Chocolate Almond Granola Bars
on May 27, 2015, Updated Jul 15, 2024
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This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. As always all opinions are my own.
Easy to make, no bake, healthy Chocolate Almond Granola Bars are the perfect snack to take on all of your outdoor adventures this summer!
We’re getting to that time of year that I love the most here in Colorado, summer! Aside for the gorgeous summer mornings that make my runs oh so enjoyable, it’s also the time of year that I get to do my two other favorite outdoor activities, hiking and biking. Colorado has so many trails that are within an hour or less of driving from my house that I question if I’ll ever be able to do them all, but you better believe I’m going to try!
The other thing I look forward to is Sunday morning bike rides with my husband. We like to take our road bikes out on a path that runs for miles, and mile, and miles, and takes us straight through Denver. The path runs along a river and has plenty of shade from trees to keep us cool, even on hot summer days.
Sometimes we switch things up and take our mountain bikes out on some of the backcountry trails near our house, those trails don’t offer as much shade so we tend to do those rides earlier in the morning or towards nighttime when it’s cooler. Whether we are hiking or biking I always need a little snack to refuel with and these Chocolate Almond Granola Bars are perfect for carrying along on any outdoor activity!
A few weeks ago, Blue Diamond Almonds sent me a package of their Dark Chocolate Almonds and their Sea Salt Almonds. I of course could have easily just sat there and eaten both bags without hesitation, they were undoubtably delicious.
However, I thought making a granola bar to bring with me on my hikes and bike rides would be a good idea because 1) portion control and 2) I don’t tend to like many of the granola or energy bars you buy at the store. The Blue Diamond Dark Chocolate Almonds which were my favorite, inspired me to make a chocolate granola bar, because after all is anyone really going to turn down a healthy chocolate snack?
The granola bars are super easy to make, no bake, and can be individually wrapped and stored in the freezer for weeks so you can grab one as your headed out the door. The granola bars contain oats, pureed dates, honey, unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla, almond butter, and a combination of the Blue Diamond Dark Chocolate Almonds and Sea Salt Almonds.
If you don’t want to use a combination of both kinds of almonds using just one kind tastes just as delicious. Before you head out for your next hike or bike ride this summer, make a batch of these Chocolate Almond Granola Bars to refuel with during all of your outdoor adventures!
Chocolate Almond Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups quick cooking or old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup Blue Diamond Dark Chocolate Almonds chopped
- 1/4 cup Blue Diamond Sea Salt Almonds chopped
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 8 pitted Medjool dates soaked in hot water for 10 minutes
- 1/4 cup almond butter
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper or foil and let the edges hang over the pan so it's easy to lift the bars out.
- In a large bowl stir together the oats, almonds, and unsweetened cocoa powder.
- In a blender or food processor add the softened dates and a tablespoon of the water they were soaking in. Blend the dates until smooth.
- In a small microwavable bowl heat the almond butter and honey in the microwave for 15-30 seconds until they can easily be stirred together. Add the date puree to the almond butter mixture along with the vanilla and stir everything together until combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients in with the dry and fold together with a rubber spatula until everything comes together. If the mixture is too dry add in 1-2 teaspoons of the water the dates were soaking in. Pour the granola bar mixture into the prepared baking pan and press down into an even single layer.
- Cover the bars and refrigerate or freeze until they are firm enough to cut into 10 bars. Store the bars covered in the refrigerator for up to a week or individually wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container in the freezer.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These bars look both healthy and delicious! I love chocolate and almonds!!!
Thanks Linda!
My daughter always wants me to buy granola bars, but I keep saying I want to make them instead. Looks like I found the right recipe! Lovely granola bars!
Thanks Christina! Homemade granola bars always seem to taste so much better than the ones at the store!
Danae, these almond bars look so delicious! They’re definitely great pick me up after a long bike ride!
Thanks Lisa! It’s always nice to have a good snack to look forward to after a workout!
I don’t think I could be trusted to ever make it to the granola bar step if I had a bag of those dark chocolate almonds around!
It was a struggle for sure Gina! ;-)
Yum! What a perfect snack to take on your hikes and bike rides. They look wonderful!
Thanks Carlee! They are delish!