I secretly love awkward situations.
Maybe not right while they’re happening… But when you look back, the awkward moments are the ones that always make for the best stories.
This past Saturday I was meeting a friend for dinner and arrived early at the restaurant. (I’m always early to everything.) By the time my cell phone buzzed, saying my friend was going to be late, it was already approaching that awkward amount of time sitting alone at a table for two when people start to notice, probably wondering if I’d been stood up.
Or if I had fat hands.
Sorry, Friends reference. I couldn’t resist.
Luckily the waiter was really nice, so I wasn’t forced to do that awkward “check your cell phone every 30 seconds to pretend you are busy” thing. At one point during our conversation, it came up that I had a website devoted to desserts, and he was intrigued…
Waiter: “Desserts? Like ice cream and cake?”
Me: “Yes, but healthy desserts.”
Waiter: “So you make granola bars for a living?”
Yes. Yes I do. 🙂
Chocolate Chip Cherry Granola Bars
Chocolate Chip Cherry Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup applesauce (240g)
- 1/2 cup cashew or coconut butter (110g)
- 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (6g)
- packed 3/4 cup dried cherries (100g)
- 1/2 cup raw almonds (70g)
- 1 cup puffed wheat or puffed rice (18g)
- 1 cup rolled oats (95g)
- 1/4 tsp plus 1/8 tsp salt
- pinch pure stevia or 2 tbsp liquid sweetener of choice (decrease applesauce by 2 tbsp if using liquid sweetener)
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (40g)
- coconut butter, optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 F and line a 10-in square baking pan with parchment paper. In a bowl, stir together the applesauce and nut butter until smooth. (If your nut butter is not stir-able, gently heat it until it softens.) Stir in vanilla, then set bowl aside. In a food processor, combine the dried fruit and almonds until they form fine crumbles. Pour into a large mixing bowl and stir together with all remaining dry ingredients (the last 5 ingredients). Add the nut-butter mixture and stir until evenly combined, then smooth into the prepared baking pan and cover with another sheet of parchment paper. Press down VERY firmly. Bake 33 minutes, then allow to cool 10 minutes before slicing into bars. Top each bar with coconut butter if desired, and refrigerate to harden. (Makes 20-22 bars)
More awkwardness: trying to master the iphone selfie talent some people seem to have down so well. It’s surprisingly difficult to hold something in one hand while taking a picture with the other. Not to mention, I felt ridiculously awkward posing with a jar of cashew butter…
Do you like awkward moments? And have you ever been stood up?
Although I’ve not been stood up, I definitely do have some awkward first-date stories! Probably shouldn’t write them here, though, since I never know who might read this post. 😕 Link of the Day:
Happy National Dessert Day!
After you posted these on Facebook, I made them. However, I didn’t have puffed wheat or rice, so I used KAMUT. I think it’s a type of puffed grain. I also only had Earth’s Best cinnamon applesauce, so I used that and added melted chocolate chips on top instead of coconut butter. I wasn’t sure how soft or hard they were suppose to turn out, so I baked them a little longer. They are pretty soft still. And the bottom lines, they’re delicious. They’re incredibly satisfying and filling. So thank you! I love your blog. You helped me start baking regularly and from scratch.
But I was curious, is there something else I can put instead of cherries? My 4 year old didn’t like the cherries. 🙁
They are supposed to be soft… I really like your idea to use kamut. For the cherries, any dried fruit will do. Try raisins?
I haven’t baked them yet, but I just used dried cranberries in mine.
These look absolutely amazing!! I have all ingredients on hand…even the coconut butter! I have been wondering what to do with my delicious coconut butter and I think these bars are the answer!!! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I’ve been on the lookout for another granola bar recipe and this one looks so yummy!!! Can’t wait to try it!
That cashew butter jar looks gigantic! But it’s only 500g, must be some kind of illusion? The nutrition facts link doesn’t lead to the nutrition page, btw! I am so tempted to try out these bars, they look like a proper treat!
Oh, now it did work… strange! The two last times I tried I ended up in the “500 healthy dessert recipes” page, even though I’m sure I didn’t click that lower link but the nutrition facts link…
Stunning pics…as always! (And as always, I’m jealous!! lol!).
I can definitely relate–my Parisian friends are ALWAYS late, and I used to be on time whenever we would go out. After a few waits alone at bars (more than an hour on multiple occasions), I finally learned my lesson about being “too” on time!
I don’t like awkward moments because it just makes the whole situation feel weird and uncomfortable. I don’t recall ever being stood up. The granola bars look great and I can’t wait to make these myself.
Hi Katie! I love your blog and all the creative alternatives that you give. Thank you for all your posts! (And i LOVE LOVE cashew butter! yummmmmm)
Unrelated question i thought you may know the answer to: gelatin. What can i sub for it? While i’m not vegan, the ingredients in gelatin kinda gross me out. Is there a substitute that is available in grocery stores? (pectin? tapioca??) I’m trying to make a panna cotta 🙂
thanks so much!
Hi Katie! 🙂
I know you are a big oatmeal fan (I am, too!) and I was wondering if you knew that October 29th is National Oatmeal Day? Maybe you could post a new oatmeal recipe on that day…or maybe something else fun that has to do with oatmeal. Just a thought!
Thank you for your wonderful blog!!
I didn’t… thanks for the heads up! If I remember, I will try to post an oatmeal recipe that day 🙂
I LOVE FRIENDS and I LOVE AWKWARD MOMENTS and I AM ALWAYS EARLY to EVERYTHING!! HA AH! It sounds like you and I would be best friends, LOL!