Happy Holidays ladies!
If you love a little naughty with your “nice”, well then you’re just my kinda gal. These NO BAKE, Cherry Chocolate Pecan Squares are packed with lots of healthy ingredients – Oats, Flax Seed, Nuts, Almond Butter and Sweet, Slightly Tart Dried Bing Cherries for a healthy, satisfying snack or treat that feels naughty but it’s not!
Make them with the layer of no-sugar dark chocolate for holiday decadence, or without for a totally appropriate on-the-go breakfast or snack year ’round. They’re delicious either way!
Create any flavor profile you like!
Use this recipe as a template to create any flavor profile that you like! Use any Nut-butter (peanut butter, cashew butter), any combination of nuts and seeds, and of course your favorite add-ins.
Need a little inspo? Try the Apricot, Oat & Date combo!
VIDEO: Make them with me!
NO BAKE – Cherry Chocolate Pecan Squares (No Sugar, Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Steel Cut Oats, gluten-free
- ½ cup Flax Seed Meal
- ¾ tsp Sea Salt
- ¼ cup Almonds, roughly chopped
- ½ cup Pecans, roughly chopped
- ¾ cup Dried Cherries, unsweetened, roughly chopped
- 1⅓ cup Almond Butter, unsweetened
- ¼ cup Erythritol (sugar substitute)
- ⅓ cup Sugar-Free Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Almond Extract
- ½ cup Bake Believe Dark Chocolate Chips
- 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish with 2 strips of parchment paper, allowing paper to drape over edges. This will allow you to easily lift the bars out of the dish – without turning it into a hot mess.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the first 6 ingredients, up to and including the Dried Cherries. Toss to incorporate. Set aside.
- In a medium microwavable mixing bowl, add almond butter, erythritol, maple syrup and almond extract. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring each time – until the mixture is all incorporated and creamy.
- Add almond butter mixture to oat mixture, mixing until everything is incorporated. I used my hands – it’s easier.
- Press mixture into the baking dish.
- Make the Chocolate: In a microwavable bowl, melt chocolate chips & coconut oil in 30-second increments, stirring each time until chocolate is melted & drizzly!
- Slather chocolate over top of bars. Refrigerate for an hour.
- Remove from dish, slice into squares (your choice!). Store in airtight container in fridge.
