Cherry Coconut Oatmeal Bars


Cherry Coconut Oatmeal Bars


These Cherry Coconut Oatmeal Bars are the very definition of breakfast to-go. Free from any added sugar and made with only 5 ingredients (not counting spices), these bars are healthy, delicious and beyond easy to make.  Your kids will love them, your friends will love them and most importantly, you will love them, so get out your mixing bowl and let’s get started!


Cherry Coconut Oatmeal Bars


In this recipe, I used unsweetened coconut flakes and unsweetened dried bing cherries from Trader Joe’s. The great thing about this recipe is that it is completely versatile to any dried fruit you would like to add, and if you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, they have an extremely large selection of unsweetened dried fruits to choose from.

Feel free to get creative with this one! If cherries aren’t your style, you can always sub them out for something else. I would love to hear what you come up with, so feel free to post your take on this recipe in the comments below.

This particular recipe comes out to about 200 calories per bar. Finished bars will store in the fridge for up to 5 days if covered in saran wrap.

Cherry Coconut Oatmeal Bars
 
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Cuisine: american
Author: The Lean Clean Eating Machine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 12
Cherry Coconut Oatmeal Bars that are free from any added sweeteners and have only 5 ingredients
Ingredients
  • 4 cups gluten free rolled oats; coarsely chopped in a blender or food processor
  • 1 cup large flake unsweetened coconut; coarsely chopped in a blender or food processor
  • 1 cup unsweetened dried bing cherries; coarsely chopped in a blender or food processor
  • 4 ripe bananas; mashed until completely smooth
  • 2 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
  • **Optional:**
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. pink Himalayan salt
  • 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. In a large mixing bowl, mash 4 ripe bananas with a potato masher or fork until completely smooth.
  3. Add in 2 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract and additional spices, mixing thoroughly.
  4. In a blender or food processor, roughly chop 4 cups of gluten free rolled oats. When finished, add oats into the bowl.
  5. Do the same with your dried fruit and coconut flakes, chopping roughly into pieces then adding it into your bowl.
  6. Stir mixture to thoroughly combine.
  7. Line an 8×12 glass baking dish with parchment paper, and pour in your oat mixture. Press oat mixture into an even layer with a plastic spatula, then place into the oven to bake for 27-30 minutes.
  8. When finished, remove from oven and remove finished oat bars from the baking dish using the parchment paper to lift it out.
  9. Transfer bars to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes before cutting.
  10. Wrap finished bars in saran wrap and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
 

 

6 comments on Cherry Coconut Oatmeal Bars

  1. Peggy
    October 20, 2014 at 7:44 am (9 years ago)

    Danielle,
    These are the most delicious bars I have ever had. I eat one every morning in preparation for exercise and have been eating them for 5 weeks now. My son came to visit and I made another batch for him. He is insulin-dependent. He loved them and I sent him back home with a batch to which I added an egg. It made them just a touch more cake-like. Thank you for your recipes. I have lost 13 pounds in 6 weeks adding your healthy recipes to my diet.

    Reply
    • Danielle
      October 22, 2014 at 10:58 am (9 years ago)

      That is so wonderful to hear, Peggy :) These are my dad’s favorite bars, and I am so glad to hear that both you and your son enjoy them! Also, thank you for the tip about the egg. I always appreciate hearing how modifications to the recipe turns out!

      Reply
  2. Peggy
    November 3, 2014 at 6:16 pm (9 years ago)

    Danielle, I made these bars today for the 4th time. They just get better and better each time. I am not a great cook. I am one of those that loves to try new things so I rarely make anything more than once or twice. These are the best and they are so filling! I just started a couch potato to 5k running app (c25k) and these bars make it possible for me to get through the jogging.

    Reply
    • Danielle
      November 5, 2014 at 9:09 am (9 years ago)

      So good to hear, Peggy!!

      Reply
  3. Ami
    December 20, 2014 at 11:32 am (9 years ago)

    I made these last week and they were absolutely delicious! Definitely will be making these again :-)

    Thank you for proving that gluten-free & dairy-free doesn’t have to mean taste-free!!!

    Reply
    • Danielle
      December 22, 2014 at 11:51 am (9 years ago)

      Thanks for the compliment, Ami! So happy to hear that you enjoyed them!

      Reply

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