These 6-ingredient Cherry Vanilla Power Bars are a fabulously healthy snack. Because they’re a great source of energy, we like to take them on long walks and hikes, or as a healthy team snack when the boys have sporting events. They also pack very well for travel!
Because they contain so few ingredients, just almonds, flax, cherries, cranberries, vanilla stevia, and water, you can whip up Cherry Vanilla Power Bars in a few minutes. Fans tell me that they love my recipes because they couldn’t be easier! Life is complicated, that’s why I keep my recipes simple!
I use far more nuts and flax than fruit in this healthy power bar recipe in order to reduce the sugar content. Still, the amazing flavors of cherry and vanilla shine through in this no-fuss snack bar. We think this Cherry Vanilla Power Bar recipe is a fantastic homemade Larabar recipe. We also love that this paleo snack does not require any baking. It’s great for those hot summer days when you simply can’t bring yourself to turn on the oven!
Cherry Vanilla Power Bars
Ingredients
- 2½ cups slivered almonds, I used unblanched
- ⅓ cup golden flaxmeal
- ⅓ cup dried cherries
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- 10 drops vanilla stevia
- 2-3 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Place almonds, flax, cherries, cranberries, and stevia in food processor
- Pulse until well ground, then pulse in water until mixture begins to form a ball
- Press into an 8 x 8 inch baking dish
- Serve
Lately, we’ve been making a lot of my paleo vegan recipes. Yes, if you can believe it, such a thing exists! Here are some of my other no-bake paleo vegan recipes:
Tia says
I LOVE this recipe. It sounds so easy and yummy. Been looking for a way to make powerbars myself instead of buying them. I just wish I could live at your house and have you cook for me all of the time. Everything always sounds so good. Guess I will just have to settle for making all of you recipes at my place. ;)
xo – Tia
Chris says
Would love to try but what is vanilla creme stevia? I have heard of stevia (but have never used it), but vanilla flavoured?? I thought stevia was an all-natural plant ground up to give you the powdered stevia for baking/eating/etc. Is it simply stevia with natual vanilla flavour added? Much thanks!
Elana says
Chris, if you click on the green text that says “vanilla stevia” you will be taken to a page that explains what it is :-)
Sunnie says
Just an FYI for people like me, this doesn’t work in a Vitamix. :( Pregnant woman VERY hungry, really wanting to see those delicious looking bars, healthy bars. I had whole almonds instead of slivered, bought two bags of cranberries instead of a bag of cherries, ground my own flax seeds. It was a mushy mess because I had to add a lot more water to get it to mix up in the vita-mix. I added gogi berries and apricots too. BUT it STILL tastes good. My 1 year old is eating off the spatula. I ate it off the spoon and hoping that it will harden in the fridge. It is very brown, but very filling and doesn’t bog you down. So just warning, if you want them to look like Elana’s follow her directions!! lol!! Thank you for sharing this recipe though!
The Healthy Apple says
I love cherries in homemade bars…and the touch of vanilla sounds delicious…I think I’ll try to make these bars this week but I may add almond extract for some extra flavor.
Lovely recipe, as always. Beautifully crafted and photographed. Love it.
Genevieve says
YUM! Look awesome.
Marlise says
Dear Elana,
I just want to thank you for all your inspiration – even though I have not been diagnosed with Celiac, I try to avoid gluten and dairy as much as possible. I just don’t tolerate it well. Sometimes it’s quite a journey since people just don’t get it – how can I live without bread and pasta?? Not a big deal for me since I never really liked bread and now I understand why. But sometimes I just get tired of explaining and then having these disucssions of “it’s all in your head” (I work with a lot of health professionals who think they are nutrition experts and am often shocked by their “expertise”). Anyway, I am really greatful for all the inspiration I get through your site!! Thanks! Marlise
Jean says
Hi Elana, just wanted to say. Thank you! I love your original cookbook, and I have preordered the cupcake one for kindle. It is so hard to wait! I was diagnosed with celiac in 1997 like you, but because I didn’t have symptoms then, I ignored my diagnosis! So much damage… Anyway, today, my whole family is GF, and you make it so much easier! Like many, I feel eating gluten free is way better than the old way.
Culinary School: Three Semesters of Life, Learning, and Loss of Blood says
These look lovely; and what luck, cherries will be in season, soon. Now something new and lovely to do with them!
Terris says
These are beautiful. I just made some homemade “power bars” because we had so leftover dried black mission figs. I love how flexible these recipes are, you can basically add your favorite combination of dried fruits, nuts and chocolate! Yum.
marla says
Elana, these bars look wonderful. It confuses me when people think living gluten free is difficult. We do not have Celiac disease in my house, but I live a virtually GF diet anyway. I feel lighter and I enjoy most of the GF flours better anyway. Since I also eat mostly veggies and protein I can go to any restaurant in the world and order gluten free without even having to think about it.
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day my friend :) xo