Cherry Pie Crumble Bars

These bars are a delightful twist on the classic dessert: all the great flavors of cherry pie, but in a much easier to make & eat form, & with the nutritional riches of cherries & other wholesome ingredients 😋

The shortbread-like crust doubles as the delicious crumble topping, & the sweet & tart cherry filling is super simple too; it can be made with fresh or frozen cherries so you can make these year-round!

A great option for a nutritious, sweet treat, or as a breakfast bar since they’re packed with protein, fiber, & antioxidants too! 🙌 Makes 9 bars.

For the crust & crumble topping, in a bowl mix:

-1 1/2 cups almond flour

-1 cup rolled oats

-1/4 cup vanilla protein powder

-3 tbsp maple syrup

-3 tbsp coconut oil, melted

-pinch of salt

Measure out 1/3 cup of mixture & set aside to use later for the crumble topping. Pour & then press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a lined 8x8 pan.

For the filling, in a saucepan add:

-2 cups fresh or frozen cherries

-2 tbsp maple syrup

-1 tsp lemon juice (to help add a delicious tarty taste)

Stir over medium heat & once boiling, mash cherries over low heat with a fork until the mixture resembles more of a jam.

Then, stir in:

-1 tbsp cornstarch

-1 tbsp chia seeds

Continue cooking until thick, about another minute. Then remove from heat.

Pour & evenly spread this filling over the crust, then sprinkle the reserved crumble topping over the filling. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown. Let cool & chill in the fridge for at least an hour (or in the freezer to save some time!) before slicing into squares. Enjoy!