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    You are at:Home»Dairy-Free Recipes»Chocolate Cherry Cashew Granola Bars (aka Homemade KIND Bars)

    Chocolate Cherry Cashew Granola Bars (aka Homemade KIND Bars)

    24
    By Alisa Fleming on February 26, 2015 Dairy-Free Recipes, Dairy-Free Snack Recipes

    Whenever we are at a natural food show, Tony always gravitates toward the KIND Bar booth. His diet is a little more restricted than mine, and those nutty noshes offer him the perfect fuel for long days on our feet. But really, aren’t they just trail mix “glued” together with honey or agave? I think it’s about time to make some homemade Kind Bars, don’t you?

    Surprisingly, many varieties of Kind Bars contain dairy, including their ever-so-appealing Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew bar. To remedy that issue, these homemade Kind Bars are an even better tasting replica, packed with antioxidant-rich tart cherries, dairy-free chocolate chunks, and protein-rich nuts and seeds!

    Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew Granola Bars (aka Homemade Kind Bars!) - But these are naturally dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan, too!This recipe was shared with us by Choose Cherries ~ the Cherry Marketing Institute.

    Special Diet Notes: Chocolate Cherry Cashew Homemade Kind Bars

    By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Just use caution in the chocolate and cereal that you choose, to keep these homemade Kind bars safe for you. For the full “chocolate chunk” effect, I recommend using Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks.

    For nut-free homemade Kind bars, you can substitute the almonds and cashews with your favorite seedy blend, more rice cereal, and/or some oats. Swap the almond butter for sunflower seed butter.

    5.0 from 2 reviews
    Chocolate Cherry Cashew Homemade Kind Bars
     
    Print
    Prep time
    15 mins
    Cook time
    15 mins
    Total time
    30 mins
     
    These perfectly sweet and wholesome bars are like Kind Bars, but fresher!
    Author: Kristina LaRue of Love & Zest
    Recipe type: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Serves: 10 bars
    Ingredients
    • 1 cup chopped raw cashews
    • ½ cup chopped raw almonds
    • ½ cup dried tart cherries
    • ½ cup brown rice cereal (gluten-free, if needed)
    • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
    • ¼ cup dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chunks
    • 1 tablespoon whole golden flaxseeds
    • ¼ cup brown rice syrup (or liquid sweetener of choice)
    • 1 tablespoon almond butter
    • ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
    Instructions
    1. Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
    2. In a large bowl, stir together the nuts, cherries, cereal, seeds, chocolate, and flaxseeds.
    3. In a small bowl, whisk together the syrup, almond butter and salt until combined and gently fold into the dry mixture until completely incorporated.
    4. Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking dish, and use another sheet of parchment paper to evenly press it into the pan..
    5. Bake for 15 minutes. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on wire rack. Place in fridge or freezer for faster cooling.
    6. Pull up the sides of the parchment paper to remove the bars and turn upside down onto a cutting board. Peel off the parchment paper, and using serrated knife, slice into 10 even bars.
    7. Wrap each bar individually with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container on the counter up to 5 days or in the fridge up to 2 weeks.
    3.5.3229
    Alisa Fleming
    • Website

    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

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    24 Comments

    1. Levana Kirschenbaum on December 16, 2018 4:25 am

      Hi Aliza, My question is: if you mix all ingredients as directed, how do the nuts come right on top and the creamy stuff in bottom? Is there a step missing?

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on December 16, 2018 7:32 am

        Hi Levana, there’s no creamy stuff on the bottom, those are cut sheets of paper. It looks like it though!

        Reply
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    4. Karen on October 22, 2016 3:01 pm

      This is my second time making these bars and they have turned out perfect both times! My husband loves them and they are so easy to grab and take to work. Thank you for this recipe, as someone else mentioned, they are on the Christmas baking giveaway list!

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on October 22, 2016 4:42 pm

        Fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback Karen!

        Reply
    5. Nancy Cameron on July 27, 2016 6:57 am

      This are the BEST BARS I have ever made. They look and taste fantastic! I did put mine in a loaf pan instead of the cake pan and then I put the parchment paper on top of the bar and pressed down all over the top with a bottom of a glass to help make them firmer.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on July 27, 2016 10:11 am

        That’s awesome Nancy! Thank you so much for sharing your feedback and tips.

        Reply
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    8. vicki on January 18, 2016 10:09 am

      I am stoked to try making these… I think I will put in popped amaranth for the puffed cereal… I love Kind Bars!

      Reply
    9. Wendy Rutledge on September 20, 2015 2:45 pm

      I have made these bars three times now. They are GREAT! I will be adding them to the Christmas goodie bags I make as gifts. ?

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on September 20, 2015 9:08 pm

        Awesome!

        Reply
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    11. Kristina on February 27, 2015 7:09 am

      I canceled my trip to L.A., and while I am relieved about it, I will MISS the Expo and seeing everyone! and the food. I will miss the food. 🙂

      these are beautiful! I love the combination, cashews are my favorite.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on February 27, 2015 7:13 am

        Noooo!!! You won’t be there? I’m totally bummed now 🙁

        Reply
    12. Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom on February 27, 2015 4:36 am

      I love everything about these bars. Pinned and shared!

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on February 27, 2015 7:09 am

        Thanks Kristen!

        Reply
    13. Tina muir on February 27, 2015 3:55 am

      These look AMAZING, and exactly what I have been trying to find! Pinned, and saved! Thank you! YUMMMMY!

      Reply
      • Peggy on March 10, 2015 7:53 am

        These bars tasted great, but they fell apart on me. I used agave and kept the cashews and almonds whole, since they looked like they were whole on the picture. Is agave a poor substitute for brown rice syrup?

        Reply
        • Alisa Fleming on March 10, 2015 8:11 am

          Hi Peggy, it isn’t a “poor” substitute, but it is a little less sticky.

          Reply
    14. Arman @ thebigmansworld on February 27, 2015 12:18 am

      i LOVE making copycat kind bars but never tried the chocolate/cherry combo! Gorgeous pictures!

      Reply
    15. Hannah on February 26, 2015 7:45 am

      Stunning photos! I’m usually not a big fan of this style of bar, but I want to give it a try based on the pictures alone.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on February 26, 2015 7:46 am

        Indeed! These are just too easy to pass up!

        Reply

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