With the beautiful warm days we have been having here lately we are spending lots and lots of time outdoors.  Although the sunshine is welcome, with it came a whole new gang of neighbourhood kids for Mairead to play with.  I am very grateful for this as it has lessened the time I have to role-play ninja turtles and her asking to watch tv, but they always want so many snacks!  And the looks I get when I suggest a banana!?

I’m a bit of a hard-ass when it comes to feeding kids; eat what I give you or don’t eat.  Because of this Mairead has developed a palette for many foods that her little friends are turning their nose up to.  Don’t get me wrong, she would eat a bucket of sugar if I let her (and has tried) but we’ve got a good balance.

The unnecessary amount of processed sugar in everything we eat drives me insane!  I know that might sound crazy coming from me and the amount of baking I do, but the majority of foods I eat and feed my family, I don’t want sugar in it.  Store brand granola bars are terrible for this so making them at home is an easier way to control our sugar intake.  Since I have started making my own granola bars at home, I have not bought any at the store since!  They are so easy, versatile and more affordable.  So why not?

This time I made a cherry almond granola bar drizzled with dark chocolate.  I really enjoyed the flavor of this bar.  It was sweet enough and still nutty with some nutritious benefits in the form a treat!  Eat your heart out kids.

Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Granola Bars

Ingredients
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1/3 – 1/2 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup oats
2 tbsp flax seed
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 tsp salt
dark chocolate for drizzle

Directions

Preheat oven 300 degrees.

Line a loaf pan with parchment paper; set aside.

In shallow baking dish toast almonds in the oven for about 5 minutes, remove from oven keeping the oven set to 300.

While the almonds are toasting, in a small bowl stir together maple syrup and vanilla extract, set aside.

In a large mixing bowl mix together almonds, oats, flax seed, dried cherries, and salt.

Stir in the maple syrup mixture and mix until well combined.

Press into prepared loaf pan firmly, packing tightly.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Allow to cool completely before lifting out parchment paper and cutting into bars.

Drizzle with melted dark chocolate.  Enjoy!

By Three Happy Folk