Chocolate Cherry No-Bake Bars

These Chocolate Cherry No-Bake Bars are a great balance of sweet, dark chocolate and fiber rich oats that will satisfy your sweet tooth without hurting your waistline. In this day and age, we’re always on the go and sometimes we just need something sweet to get us through the busy day. Keep these no-guilt bars tucked away in the fridge or freezer for those moments you want to treat yourself to something deliciously healthy!

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter; or sunflower seed butter
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 2 Tablespoons organic vanilla extract
• 2 1/3 cup gluten free rolled oats
• pinch of pink himalayan salt
• 1/2 cup dried unsweetened cherries; chopped
• 3 Tablespoons hemp seeds
• 3 Tablespoons cacao nibs

Topping Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped dark chocolate (70% or higher); or chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon cooconut oil
• “Sprinkles” like coconut shreds, hemp seeds, cacao nibs…whatever you’d like!

Directions

Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. Using a large mixing bowl, stir  together peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla, salt and nutritional yeast. Next stir in oats (this might take some muscle), then begin to stir in remaining ingredients.

Press “batter” into the 8×8 pan and freeze for 20 minutes or more.

For the topping, melt together dark chocolate and coconut oil. I did this by placing a bowl on top of a boiling pot on the stovetop. You might also try melting the chocolate and oil in the microwave in short 20 second increments… however you’d like!

Pull the bars from the freezer and spread melted chocolate over the top; a spatula might help! Top with the “sprinkles” of your choosing and place the tray back in the freezer for 20 minutes more.  Remove them once more and slice.

You can eat them now or place them in the fridge for later, but don’t wait too long, these are better enjoyed in the first few days. [You can also freeze them!].

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