Thanks for joining Sarah and me for Meatless Monday today. I love waking up to see all of the fantastic recipes people are cooking up each week. Now that spring has finally sprung, I am outside and on the go more. I am also looking for more healthy snack options to take along with me to fuel my workouts. While there are some bars out there I enjoy, I much prefer to make my own. These Chocolate Cherry Espresso Oatmeal Bars are by far the best bars I’ve ever made. Hope you think so too!
Chocolate Cherry Espresso Oatmeal Bars
Don’t be deterred by the long ingredient list! I had almost all of the ingredients right in my pantry which is how these really came about. I knew I wanted to use a healthy and hearty base of oatmeal so I started there. I literally stood in my pantry and pulled out my favorite ingredients. Almonds, hemp seeds, peanut butter and protein powder came out. Of course all great bars need chocolate chips right? Found some frozen cherries in my freezer and thought, “what else goes well with chocolate and cherries”? Yup, instant espresso!
You will notice, there is no added refined sugar. The sweetness in these Chocolate Cherry Espresso Oatmeal Bars comes from the applesauce and peanut butter. I was looking to build a bar that would keep me fueled before or after a workout without giving me a sugar crash. I love the balance of protein and good for you carbs.
These delicious Chocolate Cherry Espresso Oatmeal bars can be stored up to a week in the fridge or frozen. I cut them and wrap them individually to enjoy or share.
Chocolate Cherry Espresso Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 C almonds
- 1 C oatmeal of your choice
- 1/2 C hemp seeds
- 1 C vanilla protein powder of choice
- 3 Tbl coconut oil
- 3 Tb instant espresso powder
- 2 extra large eggs
- 1/2 C peanut butter
- 1 Tbl vanilla
- 1/2 C dark chocolate chips
- 1 C unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 C frozen pitted cherries (quartered)
- 3 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees
- In a food processor add the following and pulse:
- almonds, oatmeal, hemp seeds, protein powder, coconut oil, espresso powder
- Transfer to large mixing bowl
- Add remaining ingredients:
- eggs, peanut butter, vanilla, peanut butter, apple sauce, cinnamon, salt, cherries and choc chip
- mix to combine
- Line a baking dish with parchment paper
- pour mixture into pan and spread evenly
- Bake for 25 -30 min
- Allow to cool and then refrigerate 30m before slicing
- Store in fridge or freeze for further use
What do you like to put into your homemade bars? Chocolate, cherry & espresso fan?
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I agree that if your going to have a bar homemade is the only way to go! I never buy bars because they are like candy bars. Yours look absolutely perfect!! I love that they are only sweetened with the applesauce and peanut butter!
Yes no added white sugars is key! Thanks for linking up today
Oh, yum! I haven’t used frozen pitted cherries before – could dried cherries work instead?
I tried to find dried cherries that did not have added sugar but no such luck. They were all loaded and also way more expensive. The frozen cherries were so easy. Either would work fine, I was trying to reduce sugar as much as possible
All of my favorite flavors!!! These look amazing!
Thanks so much! All of my favorites in one place too
You had me at chocolate and cherry…
Thanks friend! Hope you give them a go
Chocolate, cherries and espresso all together sounds absolutely amazing! Can’t wait to give these a try.
You won’t be disappointed!
These look like something my boyfriend would love! I’ll have to show him the recipe.
Fabulous! Hope you both enjoy
I normally don’t eat any type of bars because of all the crazy ingredients that i can’t pronounce, but I would definitely try homemade bars! Love all the flavors in this bar and it would be perfect for lunch!
So glad you approve! I love them before or after a workout too
OMG, these look and sound delish!!SO many yummy ingredients!!!
yay! Hope you give them a try
Best bars I ever had! Moist and yummy- Gluten Free too. Thanks
Thanks for being my taste tester!
What a great recipe! These look so good. I could go for one right now. Thanks for hosting.
I highly recommend them!
Those look so good! Better than any bar I’ve ever bought!
I know you would like them!
ooo- I love this chocolate-fix bar! I love that I would only need one of these to get some great energy too- As pre-workout bite this would be great for early mornings!
I definitely agree! Hope you try them out
This looks delicious, wish I had one right now to enjoy with my coffee! Chocolate cherry is one of my favorite combos and brings back memories of Black Forest Cake my mom makes me and her always buying me and my dad chocolate covered cherries.
Oh yes have not had black forest cake in a long time!
My eyebrows literally raised up when I read the title of this and saw the photos. Yum! It’s been a long time since I’ve made bars like this!
Well I think it’s time!
yum!!! So many of my fave flavors in 1 bar!
Thanks so much!
Chocolate cherry anything and I’m sold!! And espresso flavor makes this perfect for breakfast – YUM! Thanks for sharing!
great thanks for checking them out hope you enjoy
Great snack recipe! So true about the ingredients list. I have everything but espresso powder. Ready to make these soon!
Yay glad to hear! I hope you enjoy them
Chocolate and cherry is my fav combo AND you put espresso in this! GENIUS
They are a great combo for sure!
Your coconut oil made me think – I bet these would be even more delicious with some shredded coconut. Way beyond my skillset but definitely saving this recipe. Thanks!
Do not be intimidated! They are goof proof and you could certainly add in some coconut as well
Yum!!
I wish I had to time to make these.
You do! Really they are so easy
I love the chocolate – cherry combo. Such a winner!
Thanks so much!
Wow these look amazing. I’m so sick of buying bars that aren’t the healthiest. I’m going to give these a try! I wonder if I could use dried tart cherries?? I’ve got a bunch in the freezer.
I am sure you can! I did not used dried cherries in these bc I could not find any that did not have added sugar.
What a great idea to make your own bars! I usually grab a Kind bar as my go-to, but I often wonder if they are the healthiest choice. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Those are pretty much the only brand I will buy and eat but I still prefer to make my own whenever possible
I love making my own bars although I haven’t done it for a while. There are only a few kinds of commercial bars that I can have and want to have (peanut plus cashew allergies takes away a lot of them). I’ve only made the no-bake kind, I like the idea of baking them and being able to use frozen cherries as an ingredient. Chocolate plus cherries is one of my favorite flavor combinations, so these would work for me (with almond butter instead of peanut butter).
I bet that would work just fine!
Looove that these are low sugar and the best recipes are the ones that are already in your pantry! I pinned this for later.
I totally agree on both counts! Thanks a bunch
You can’t go wrong with chocolate and cherries! These look divine! I bet I could even leave the espresso powder out to make them a little more kid-friendly.
definitely would work!
Oh my gosh these look so good! I just pinned this – thanks for sharing!
Thanks for pinning hope you enjoy
I love the combo of chocolate and cherry!
Me too! Thanks
I love that you used hemp seeds in these! They’re so delicious and packed with nutrition. Also, you can’t go wrong with chocolate and cherries!
Thanks Laura!
Chocolate + cherry is such a yummy combo! I also often use a nut butter + applesauce + chocolate chip combo in my baking as well. I love me some healthy sweet tooth creations!
What a delicious combo of chocolate, cherry and espresso!! Yum!
Thanks so much!
Love all the delicious flavors in these bars! They are perfect for breakfast on the go!
Thanks so much!
Those oatmeal bars look yummy!
They were! 🙂
I would have never thought to make my own bars, but you certainly have me intrigued now. I’ll definitely be adding this to my “need to try this out someday” list.
Thanks Kathryn! Once you make your own bars it’s hard to go back 🙂
Looks yummy so I pinned to try later!
Oh great hope you enjoy!