No Bake Cherry Chocolate Snack Bars

Healthy no bake cherry chocolate snack bars are made from real ingredients - like oats, almonds, cocoa powder and fresh cherries - and have no added sugar. They taste like brownies, but in a nutritious snack. (gluten-free, vegan)

I developed this recipe as a snack ball a long time ago when I was super pregnant with my first baby and was obsessed with snack balls. I was in the testing phase in the midst of cherry season and had made multiple batches to get the just right, then stashed many away in the freezer so they would last until I could get to them. And I'm glad I did because my daughter was born shortly after, and if you've ever had a baby, you know how ravenous you become in those first couple of weeks! Since, I've made them into delicious bars, and I always fall in love all over again every time I make them.

Why You'll Love These No-Bake Snack Bars

A nutritious snack that tastes like a brownie. Need I say more? These bars are:

• Easy to make (and great for meal prep!)
• Made with simple, nutritious ingredients
• Freezer friendly
• Portable
• Great for using a load of fresh summer cherries
• So darn delicious!

What Makes Them Healthy

I love the fact that these bars are naturally sweetened with just fruit - no added sugar! Using dates and sweet cherries as sweetener offers the benefit of added fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They also have a great mix of healthy fat and protein, thanks to almonds and ground flaxseed. The mix of protein, fat and fiber is great for providing steady energy over a few hours instead of a spike and crash.

PS: These bars are also loaded with lactation-friendly ingredients, so they're perfect for nursing mamas!

How To Make No Bake Cherry Chocolate Snack Bars

1. In a food processor, combine the oats, dates and almonds and pulse until finely chopped. They don't have to be completely ground, but you want smaller than pea sized chunks.
2. Add the cherries, cocoa, flaxseed and salt. Pulse until well blended, stopping to scrape down the sides with a spatula as needed. The dough will start to come together into somewhat of a ball.
3. Press the mixture into a square pan lined with parchment.
4. Refrigerate until the bars are firm, at least an hour, then use the parchment to lift them out of the pan and cut into 8 bars.
5. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Tips Ingredient Substitutions

• Use wet hands to press the mixture into the pan to prevent it from sticking to you.
• If you don't want to mess with the bars, you can make these into balls instead.
• Use certified gluten-free oats, if necessary.
• Chia seeds may be used in place of flaxseed.

Can They Be Frozen?

Yes! I love that these bars are freezer-friendly. Store them in a freezer bag or other freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Love no-bake snacks? Find more inspiration in this roundup of Healthy No-Bake Snack Balls.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the comments!

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