Dark Chocolate, Cherry and Almond Granola Bars

I have shared my homemade granola bar recipe before, but have never tried this combo.  And I must say I LOVE it!!!  Dark chocolate with that little bit of tart cherry and oh the almonds!!!! YUM!

Granola bars are a staple in our pantry.  I make a 9x13 pan at least once a week. I decided a couple of years ago the money I was spending on store bought granola bars could surely be cut in half.  I have no idea how much I truly save, but I'll never go back to store bought. 

Maybe calculating the savings should be on my "to do list" for my next batch.  I'll make sure to post the savings!

Anyway a big container is always filled with granola bars in the pantry.  They are a great go to snack.  And I love to crumble one up in my Greek yogurt.....breakfast this morning for sure!!!
And Ryan will eat them one right after the other when he is "starving"!  And as skinny as this boy is I let him eat as many as he wants. 

Because I know every single ingredient that goes into making them allowing him to eat one right after the other(and them some!)does not bother me in the least. 

But, because we do eat them so much you can easily see how the taste can get old.  I can't believe I have never thought about these ingredients before.

So here is the recipe!  These are super easy and you can change the recipe up to suit your own taste.


Dark Chocolate, Cherry and Almond Granola Bars:

Ingredients:

3 cups quick-cooking oats

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 cup flaked coconut

**1 cup dark chocolate chips

**1 cup dried cherries

**1/2- 1 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 300. Grease a 9x13 pan. In a large bowl mix all ingredients until well blended. Press flat into the prepared pan.

Bake 20-25 minutes depending on how crunchy you like them. Lightly brown around the edges gives you a moist chewy bar. Let cool 5 minutes, cut into squares then let cool completely before serving. I sometimes let mine set overnight before I take them out of the pan.

**Here is where it gets FUN.
Let's say you are not crazy about dark chocolate or cherries.  Or maybe almonds.....keep the first four ingredients the same, always, then just change up the other ingredients to whatever your family likes. This is when I go to my pantry and play clean out.  And it may not always be a full cup as the recipe calls for.  This recipe is so easy you can not mess it up!!!!!

I'll give you some ideas of different ways I have made them. Remember you are keeping the oats, sweet milk, melted butter and coconut the same. Just change up the rest.

Other ideas:

1 cup almonds

1 cup mini or big chocolate chips

1/2 cup-1 cup cranberries, cherries or any dried fruit

1 cup walnuts

1 cup pecans

1 cup cereal.....I like to use organic Cheerios

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup flax seed

The ideas are endless. Use your imagination. Use things your children and family like. 

They are quick and no fail!  And super easy!!!!