
Nathan and I have a jam packed weekend coming up and we can’t wait! We’ll be heading to a concert and then will be in Keystone for the rest of the weekend skiing and seeing the Dillon Ice Castles for the first time! We are gonna need lots and lots of snacks… so I came up with this recipe for easy, healthy homemade granola bars!

When we have busy travel weekends like this, I always try to bring healthy snacks from home. This is much healthier and much cheaper than eating out, especially in ski resort areas where meals can be expensive! These cherry almond granola bars would be the perfect pick – me -up while skiing, hiking, or traveling around. Read on for how to make these yummy snacks!
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How to Make Healthy Homemade Granola Bars
The great thing about this easy granola bar recipe is that all of the ingredients provide a great base, and then you can add whatever ingredients you like!

My recipe below does not contain flour or oats, so you could easily turn these into a keto/gluten free granola bar. You can also leave the dried cherries out if you are watching your sugar intake. See? So many options! Here are some other mix in ideas for homemade healthy granola bars:
- Nut butters – peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter
- Dried fruit of any kind – mango, pineapple, cranberries, apples, strawberries
- Chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds
- White chocolate or regular chocolate chips
- Any type of nuts – pecans, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, macadamia nuts
- Dried coconut
- Spices
- Oats
- Maple syrup, honey, agave nectar
- Different extracts – almond, vanilla, lemon
- Protein powder
- Mashed banana, pureed medjool dates
- Almond flour, coconut flour, whole wheat flour, ground flax seed
Tips for Success

The most important thing that I learned while making these cherry almond granola bars is to not go overboard with the mix ins. You’ll want to have a nice balance between mix ins and binding ingredients (coconut oil, maple syrup, honey, oats, shredded coconut, protein powder, etc.) to be sure everything sticks together nicely. Here are a few of my tips for making sure you get these right:
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper for easier removal of the bars.
- Add in a bit more liquid if your ingredients seem too dry (1-2 tsp. at a time). Water or any of the liquids above will work!
- If the ingredients seem too wet, just add in a few more binding ingredients such as flour, shredded coconut, oats, or protein powder.
- Make sure to really press down your granola mixture into the pan before baking! This will help everything bind together and not get crumbly. Use your hands or the back of a spoon to do this.
- Do not over bake your bars and make sure they are completely cooled before cutting! You can stick them in the refrigerator or freezer to speed up the process. This will insure that your bars cut in a clean slice.
My Supply List

Here are the links to a few of the ingredients and utensils that I used in case you have a hard time finding these at the store!
I hope you enjoy making these delicious, easy and healthy homemade cherry almond granola bars! If you are looking for other healthy recipes, check out the links below. Enjoy!
- 15 Healthy Granola Bar Ideas
- Easy One Pan Cranberry Balsamic Chicken (from my free healthy Thanksgiving recipes eBook)
- Oven Roasted Carrots with Bacon (from my free healthy Thanksgiving recipes eBook)
- Apple Gorgonzola Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette (from my free healthy Thanksgiving recipes eBook)
- Blood Orange Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette

Healthy Homemade Cherry Almond Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup real maple syrup
- 1 egg white
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher sea salt
- 1 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 2/3 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup dried cherries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper. Make sure there is a bit of overhang so that the bars are easy to remove!
- In a large pot or dutch oven, add the almond butter, coconut oil and maple syrup and combine over medium heat. Stir frequently until all ingredients are mixed together. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Whisk in the cinnamon, salt, vanilla and egg white.
- Stir in flaked coconut, sliced almonds, chopped pecans, sunflower seeds and dried cherries until well combined.
- Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish. Press the mixture down firmly with your hands or the back of a spoon until tight and compressed.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned.
- Remove pan from oven and allow to cool completely. You can also place in the refrigerator or freezer to speed up the process. Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to remove the bars. Place on a cutting board and cut into 8 rectangles.
- Store granola bars in an airtight container or bag for 3 days at room temperature, or store for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Notes
- Feel free to get creative and add your own mix ins or substitutions! These can easily be converted to fit your dietary needs.