Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Lighter Almond Butter Banana Oat Bars

I have said it time and time again, but I love to make bars! They’re a wonderful grab-and-go snack or breakfast. I recently searched the web for a bar that included my favorite nut butter, almond! I came across this recipe and used it as a base. I made a few batches until I settled on my favorite. I used a raw, unsalted, creamy variety, but any almond butter will do.  Don’t have any almond butter on hand? Feel free to sub in peanut butter or sun butter. I have some suggestions below on how to make the bars either vegan or gluten free.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large banana
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup almond butter (or peanut or sun)
  • 1/2 cup low fat milk (or almond or soy milk)
  • 1 large egg (or a flax egg)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking, make sure they’re GF if necessary)
  • 3/4 cup flour (or ground oats)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Additional optional add-ins: 1/4 cup nuts or seeds (I used sunflower seeds) or chocolate chips (to make them sweeter)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or can use a hand mixer or a fork), smash banana completely. Add in brown sugar, almond butter, milk, egg & vanilla and mix until combined.

In a separate bowl, mix together oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and desired add-ins.

Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined (batter shouldn’t be watery looking- add additional oats or a little flour if necessary).

Place parchment paper in a 9x13” pan. Spread batter. Bake for ~25 minutes. Cut into bars.

Pre-bake (I apologize, I made this at night so the lighting wasn’t spectacular):

  IMG_2947 

Post (who took that nibble out of the corner…couldn’t have been me):

IMG_2949

These are a great light bar! Let me know if you give them a go!

23 comments:

Brittany Dahn said...

Yum! I'll try them soon and let you know. I have an abundance over over-ripe frozen bananas and need to put them to use.

Krista said...

I love your bar recipes, Erica!!!

YumYucky said...

wait a sec. what is a flax egg? I better hop on Google. The bars look fantastical. Yet still I will never get over those delicious cookies in your blog header.

Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life said...

I'm trying to weed out some processed foods in my life and these would be a great substitute for the fiber one bars I eat every day. Can't wait to try these!

itzyskitchen said...

You're the sweetest!

itzyskitchen said...

Yayy! I used to love fiber one bars...until I took a look at the ingredients :(

itzyskitchen said...

haha - its 1 tablespoon flax meal plus 3 tablespoons water (vegetarian baking egg!!)

sarah k @ thepajamachef.com said...

this sounds really good! i have to leave super early two days/week and have been looking for to-go breakfast ideas that aren't smoothies cause it's so cold! haha :)

Singerinkitchen said...

These looks so delicious!

Christina said...

Oh this is screaming my name! I just need to go buy a banana real quick!! : )

Kelly said...

I have NEVER made bars - I must do it!! This looks wonderful!

Averie Cooks said...

I love making bars too and these look like a great change-up!

Simply Life said...

oh these look like a fabulous bar to have around the house!

Lauren Podolsky said...

These do look delicious! And relatively easy.

auntie julie said...

i love bar recipes and anything with almond butter is a okay in my book. i feel like corner nibbles are just so important - i mean how are you supposed to serve them to people if you don't know what they taste like PLUS there are some people who don't want a whole bar so you've helped them out by removing the corner!

Blond Duck said...

I want to try almond butter...I wonder if they have cashew butter.

itzyskitchen said...

hahahah. I adore your comments

itzyskitchen said...

They do have cashew butter! Its a little bland...IMO

Biz said...

Those look great Erica! Ha, I would have taken a nibble off the corner too! :D

On Anna's Plate said...

Love this idea! I've been looking for portable snacks to take to campus-- these would definitely fit the bill!

Janetha said...

Mmmm these look fab. Love on-the-go options!

Sarah Seals said...

These look great. I have been looking for something to take on the go. Thanks for the modifications as well!

Steph @cookinfanatic said...

You are the queen of awesomely healthy delicious bar recipes, these sound fabulous!! Perfect for getting my diet back on track after vacay!