Quinoa-Oat Banana Bars
I was trying to create quick grab-and-go healthy nut bars, but I was pleasantly surprised that these taste like banana bread, but without any sugar (except for two tablespoons of honey in the entire batch). The sweetness and moisture (these are nice and moist) comes from ripe bananas. There’s no flour, butter, dairy, added fats, wheat or gluten. Don’t omit the quinoa, which adds a wonderful unique crunch. These are really easy to make too.
- 2 large ripe bananas
- 2 T brown flax seeds, whole
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 T honey (or maple syrup, if vegan)
- ¼ cup Hunza golden raisins (or mini, dark chocolate chips)
- ¼ cup quinoa
- ¼ cup almond butter, creamy, unsalted
- ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 tsp cinnamon, ground
- 1/8 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut parchment paper to line inside of an 8×8-inch glass baking dish. Pour quinoa in a small sauce pan, and cook on medium heat for 2 ½ minutes. Grind flax seeds in a coffee mill (or buy pre-ground. It’s fresher and less likely to get spoiled if you grind them yourself right before you use them).
While quinoa is toasting, put bananas, honey, ground flax, cinnamon, salt, and almond butter in a large mixing bowl and mix with a large spoon. Toss quinoa inside the sauce pan so the other side gets toasted, and continue heating (toasting) for another 2 ½ minutes. Add oats, quinoa, raisins or chocolate chips, and walnuts, and stir until incorporated. Spoon dough into the baking dish, and level out with the back of a spoon. Bake for 25 minutes in the oven. Let cool for 1 hour, then cut into 16 squares (4×4). Keep in refrigerator, covered.
makes 16 squares
nutritional information:
1 square: 119 calories 16 gross carbs 5 grams fat 4 grams protein
