Description
These Pistachio Cranberry Chia Bars are a wholesome, no-bake snack packed with nutritious ingredients like rolled oats, Medjool dates, pistachios, dried cranberries, chia seeds, and almond butter. Naturally sweetened and bursting with flavor, these bars make an excellent healthy treat or energy boost, perfect for on-the-go or anytime snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted (about 10–12)
- ½ cup shelled pistachios
- ½ cup dried cranberries (unsweetened preferred)
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons almond butter (or other nut/seed butter)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Process Oats: Add the rolled oats to a food processor and pulse until they form a coarse flour, creating a base for the bars.
- Blend Wet Ingredients: Add the pitted dates, pistachios, almond butter, honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, chia seeds, and a pinch of salt to the food processor. Blend until the mixture becomes sticky and clumps together, ensuring everything is well combined.
- Add Cranberries: Incorporate the dried cranberries by pulsing just a few times in the food processor to preserve their texture and prevent over-chopping.
- Press Into Pan: Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper. Transfer the mixture into the pan and press it down evenly and firmly to shape the bars.
- Chill: Refrigerate the pan for 1 to 2 hours until the mixture is firm enough to cut into bars.
- Slice Bars: Lift the set mixture out of the pan using the parchment paper and slice into 16 bars or squares.
- Optional Toppings: Enhance the bars by drizzling with melted dark chocolate or sprinkling chopped pistachios on top before the chilling step for added flavor and texture.
- Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days or freeze for up to 3 months to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use unsweetened dried cranberries to reduce added sugars.
- Substitute almond butter with any nut or seed butter of your choice.
- For a vegan option, use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Press the mixture firmly into the pan to ensure bars hold together well.
- Allow bars to chill completely before slicing to prevent crumbling.
- Optional chocolate drizzle adds a rich flavor but increases calories.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
