Eat Well, Live Well – Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars

Posted 1 week ago

Eat Well, Live Well – Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars

Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars are a snack that not only satisfies that sweet tooth but also has health benefits. Dark Chocolate is known to have a powerful source of antioxidants, improves blood flow, its loaded with soluble fiber and minerals, and last but not least it can improve brain function.

Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 12

Ingredients

– 1 cup dried tart cherries
– 2 cups oats old fashioned or quick-cooking
– 1 cup walnuts
– 1/4 cup flax seed meal
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 2 eggs
– 2/3 cup honey
– 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder regular works too
– 1 teaspoon vanilla
– 1/2 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.

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

Printable version here.

Brenda Gridley, CSP, RDN

Brenda is originally from Los Angeles, CA where she attended California State University of Los Angeles for her under graduate degree in Nutritional Science. She began her career with Kaiser Permanente in 2004. Throughout her professional development, she has worked in Cardiology and open heart surgery, Renal/Dialysis, organ transplants and Oncology, including chemotherapy, radiation and head and neck. Brenda has extensive experience with weight management programs, including Bariatric and finally Eating disorders and mindful eating. She went on to specialize in the Pediatric population and has maintained her Certification in Pediatric Nutrition since 2011. Areas she has managed include pediatric and neonatal intensive care units where she was responsible for individualizing therapeutic diets and alternate nutrition support based on specific metabolic needs, medical conditions, and cultural preferences.

Her passion for nutrition was developed at a young age and reared by her grandmother who always instilled the importance of a healthy diet and active lifestyle. When her grandmother became ill, Brenda became aware of the impact nutrition plays in disease prevention and maintaining overall mind and body health. She cared for grandmother until she passed and has made it her goal to help others achieve their full “nutrition potential” with using a culturally sensitive holistic approach.

She is married with two beautiful daughters and in her spare time she enjoys watching movies with her children, experimenting with new recipes, reading mystery novels, running and Yoga.

Please ask your Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers provider for a referral to see our dietary counselors.

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