Healthy Granola Bars [Dairy Free & Gluten Free]
Dec 01, 2022
Banana's are amazing!! They naturally sweeten these granola bars without needing any extra added sugar!! The bananas bind this recipe together without needing any other liquid binders like fats, or eggs. These granola bars are super easy to make. They make an excellent healthy choice to have for part of your breakfast, a quick snack, a healthy dessert replacement or a before or after workout snack!
These vegan granola bars and packed full of protein, healthy fats and fibre. They are great for balancing blood sugar levels to prevent any quick blood sugar spikes from happening. Stabilized blood sugar levels means your energy levels will be kept stable. Quick blood sugar spikes can happen when you eat processed sugars or junk food (chips or chocolate bars). After consumption of processed foods (blood sugar spiking foods) your body can have a crash in energy.
There are many healthy fats like Omega-3's included in this recipe which are great for your skin health, reducing inflammation, optimize brain function, maintaining health blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels. The omega-3 rich foods in these granola bars include: walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds!
Ingredients
3 large mashed ripe bananas
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
1/2 cup goji berries
1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup hemp hearts
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a large rectangular baking dish (about 9" x 13") and line with parchment paper so the granola bars are easier to remove.
2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Stir in the vanilla.
3. Place the oats in a food processor until coarsely chopped. If preferred you can leave the rolled oats whole. Stir oats into the banana mixture.
4. Stir in goji berries, pecans, walnuts, flax seed, hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cinnamon and salt into the banana-oat mixture. Mix until everything is thoroughly combined.
5. Spoon mixture onto baking dish. With lightly wet hands, evenly smooth out the granola mixture until uniform. Press down to ensure the mixture is compacted.
6. Bake for 24 - 26 minutes, until firm and lightly golden along the edges.
7. Cool for 10 minutes. Once fully cooled slice into bars. Can be stored in the fridge for a week or stored in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. Wrap individually bars if planning on freezing.
Tips
- You can substitute goji berries for a dried fruit such as: cherries, cranberries, blueberries, or pitted dates.
- You can substitute any of the nuts for sliced almonds or your preferred choice of nuts.
- These granola bars are naturally sweetened. If you desire you can add a natural sweetener like maple syrup or honey. Or try adding in chocolate chips.
- If you're wanting an extra protein boost, try spread nut or seed butter on top of your granola bar and enjoy!
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