Granola bars are a quick, on the go food but usually the ones you buy are full of sugar and things that are not so healthy. This recipe is a healthier option.
One thing I like about granola and granola bars is that you can use whatever nuts and dried fruits you want. Just substitute with whatever you have on hand.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup almonds
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup Golden flaxseed meal
1/4 cup unsweetened dried wolfberries
1/3 cup sugar-free chocolate chips
1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil
1/4 cup Swerve or other natural sweetener
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1–2 drops cinnamon essential oil
2 large egg whites
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and cinnamon essential oil.
In a food processor, pulse almonds and walnuts intermittently, until most of the nuts are in chopped into large pieces.
Add the oats, sunflower seeds, Swerve, golden flaxseed meal Pulse just until everything is mixed well. Don’t over-process! Most of the seeds should be intact.
Add banana mixture and pulse to mix. Add the egg white to the food processor. Whisk together the melted butter and vanilla extract in a small bowl, and evenly pour that in, too. Add chocolate chips.
Pulse a couple times, mix a little from the bottom toward the top with a spatula, then pulse a couple times again. Repeat as needed until everything is coated evenly.
Spoon and press mixture into a prepared baking dish.
Bake for 25–30 minutes until firm and lightly golden along the edge. Place dish on cooling rack for 10 minutes; then lift the bars out by lifting the parchment paper. Place granola slab on a cooling rack, and allow to cool.
Slice into bars, and enjoy!
NOTE: These bars will keep longer if stored in an air–tight container or bag in the fridge or freezer.
