Dark chocolate and almonds are two things we LOVE.  Together, they’re our not-so-guilty pleasure – both are full of health benefits, but from the way they taste, you’d never know! One of our favorite ways to enjoy these two delicious foods is in these Dark Chocolate and Almond Granola Bars Squares!!

Dark Chocolate and Almond Granola Bar Squares

We love these bars because they’re filling and satisfying. If you are very active, they make a great snack or small meal to take on the run and they are fantastic for active kids who easily burn them off. However, because they can add up a bit in calories, we tend to have a small square as a dessert, just as you would do with a chocolate bar.

If you want to make these into smaller squares like we do at 100 calories each, follow the directions below. If you want a larger snack, cut these in to 15 bars for 250 calories each.

Ingredients

• 2 cups oatmeal
• 1 cup almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tablespoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tablespoon ground cloves
• 1 cup dark chocolate, coarsely chopped, divided

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a large bowl, mix the oatmeal, almonds, and 1/2 cup chocolate in a large bowl.
• In a medium saucepan, mix the salt, honey, almond butter, coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.  Warm over medium-low heat until the coconut oil is melted.
• Pour the honey-almond butter mixture over the oatmeal, almonds, and chocolate.  Mix until everything is well incorporated and the dry ingredients are well coated with the honey-almond butter mixture.
• Pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake for about 10-15 minutes.
• While still warm, cut into rectangular bars. Cut 6 rows of 3. This way you will have 18 bars. Place the bars in the fridge for about 20 minutes, or until cool.
• After the bars have been cooling for about 15 minutes, begin to melt the remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate in a double boiler.  Be sure to stir the chocolate often.
• Once the granola bars are cool, remove from the fridge.  Dip half of each bar into the melted chocolate.  Place back on baking sheet and return to the fridge until the chocolate has hardened, about 20 minutes and cut in half to have 100 calorie treat.

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 22g; Servings per Recipe: 36; Calories: 105; Total Fat: 6g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Sodium: 17mg; Total Carbohydrate: 11g; Fiber: 1g; Protein: 2g

If you make 15 bars, each will have 250 calories.

Do you have a favorite chocolate and almond recipe?