Dark Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Bars, Vegan and Gluten-Free

The best recipe for Dark Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Bars
best-recipe-dark-chocolate cherry pistachio bars vegan gluten free

Dark Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Bars, a healthy blend for a sweet and tart on-the-go treat!

This month’s Recipe Redux asked us to pick a pantry item and revamp it into something amazing, I picked pistachios.  I had a lonely bag of unsalted pistachios kicking around in the back of my pantry since Christmas because let’s face it, who likes snacking on unsalted pistachios?!?  I bought them by accident, oops!

Here’s my chance to finally use them and stop feeling guilty every time I open the pantry door!

Pistachios, dried cherries, oats, dates, brown rice syrup and last but not least…dark chocolate!

The brown rice syrup is just that…very sticky syrup, you will get a workout in trying to mix the bowl!  However, its stickiness is perfect for holding these bars together, similar to the rice crispy treats I made at Easter.

The health benefits of pistachios are many!

Here’s the breakdown:

  • Over 50% of the fat they contain are the heart healthy kind, monounsaturated fat
  • High in fiber and protein
  • A good source of B vitamins
  • High in minerals such as copper, magnesium and selenium

For an on-the-go snack, individually wrap in parchment paper and store in the refrigerator 🙂

best-recipe-dark-chocolate cherry pistachio bars vegan gluten free

Dark Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Bars

The best recipe for Dark Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Bars
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Course: Dessert, Snack, Treats
Cuisine: American, Gluten Free, Vegan
Servings: 16
Calories: 144kcal
Cost: $15

Ingredients

  • 10 dates pitted
  • ½ cup brown rice syrup
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
  • cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup shelled unsalted pistachios chopped
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • cup mini dark chocolate chips plus ¼ cup extra for drizzled topping, optional
  • pinch sea salt

Instructions

  • Blend pitted dates in a food processor until a paste is formed (if dates are really dry soak in warm water for 10 minutes before blending), transfer to a bowl.
  • Add brown rice syrup, chia seeds, hemp seeds, oats, chopped pistachios, dried cherries, ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips and pinch of sea salt. Mix until well combined.
  • Transfer to an 8×8 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Evenly spread and press down firmly using the back of a large spoon. Place in refrigerator to chill. Once chilled, cut into 16 squares using a large sharp knife.
  • Optional step: Melt ¼ mini dark chocolate chips in a double boiler. Drizzle over cut bars and let chocolate set.
  • Enjoy 🙂

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 0.04mg | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Cristina Cavanaugh RD LDN

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