Chia-oat Power Breakfast Bars

- 4 tablespoons chia seeds + 1/2  cup water (for the chia egg) 

- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats 

- 1 cup almond flour 

- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 

- Pinch of salt 

- 3 tablespoons almond butter 

- 3 tablespoons maple syrup (or more if you would like it sweeter) 

- 7 medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped 

- 2/3 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped 

- 2/3 cup almonds, roughly chopped 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover an 8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray. 

2. Combine the chia seeds and water in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes. They will gel together and form your chia egg. 

3. Add the oats, almond flour, baking powder and salt to a large bowl and mix. Stir in the almond butter, maple syrup, chia egg and an additional 1/2 cup of water. Then add the chopped dates, cherries and almonds. 

4. Spread mixture evenly in the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before slicing into bars.