Almond Cherry Pepita Granola Bars

Why you'll love these healthy snacks

• Healthy snack - these homemade granola bars are crunchy, chewy, nutty, sweet, gluten free, and chocolatey. They're a naturally sweetened snacks that also double as a breakfast bar.
• Wholesome ingredients - made with almonds, pepitas, coconut and cacao, these breakfast bars and energy bites are loaded with protein, dietary fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants. An energizing way to start your day!
• Quick and easy - only 10 minutes to make these no bake bars before popping in the fridge to firm up. They'll be too soft to slice at room temperature.

For more gluten free granola bars, try my other granola bar recipes, and healthy bars and snacks like Energy Snack Seed Bars with Tahini, No Bake Black Bean Chocolate Fudge Brownies, Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, or Carrot Cake Oatmeal Nut Breakfast Bars.

• Almonds: add crunch and protein to the healthy granola bars. You can substitute other nuts like walnuts or pecan though they won't be as crunchy. Use chopped or sliced almonds. Don't substitute the almonds with a cup of almond butter, almond flour or peanut butter. Homemade almond butter granola bars are for another day.
• Pepitas: also adds crunch and can be substituted for pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or sesame seeds. 
• Crispy rice cereal: gives a little lightness to the snack bars. Feel free to swap with puffed quinoa or puffed amaranth in this recipe.
• Dried cherries: gives the squares some chewy sweetness. You could also use other dried fruits like raisins, chopped medjool dates, dried blueberries or dried cranberries to make a cranberry almond bar. dark chocolate chips will also work.
• Unsweetened shredded coconut: adds fiber and texture. Substitute with coconut flakes, toasted coconut, old-fashioned oats or quick oats. This healthy treat will still be a nutritious delicious snack.
• Raw cacao powder: is loaded with antioxidants and chocolatey goodness.
• Coconut nectar: works really well to bind the ingredients. It's also low on the glycemic index scale so won't spike your blood sugar. You could substitute with agave nectar, but not brown sugar. No need for ground flax seeds to make flax eggs for binding.
• Honey: adds sweetness and can be swapped with nut butter or seed butter, like creamy almond butter.

See recipe card for all ingredients and quantities.

Expert tips and variations

• Cut in bars or squares and wrap individually or stack in an airtight container separated by parchment or wax paper.
• Use a thick natural sweetener like coconut syrup, brown rice syrup or honey to hold the bars together. A thin sweetener like pure maple syrup may not keep the bars from falling apart.
• Use different nuts or seeds like walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds or hemp seeds to change up the flavor. Make sure to keep your ratios the same as the recipe when swapping ingredients.
• For best results, press some extra dried cherries on top of the bars before refrigerating for extra sweetness. Or, add some protein powder to the mixture for an extra protein boost.

• Store: these healthy homemade almond cherry pepita granola bars can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 7-10 days. Wrap them individually for a satisfying on-the-go snack, or stack them separated by parchment or wax paper.
• Freeze: these healthy snacks can be frozen, individually wrapped or stacked in an airtight container, for up to 2 months.