Description

These Dark Chocolate Cherry Coconut Almond Oat Bars are a deliciously wholesome snack packed with old fashioned oats, raw almonds, coconut flakes, and dried cherries, all bound together with almond butter and honey. Topped with a smooth layer of 72% dark chocolate and decorated with fresh cherries, flaked coconut, chopped almonds, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, these bars offer a perfect balance of sweet, nutty, and tart flavors. They are easy to prepare with no baking required, making them a great treat for quick energy and satisfying cravings.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
3/4 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried cherries

Binding Ingredients

1/2 cup Sprouts Organic Almond Butter
1/3 cup honey

Chocolate Topping

6 ounces Sprouts 72% dark chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon coconut oil

Decorations

Fresh red cherries, pitted and halved, for decorating
Flaked coconut, for decorating
Chopped raw almonds, for decorating
Flaky sea salt, for decorating

Instructions

Prepare the dry mixture: Add the oats, raw almonds, coconut flakes, cinnamon, and salt to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is fine and almost flour-like. This forms the base texture for the bars.
Add wet and fruit ingredients: Add dried cherries, almond butter, and honey to the processor and pulse again until the mixture combines completely and forms a dough. Adjust the texture by adding more honey or almond butter if too dry, or more oats if too wet.
Form the base layer: Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Press the oat mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the dish to create a compact base.
Melt the chocolate: Place the chopped dark chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between intervals, until fully melted (approximately 1½ minutes total). Stir in the coconut oil until completely combined.
Add chocolate topping: Pour and spread the melted chocolate evenly over the oat base layer in the dish. Decorate the chocolate with halved fresh cherries, flaked coconut, chopped almonds, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
Set the bars: Freeze the layered dish for 20-30 minutes or until the chocolate topping is fully set and firm to the touch.
Cut and serve: Using a sharp knife warmed under hot water, cut the chilled bars into 12 pieces or smaller bite-sized treats as preferred. Store the bars in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 weeks.

Notes

If the oat mixture is too dry and won’t hold together, add extra tablespoons of almond butter or honey, or blend in a few more dried cherries for moisture and taste.
Use parchment paper to easily lift the bars from the pan without sticking.
For an extra burst of freshness and color, decorate with fresh cherries just before serving rather than during freezing.
These bars are best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature to preserve the chocolate topping texture.
Ensure not to overheat the chocolate in the microwave to prevent it from seizing or burning.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Snack
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: dark chocolate cherry bars, oat bars, almond bars, no bake bars, healthy snacks, almond butter bars, homemade energy bars