Healthy Recipes Healthy Cookie & Dessert Recipes Healthy Cookie Recipes Healthy Bar & Brownie Recipes Chocolate-Cherry Snack Bars 2.8 (5) 5 Reviews These cereal bars are chewy, crunchy and delicious with good-for-you seeds, nuts, fruit and little explosions of chocolate. We like the flavor of dried cherries or cranberries, but any coarsely chopped dried fruit will work. By Alice Medrich Updated on June 8, 2018 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Cook Time: 15 mins Additional Time: 1 hrs 35 mins Total Time: 1 hrs 50 mins Servings: 16 Yield: 16 bars Nutrition Profile: Diabetes Appropriate Heart Healthy Low Sodium Low-Calorie Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 2 ½ cups unsweetened puffed wheat cereal ½ cup pecan halves, chopped medium-fine ⅓ cup salted roasted pepitas (see Notes) ¼ cup dried cherries or dried cranberries, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds (see Notes) ½ cup honey ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ⅛ teaspoon salt ½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips or finely chopped bittersweet chocolate Directions Position a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 300 degrees F. Line an 8-inch-square pan with parchment paper, letting it overhang on two opposite sides. Toss cereal, pecans, pepitas, cherries (or cranberries), sesame seeds and ground flaxseeds in a large bowl. Combine honey, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring, until the honey is more fluid and the salt is dissolved. Pour the honey mixture over the dry ingredients and fold until everything is moistened and sticky. Let cool for 5 minutes. Fold in chips (or chopped chocolate) until evenly distributed. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a fork. Using the back of the fork, press the mixture very firmly all over. (Alternatively, cover with parchment paper and press firmly all over.) Bake until the top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. (If in doubt, take it out so the honey does not burn.) Run a knife along the unlined sides of the pan to detach the bars. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack to room temperature, about 1 hour. Use the ends of the parchment to lift the bars from the pan. Gently peel off the parchment. Use a heavy sharp knife to cut into 16 bars or squares. Tips Make Ahead Tip: Store airtight for up to 1 week. Equipment: parchment paper Notes: Hulled pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, are medium-dark green and have a delicate nutty flavor. They are sold salted, roasted and raw, and can be found in the natural-foods section of many supermarkets. Look for ground flaxseeds (or flaxmeal) in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets or in natural-foods stores. Store in the refrigerator or freezer. Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 109 Calories 5g Fat 17g Carbs 2g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 16 Calories 109 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 17g 6% Dietary Fiber 1g 5% Total Sugars 13g Added Sugars 12g 24% Protein 2g 3% Total Fat 5g 6% Saturated Fat 1g 7% Vitamin A 74IU 1% Vitamin C 0mg 0% Folate 4mcg 1% Sodium 54mg 2% Calcium 18mg 1% Iron 1mg 7% Magnesium 22mg 5% Potassium 66mg 1% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved