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!