Cherry Almond Soda Recipes

CHERRY-ALMOND GRANOLA WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• For the granola: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a pot set over medium heat, combine the oil, brown sugar and agave and cook until bubbling, about 4 minutes. Add the agave mixture to the oats, almonds and salt in a heatproof bowl and stir to coat. Transfer this mixture to a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread into as thin of a layer as you can. Bake, stirring often to ensure even browning, until browned, about 20 minutes (see Cook's Note).
• Transfer to a mixing bowl and quickly mix in the cherries and lime zest. Allow to cool.
• For the yogurt: Split and scrape the vanilla beans into the Greek yogurt. Add the confectioners' sugar and salt, if using, and stir. Store the vanilla bean pods in the yogurt until you are ready to serve.
• Spoon the yogurt into serving dishes and top with the granola. Serve immediately.

CHERRY ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Line bottom and sides of 8 x 8-inch pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Coat lightly with no-stick cooking spray.
• STIR together flour, brown sugar and salt until mixed. Add oil, water and almond extract. Combine with fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pat evenly in bottom of prepared pan.
• BAKE 15 minutes.
• SPREAD preserves evenly over warm crust. Mix almonds, brown sugar and oil until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over top of preserves.
• BAKE 20 minutes. Cool completely. Lift out of pan using foil. Cut into 16 bars. Store in refrigerator.

CHERRY-ALMOND SMOOTHIE

Steps:

• Combine the banana, cherries, almond milk, yogurt and 1 tablespoon honey in a blender and puree until smooth. Adjust the sweetness with additional honey.

CHERRY ALMOND CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Start with the crumb mixture. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
• Cut the cold butter into pieces. Add the butter to the bowl and use a fork or pastry blender to cut it into the flour mixture. The mixture should resemble a moist, coarse meal. Add the slivered almonds and combine thoroughly.
• Place the still-frozen cherries in a bowl, add the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cornstarch and almond extract and gently stir the cherries to combine.
• Divide the cherries between 8 ramekins (about 1/2 cup each). Top with the crumb mixture, evening out the surface.
• Bake until the topping is crisp and golden brown, about 45 minutes. If the topping appears underdone, continue baking in 10 minute increments until it's done.
• To serve: Add the heavy cream and granulated sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whip. Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
• Serve the individual crisps warm or at room temperature with a dollop of freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

CHERRY ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven 350 degrees.
• Spray 9x13 inch baking dish with oil.
• In a bowl, using a fork, stir flour with 1/2 cup icing sugar; using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the 1 cup of butter until coarse crumbs form.
• OR.
• Whirl flour with icing sugar in food processor until mixed. Add butter, pulse until coarse crumbs form.
• Press mixture over bottom of baking dish.
• Bake in centre of oven until light golden around the edges, 25 - 30 minutes. Remove from oven, set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, stir flour, baking powder and salt.
• In a separate bowl, put beaten eggs then stir in brown sugar.
• Gradually stir in flour mixture, then add almonds and cherries.
• Spread over warm base.
• Bake in centre of oven until filling is set, 25 - 30 minutes.
• To prepare topping - in a small bowl, using an electric beater, beat cherry juice with 3 tblsp butter and almond extract.
• Gradually beat in 2 cups icing sugar until fluffy.
• Cover and set aside. Cool bars, then spread icing evenly over top.
• Refrigerate at least 2 hours before cutting into bars.
• Store in an airtight container, refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 1 month.
• Note: if you use the cherry juice for the frosting it will be a nice pink colour!

SIMPLE SCONES

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, mix flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Grate butter into flour mixture on the large holes of a box grater; use your fingers to work in butter (mixture should resemble coarse meal), then stir in raisins.
• In a small bowl, whisk sour cream and egg until smooth.
• Using a fork, stir sour cream mixture into flour mixture until large dough clumps form. Use your hands to press the dough against the bowl into a ball. (The dough will be sticky in places, and there may not seem to be enough liquid at first, but as you press, the dough will come together.)
• Place on a lightly floured surface and pat into a 7- to 8-inch circle about 3/4-inch thick. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp. of sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut into 8 triangles; place on a cookie sheet (preferably lined with parchment paper), about 1 inch apart. Bake until golden, about 15 to 17 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature.