Keep these No-Bake Cherry Almond Granola Bites on hand for easy, healthy snacking. The kids will never know that they are low sugar!
There are certain ground rules put in place once school is over, otherwise summer break has the potential to turn into a video game-playing, sugar-eating spiral that will cause Mum (i.e., me) to lose her mind. I love having my kids home, but holy heck…they know how to push my buttons, inevitably when I’m in a caffeine low.
Ground rule #1: Read a book…or seven. This is a rule I need to abide by, too. Anyone have some good recommendations?
Ground rule #2: Spend at least 30 minutes of every hour in a different room than your brother. Siblings in constant contact leads to rough-housing, which inevitably leads to injury and dramatic stories of wrongdoing. It’s only fun until someone loses an eye…or calls their brother a doofus.
Ground rule #3: Do not beg Mum for money every single time you hear the ice cream truck (which is typically every afternoon). Kids hopped up on sugary frozen treats can lead to no good. Plus, if you have an ice cream sandwich, Mum is going to want an ice cream sandwich. Then Mum’s bathing suit doesn’t fit quite right and she gets grumpy.
Which leads me to ground rule #4: All children who are in my house during the summer break must be willing to eat healthy snacks (please see ground rule #3 and the part about the bathing suit).
That’s where these low sugar granola bites come in. Of course, the kids don’t need to know that they are low sugar. That just spoils all the fun.
This isn’t the first time I’ve made granola bites. In fact, one of my kids’ favorite snacks is my No-Bake Carrot Cake Granola Bites. And their friends couldn’t stop eating them either.
This version uses sliced almonds and dried cherries, along with almond butter, which is the “glue” that holds the bites altogether. If you follow a gluten-free diet, be sure to use gluten-free oats.
Healthy snacks + bathing suit that fits + happy kids = healthy, sane Mum.
Other healthy snack recipes:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Mini Avocado & Hummus Quesadillas
Cookin’ Canuck’s No-Bake Carrot Cake Granola Bites
The Law Student’s Wife’s Chocolate Almond Olive Oil Granola
Krafted Koch’s Pineapple Pico de Gallo
Stirlist’s No Bake Greek Bites
No-Bake Cherry Almond Granola Bites {Low Sugar, Gluten-Free}
Calories 124.3 / Total Fat 7.9g / Saturated Fat 0.4g / Cholesterol 0mg / Sodium 0.8mg / Total Carbohydrates 11.4g / Fiber 2.5g / Sugars 4.6g / Protein 4.3g / WW (Old Points) 3 / WW (Points+) 3
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats (gluten-free variety)
- 1/3 cups sliced almonds, chopped
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp flax seed
- 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 2 tbsp agave nectar or honey
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Directions
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, almonds, chia seeds and flax seeds.
- Stir in the almond butter, dried cherries, agave nectar, ground ginger and cinnamon until well combined.
- Using 1½ tablespoons (packed) of the mixture for each bite, roll the mixture into bite-sized balls. Using a medium-sized cookie scoop makes this process easier. Also, spray your hands with cooking spray to stop the mixture from sticking.
- Place the granola bites on a baking sheet, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve.
- Store the remaining granola bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Recipe Notes
Disclosure: This post contains links to my Amazon affiliate page. Any revenue made from sales through these links helps to support this blog. Thank you!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
I don’t have kids yet, but I will file these great ground rules in my noggin for future reference!
Until then, I will be storing these bites in my belly…I need some easy, no bake healthy treats. Love the almond and cherry! Pinned 🙂
kita says
We all need rules 😉
These bites look perfect for a bike trip. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Millie l Add A Little says
These look super tasty – love the addition of cinnamon!
http://youtube.com/addalittlefood
Amber says
Thanks for the link love. These look incredible! You are hilarious, by the way. I love your writing style! Thank you again!
Robin says
Those look tasty!
For summer reading, I recommend A Discovery of Witches and The Light Between Oceans
Robyn says
A discovery of witches is so good!
These look great – may sub out the cherries for diced prunes – am trying to fibre up my kids & these seem perfect!
Svetlana L says
Awesome! The main it contain chia seeds 🙂
Laura @ My Friend's Bakery says
Those look good. Does it still count as a snack if you eat them all in one sitting?
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
I love these guidelines!!! Especially about being in separate rooms!! I will be filing that for later in life. 😉
Diane says
Will these freeze? I’m trying to lessen the temptation to eat them all at one time!
Happy Valley Chow says
What a delicious little healthy treat, definitely can’t wait to try!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Great flavors for granola bites! I need to have a batch on hand that I can snack on in the afternoons!
Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily says
I didn’t know you could eat raw oats? It’s great to keep healthy treats like these around the house, especially when summer boredom eating gets to even the best of us 😉 rule #3 made me laugh 😉
I just got through reading The Maze which was decent. Also, Jhumpa Lahiri “Interpreter of Maladies” is a good book full of short stories.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton was good
Wool by Hugh Howey was a great book, fun summer read.
Blood Root by Amy Greene was fantastic
The Hangman’s Daughter was interesting
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison was good
Karen says
Just finished reading both the The Shoemaker’s Wife & The Fault In Our Stars. Both were great, and The Fault In Our Stars is coming to theatres this summer, so give it a read before you see the movie!
Belmarra says
It looks so adorable! I love it.
photo cake says
I love these little cakes! Yammee!
Zoe Smith says
Hello,
Superb! very easy to made and also required less time. My children will love it. I am going to prepared it as soon as possible. 🙂
Special two thinks I have found in this recipe is, gluten free and low sugar recipe.
I would like to share one recipe. Very healthy and testy Savory Chana (Chickpea) Masala recipe ( http://www.agein.com/savory-chana-chickpea-masala-6763 )
You can try this one also.
If any one have gluten free recipe, Please share with me.