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Snack recipe · from the recipe book

Vanilla Cherry Pecan Pressed Bars with Chocolate

Chewy, fruity pressed bars with sweet cherries and dates, buttery pecans, warm vanilla and little pockets of dark chocolate.

Vanilla Cherry Pecan Pressed Bars with Chocolate

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup pitted120 gSweet cherrieschopped
  • 3 dates72 gMedjool dates, pittedchopped
  • ¾ cup60 gOld-fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ cup chopped50 gPecanschopped
  • 2 tbsp32 gAlmond butter, no salt added
  • 3 tbsp30 gSemisweet chocolate chips
  • 1¼ tsp5 gVanilla extract
  • ⅛ tsp1 gSalt

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a small loaf pan with parchment.
  2. Put the cherries and dates in a small pot over medium heat and cook, stirring and mashing, for 8 to 10 minutes until thick and jammy with little liquid left; take off the heat.
  3. Stir the almond butter, vanilla and salt into the warm cherry mixture until smooth.
  4. Stir in the oats and pecans until evenly coated, then let cool for 5 minutes.
  5. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  6. Spread the mixture in the lined pan and press it down firmly and evenly with the back of a spatula.
  7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the edges are set and lightly golden.
  8. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then chill for 30 minutes until firm.
  9. Lift out by the parchment and cut into 4 bars.

Check labels: Vegan when you buy semisweet chocolate chips labeled vegan.

Check labels: Gluten-free when you buy old-fashioned rolled oats labeled gluten-free.

Check labels: Dairy-free when you buy semisweet chocolate chips made without milk.

Contains: Tree nuts. Some brands contain milk, gluten, soy.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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