Hi Everyone,
Happy Monday to you. Where does the weekend go? The weather has been hot here, and I mean hot! I am sitting here cooking and I have the air on. I must have drank a gallon of water today. My Hubbie is working in the garage, he must be dying out there. He’s just crazy! I had intentions of walking to the store, maybe picking up a green ice tea from Starbucks, but no I just can’t move. I don’t even know what I did Sunday afternoon, but drink water and eat strawberries.
I did however manage to make you a treat before it got to hot out.
These are my Cherry Pie Crumble Bars. They taste like little slices of Cherry Pie. I asked Jenny what she thought and she loved them and her exact words were these really do taste like Cherry Pie. After my post yesterday for the Cherry Quick Jam, I decided on making cherry pie bars. This idea came from that darn Starbucks! Everytime I go in there I see their Blueberry Oat Bars and I want one. I never had one, but they look good. I was originally going to make Blueberry Bars, but I thought my jam would taste way better in a bar. The only downfall is I am almost out of jam!! But I do have enough left to put on my frozen yogurt!
The crust of the bars is made with an oat base and I topped it with a oats, almond, coconut crumble topping. These bars are perfect! I tried to stay away from sugar, but I ended up using 2 tablespoons of coconut sugar. This was the first time I ever used it and wow, does it taste like coconut! Even with the coconut sugar and coconut flakes, you don’t taste the coconut at all in this recipe. You just taste cherries! These bars are extremely healthy for you and the added fat in the recipe is from coconut oil and almond meal, which is a good fat! I’m really proud of this recipe, it was one of those add this and that, to make it. I took the idea from Oh She Glows Berry Bliss Oat Squares for the base of the bars. I wanted a heavier base than my Almond Raspberry Bars because I needed something to hold the cherries and I knew Angela’s Oat Square base would be perfect! I have made her Berry Bliss Bars so many times, that my Husband begged me to stop making them, because he was so sick of them. Hey what can I say? When you find something you like, you just keep making it, until you no longer want it.
If you haven’t already, you really need to make the Cherry Jam! It’s WAY better than store-bought jam. the thick chunks of cherries in these bars is what really makes it. Now I want to tell you, don’t be scared of the ingredients for this recipe. It’s not hard to make, and most of the ingredients are in your pantry. So when you see it, don’t be discouraged and think thats way to much work. It took me 10 minutes to prepare these bars. Ok, one more picture until the recipe.
- 1½ cups Cherry Quick Jam or cherry preserves
- 1 tsp. maple syrup to sweeten jam (optional)
- **For Base**
- ¾ cup oat flour
- ¾ cups oatmeal (not quick oats)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- **Topping**
- ¼ cup almond meal
- ¼ cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
- ¼ cup oat flour
- ¼ cup oatmeal
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 tbsp. Coconut Oil, melted
- 2 Tbsp. coconut sugar or brown sugar
- Preheat oven to 375F spray an 8 x8 pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Base: In a bowl add oat flour,oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into large bowl. Stir. Now add in the applesauce, maple syrup, water, vanilla and mix well. Pour batter into the prepared pan and push down firmly with fingers to smooth out.
- In a small bowl add Cherry Quick Jam and maple syrup, and spread over top of oat mixture.
- In a separate bowl add almond meal, shredded, coconut, ¼ cup oat flour, ¼ cup oats, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. Add coconut oil and coconut sugar. Crumble mixture with your fingers. Sprinkle over top of Cherry mixture.
- Bake for 30 - 35 mins. at 375F or until the top is slightly golden and firm. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting into squares.
If your using cherry preserves, you do not need to add the maple syrup to the jam. I did this to make my jam a little sweeter.
If you do not have coconut sugar, use brown sugar instead.
Calories per bar: 99, Fat: 3.2, Cholesterol: 0, Sodium: 107, Potassium: 70, Carbs: 16.3, Fiber: 2.1, Sugar: 6.3, Protein: 2.3
Well there you have it! A Cherry Pie Crumble Bar that is healthy, full of good things and came just under 100 calories. I can not complain about these at all. There loaded with lots of flavor, and if you like cherries, you will love these bars!
Well, time for me to get off my butt and make something for dinner! Even though I don’t feel like it! maybe I should just have another Cherry Pie Crumble Bar?
Have a great week! By the way, I have some really yummy recipes coming this week, and one of them, I am really excited to share with you, but that one will wait till Wednesday. Want a hint? It’s breakfast! Can you guess? Not giving you anymore clues!
See you tomorrow!
Toodles!
Jennifer
P.S. I just realized these are vegan, pretty cool!
Classic Macaroni Salad
Strawberry Chicken Salad
Chocolate Banana Snack Cake (One Pan)
Pumpkin Blondie’s & Dog Muffins
Oh my Jennifer they look and sound delicious! I’m going to get some cherries today and make the jam then I’m going to make the bars! I’ll let you know how they turn out! Have a super great week yourself, can’t wait to see the rest of the weeks recipes! You are by far my favorite blogger, I cannot wait everyday to read your blog and see what you’ve made and where you’ve been!!! So thanks!!
Ahhhh, thank you your so sweet!! You put a big smile on my face!!!
Your just going to love the jam!! I’m going to make another batch this week. Remember to taste test it to make sure you add enough sugar to it. Everyone’s taste is different. I like less sweet and my Husband likes super sweet! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out!
