Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars

These granola bars were actually inspired by a Kashi granola bar that all my local grocery stores recently discontinued. I love cherries, and I love dark chocolate, and putting the two into a granola bar makes me feel less guilty about my afternoon snack (even if I eat 2 of them)!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups quick cooking oats

• 1/2 cup brown rice syrup

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1/3 cup dried cherries, chopped

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate, chopped (or you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips)

• 2 tablespoons flax seeds

• optional: 1/3 cup nuts (almonds or pistachios would be good!)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F

In a large bowl, add all the ingredients and mix well (until all the oats are coated). Feel free to add more brown rice syrup if you want a more moist granola bar

Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to fall over the edges. Spray the paper with cooking spray to help the granola bars release later. 

Firmly press the oat mixture into the pan.

I like to top the granola with some extra chocolate chunks

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven; let the bars cool completely in the pan. I recommend sticking them in the freezer for about 10 minutes before you plan on cutting them - it helps get a crisp edge.

Lift the parchment paper with the bars out of the pan. Cut into 8 or 10 rectangles - or whatever size you wish.

Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week!