both! Thanks Emily!

  10. Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg Avatar
    Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg

    I am so making these soon. Love. Pinned!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Thank you Norma- I hope you enjoy!

  11. Liz @ Floating Kitchen Avatar
    Liz @ Floating Kitchen

    Yum – these look perfect! We have lots of cherries in Washington too, so I had a lot of fun picking them this summer….and of course eating them!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh yes Washington is another great cherry state! Isn’t cherry picking the best? :)

  12. Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction Avatar
    Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction

    Love the dark chocolate and cherry combination!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Thank you so much Jessica!

  13. Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living Avatar
    Jeanette | Jeanette’s Healthy Living

    When one of my boys first went to Michigan and told me about the cherries in Michigan, I was so surprised. Now that I’ve got a son going to U. Michigan this fall, I know I’m hoping to get my hands on some Michigan cherries ;). Love these bars!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh yes you are in for a treat!! So much great produce!

  14. Angie | Big Bear's Wife Avatar
    Angie | Big Bear’s Wife

    My mom LOVES cherries and chocolate together! She’s going to love these, Liz!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      There is no better combo!! :)

  15. Christine@ Apple of My Eye Avatar
    Christine@ Apple of My Eye

    These look delicious! I love all the combinations of flavors and YES to anything tart! I’m a full-time college student, so these would be perfect on a rushed morning where I need to just grab something and go for breakfast :).

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      These would be perfect for that!! They keep a long time too and are great cold or room temp.

  16. Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) Avatar
    Laura (Blogging Over Thyme)

    Love a good granola recipe! And I’m a huge fan of cherries…and anything that involves dark chocolate, of course :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I am such a sucker for granola bars!! Enjoy!

  17. Becca from It's Yummi! Avatar
    Becca from It’s Yummi!

    If you put this pan in front of me, I cannot be held responsible for my lack of sharing skills… YUM!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      hahah I love it!!

  18. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    These look fantastic and I am totally making some for my kiddo’s! (That I will accidentally eat all of before they can get some. *justsayin)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      haha – I am so mad I didn’t stash more away. They were literally devoured in a day. Boys.

  19. Lauren @ Hall Nesting Avatar
    Lauren @ Hall Nesting

    What a great on the go snack idea for any age! And I love tart cherries!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Heck yes!! Snacks for all!

  20. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes Avatar
    Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes

    I love tart cherries. My mom has a huge tart cherry tree in her orchard, but it died completely out of the blue last year. Finding fresh ones is so hard unless you have an in like that. Thankfully dried ones are easy to find. I am with out a doubt making these for my daughters’ lunch boxes.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh man – my friend had one too and it also died. I really don’t think they are easy to grow as it might seem. Thank goodness for dried!

  21. Maryea {happy healthy mama} Avatar
    Maryea {happy healthy mama}

    Tart cherries+dark chocolate? These are just full of antioxidants! :) I love the short and simple ingredient list–I’m definitely gonna give these a try!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Don’t forget the walnuts!! These are completely guilt free! :)