This is probably my favorite Recipe Redux theme so far. Anything with chocolate and I’m game. This month’s theme:
Favorite Chocolate Matches
Does your chocolate need a friend? This month’s posting will be after Valentine’s Day, so you may have a bit of extra chocolate around. What’s your favorite chocolate match? Be it traditional peanut butter or something more exotic like cayenne + chocolate. Show us your favorite healthy chocolate combo recipe.
I didn’t even know where to start! I love chocolate with anything and everything. I thought long and hard about what to make this month. I recently bought a big bag of puffed millet cereal with the intention of re-creating KIND bars (since they’re so dang expensive), so I decided to create something with it!
These are sort of like a rice crispy treat, except since puffed millet isn’t crispy, it’s more of a chewy treat! The chocolate and dried cherries add a sweet touch, and the candied pecans are crunchy.
These chewy bars are so delicious! I definitely ate several of them before they were even set all of the way. I couldn’t keep them in the apartment because I kept breaking off little pieces and munching on them all day long! I finally packed them all up in a plastic container and brought them to work. I know, supplying a doctor’s office with yummy treats is probably not what a good dietitian should do. But hey– millet is a whole grain and pecans have omega 3’s and fiber, right? Plus vitamin C from the dried cherries? :)
Everyone at work loved them and several asked for the recipe. They’re very easy to make and can be whipped together in less than ten minutes.
Here’s the recipe:

- 1 10 ounce package large marshmallows
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3 cups puffed millet
- 3/4 cup dried cherries, chopped
- 3/4 cup candied pecans, chopped
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Preparation: Line a 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper.
- Place marshmallows and butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 1-2 minutes until both are melted.
- Mix and combine all remaining ingredients in a separate bowl then incorporate it into the marshmallow mixture.
- Press mixture into parchment lined pan and let stand for 2 hours. Using the edges of the paper, lift uncut bars out of pan. Cut into bars.

Be sure to check out the other chocolate recipes in this month’s challenge!
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Hi! I’m Emily, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and self-taught intuitive chef. I firmly believe that cooking is the simplest and most important step we can take to improve our minds and bodies and build healthier communities. Join me and let’s bring food back to the kitchen!
Yay! These would be such a great snack to keep me going through the day! :D I love chocolate + cherry together!
Yep, these are a great snack! The cherries and chocolate go so great together.
I love chewy textures like these! I’m pretty much in love with all of the ingredients as well :)
Yep I love chewy textures as well! I’ve never used puffed millet before, so I thought it would be more crispy but turns out it’s chewier in texture!
I’ve been meaning to cook more with millet but just haven’t gotten around to it. I love pecan and chocolate, and these bars just sound divine! I feel like I would have to put a lid on its container and then hide them so I don’t eat them all in one go, haha. Happy Sunday, Emily!
Yep, I had to bring them all to work to get rid of them, or else I would have eaten the entire batch!!
What a fun and delicious treat! I love the texture of puffed millet, so I sure I will love these, and with chocolate and cherries, what’s not to love ?!
Loved your lentil recipe on Cotter Crunch today, well done!
I am a newbie to the puffed millet, I can’t wait to create more dishes with it! And thank you, let me know if you try the lentil recipe! :)
what a brilliant take on recreating kind bars. I was on a kick of creating lara bars for a while to take camping with us. I guess I missed a step because my dates did not hold up in bar form well (oops lol). I’m sure my daughter will love a new treat for her lunch.
xoxo
Katie
Thanks! Let me know if you give them a try :)
Yea! Still rockin the millet! Love it!
Thanks! It’s such a versatile ingredient!
Yum! Chocolate and cherries are one of my favorite combinations, and these bars look so delicious! (And much less expensive than KIND bars ;) )
Cherries + chocolate = heaven :) I agree! Thanks for reading!
Awesome! I love chewy bars, these will rock the house