4 20 Published Aug 21, 2014, Updated Oct 23, 2023 I knew this batch was a winner as soon as I cut into them. When I tried a bite that consisted of a combination of toasted coconut, dried cranberries and chocolate, recipe development was done! They have the perfect amount of chewiness and a bit of crunch from the brown rice cereal.
Banana Sweetened Granola Bars
I know it’s so easy to just buy granola bars at the store, but I’m here to show you that homemade granola bars are super simple to make and much healthier! These granola bars are made with just 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and no oil! The banana in the recipe replaces the oil and adds a hint of sweetness. No need for the sugar and oil laden snacks that will have your kiddos bouncing off the walls. Opt for this recipe with whole ingredients instead!
Here’s What You Need
old fashioned rolled oats coconut flakes – look for the unsweetened variety. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to toast coconut flakes! crispy brown rice cereal dried cranberries chocolate chips – I’ve made these with regular chocolate chips and Lily’s white chocolate chips. Both work great. ripe banana – be sure your banana is ripe (yellow with a few black spots). This insures it will mash easily. sunflower seed butter – I used sunflower seed butter to keep these school-friendly but any nut butter will work maple syrup vanilla sea salt
Kid-Friendly Snack
The sunflower seed butter keeps the bars from getting too dry and also helps them stay together. You could certainly experiment with using a different nut butter in place of the sunflower seed butter. I chose it because I like the flavor but it also keeps the bars nut-free. If your kids are going to school or daycare, this is a great nut and peanut-free snack! Kids will love these bars because they have a bit of sweetness and us adults will love them because they’re healthy, homemade and include only 10 ingredients.
How to Make Granola Bars
Toast your oats and coconut: Start by spreading the oats and coconut flakes on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 350ºF until just golden brown. Let cool slightly. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together the cooled toasted oats and coconut, cereal, cranberries and one tablespoon of chocolate chips. Process: In a food processor or blender, pulse together the banana, sunflower butter, maple syrup, vanilla and salt until evenly blended. Combine and prep: Stir the banana mixture into the oat mixture until combined. Spread the mixture on a baking pan or stone lined with parchment paper. Press down into a rectangular, flattened shape. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips and use your hands or a spatula to press the chocolate into the mixture. You want the mixture to be as compact into the pan as possible! Bake: Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the bars are golden brown. Cut into bar shapes before they have a chance to really harden and then let cool completely before transferring to an airtight container to store.
Storing Homemade Granola Bars
If you prefer a softer, chewy granola bar, I recommend storing on the countertop in an airtight container for up to five days. If you like a harder texture, you can store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer! They will last up to two weeks in the fridge and up to three months in the freezer.
More Bar Recipes to Try
Tahini Fig Bars Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bars Key Lime Pie Larabars Chocoalte Almond Granola Bars Coconut Chocolate Chip Larabars Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars No Bake High Fiber Bars Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars Nut Free Granola Bars Peanut Butter Protein Bars No Bake Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
Be sure to check out all of the snack recipes here at EBF!