Yum these look SO delish! I might make them but substitute the cherries for banana… I have an abundance of bananas in the fruit bowl at the mo. Thanks 🙂
Bananas would be good and throw in some strawberries! Oh yummy!! Let me know how your banana ones turn out if you make them!
those do look really good!!
Thank you and they taste good too! 😉
I don’t think it has been quite as hot here this weekend, so it would have been a perfect time for me to make these bars! Ah well, there’s always this week, especially since cherries are at their lowest price ever! Score.
Get some cherries and bake up one of your fabulous dishes!!! I can’t wait to see what you would use them for!
Oh man, those look wicked good!
Thank you! 🙂
Cherries are my all time favorite fruit to use it desserts and when covered in a crumble topping I am totally sold on them!
I know I am on such a cherry kick right now. I can’t get enough of these little red beauties! I need to overstock on them and freeze them.
Oh girl – I just noticed cherries at stop and shop yesterday and now I neeeed to go get some!
Get some cherries, even to just eat them plain. I just love them and there not around long enough.
This is my first time visiting your blog, and I’m so glad I did! These looks fabulous! Cherry pie is my favorite. 🙂
Thank you and thanks for visiting my blog! Come back anytime!
Oh yes. Sign me up.
Ok, I’ll send some right over!
Pinned. but i couldn’t decide, “breakfast or dessert?”. breakfast won. 😉
Thanks for the pin!! I ate mine with breakfast and had one as a mid morning snack! 🙂
Yum. I’m definitely trying this, and soon. I imagine the jam would be divine on warm biscuits.
Thanks for sharing your creativity. I like the way you think.
Oh, what a great idea! I ran out of jam, but I’m going to make again this week since it’s so quick. I can see it on a warm biscuit. That just sounds so good right now!!
What a fabulous recipe. Looks delicious!
Thank you!!
These look amazing! I have to admit that those Blueberry Oat Bars from Starbucks are one of my favourite guilty treats… I don’t get them often, but sometimes I can just hear them calling my name from inside that little display case and I just have to give in. 🙂 Love the idea of using a cherry filling!
I went to Starbucks today and I was lucky! The case with all the goodies was broke so they said they weren’t selling the treats until Thursday! But now I really want to try the oat bars from SB!
These look like the perfect summer treat! I just have to wait for the price of cherries to drop here. I almost bought a $9 bag yesterday!!
Wow, $9.00 a bag? Thats crazy! Where do you live? I thought $4.50 lbs. was high! I noticed the price went down to $3.00 lbs. here.
Wow these look so good! I love cherries, and the flavor combinations sound awesome. I would eat one for breakfast OR dessert. I know what you mean, sometimes after baking something it seems to already be almost dinner time and you just don’t feel like it anymore haha! I hope you made something easy =)
I had one for breakfast and one for morning snack! 🙂 Took them to work and the rest got eaten! Even if you don’t eat what you bake, it feels like you did and i have no desire to cook!
The irony that you made these today! I made raspberry bars that are eerily similar today. They are based on a recipe on my site for apricot bars which those were based on a recipe of my mom’s sort of. I love crumble bars & yours look sooooo gooooood!
These look heavenly!
Love your recipe, I’m pinning this as I’d like to make these soon
Thanks so much for sharing
Thank you so much for pinning. If you try the recipe let me know what you think of it.
These look fantastic! I love crumb bars and cherry pie is one of my favorites!
Me too! I was very pleased of the outcome of these bars! I think you’ll like them too!!
These look sooooo yummy, I can’t wait to try them! But what can I use to sub out the almond meal, as my daughter is severely nut allergic? Thanks!
Hmmmm, if you can’t use almond meal, I would try whole wheat flour. I am sure that would work out! If you try it let me know what you think of it!
those look amazing – I love cherry anything
Thanks Heather! I just love cherry season! I can’t get enough of these little fruits!
WOW that looks yummy! Please come over to Cast Party Wednesday and share it with us. Thanks, I hope to see you there! —Sheryl @ Lady Behind The Curtain—
http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/?p=30289
Cherries are definitely the most gorgeous fruit and these look so tasty!! Thanks for sharing! Moo x
These look delightful. Not too much sugar. I am definitely pinning this!
These look so good. I love anything with cherries. I’d love for you to share this over at Whatcha Whipped Up Wednesday Hope to see you there!
Thanks Dawn for the invite! I linked up!! 🙂
Only 100 calories! And they look delicious! I’m bookmarking this…which is especially helpful while I’m on this healthy eating kick!
Oh I always try, key word try, to eat healthy and if I can have chocolate on eating healthy, I am sold!! If you do decided to make it, stop back and let me know what you think!!
What a delicious recipe. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you for letting me! 🙂
Girl, these bars look delicious. I’m going to have cherry bars on the brain all day, now. Thanks for sharing.
Anytime! 🙂
This is really incredible. I love all the photos. I am now hungry and wanting cherry bars instead of going to bed.
lol, I need to make these bars again!
These look unbelievable! It’s hard to believe that you made something so decadent looking be so healthy!
Thanks! I really do try to make things as healthy as I can, these bars are a good one! My favorite bar I have made so far!
Can I use cherry pie filling instead of cherry jam? Been looking for a use for that pie filling! LOL! 😀
I Saray, yes I think cherry pie filling would be great in this recipe!!!
I just tried this with some homemade Michigan cherry preserves. Unfortunately the bottom crust was more of a chewy oatmeal and not the texture I was looking for. I’m wondering if the applesauce made it less crispy? or is it supposed to be liek that?
Thank you for the recipe 🙂