*Sponsored Post*
Judging by the mountain of bananas in my fruit bowl right now it would be safe to say that we’re huge banana fans in our house. We use them a lot as an ingredient as well as a healthy snack. I like to use them to make my smoothies creamier and they are lovely mashed into porridge for some added natural sweetness.
By personal preference I hate eating overripe bananas, you know the ones, with their speckled skin and overly sweet scent. These are too sickly sweet for me, but they work so well in baking…banana bread anyone? With two sorry-looking ripe bananas left in the fruit bowl before the weekly shop arrived, I needed to use them up. This recipe came about by the desperate need to have some healthy snacks on standby and rather than making my usual banana bread loaf I fancied making something that was a bit different.
- 2 cups oats
- 2 ripe bananas mashed
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup almonds , chopped
- 4 medjool dates
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 date nectar (honey or maple syrup would also work)
-
Preheat the oven to 190 degrees and line a baking tin with grease proof paper.
-
In a bowl mash the bananas with a fork and pour in the oats, pumpkin seeds, medjool dates, dried cranberries, chia seeds, chopped almonds and cinnamon. Stir together until well combined.
-
In a separate bowl, melt together the coconut oil and date nectar on the hob or in the microwave.
-
Pour the liquid ingredients onto the dry ingredients and stir through so that everything is well coated.
-
Tip the mixture into the baking tin and pat down with the back of a spoon until level.
-
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown on the edges. Allow to cool before portioning.
Store in an air tight container in the fridge or in the freezer.
All of these ingredients are such a great mix and add plenty of flavour and various textures. Of course, you can play around and add whatever your heart desires to the mix. I can’t believe how incredibly easy this recipe is to make, definitely my kind of cooking!
These soft and chewy bars are made using Quaker Oats who are on a mission to encourage people to get more fibre into their diets as it has been associated with lowering cholesterol. High levels of blood cholesterol have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease and oats contain a type of soluble fibre called beta-glucan which helps decrease cholesterol levels. The #FeelingFibrant campaign is a positive movement to inspire people in the kitchen with new and exciting ways to consume more fibre.
If you loved this recipe, you can find more delicious recipes and information on the #FeelingFibrant campaign over on the Quaker Oats Instagram and Twitter feeds.
How much fibre do you consume? Do you think that you have enough in your diet?
What mix of nuts and seeds would make it into your granola bars?
*This blog post was commissioned by Quaker Oats as part of the Quaker Oats #FeelingFibrant campaign. I was compensated for the cost of ingredients and my time.
I never thought I would be saying this (do not tell the wife) but these look really moreish and I am not one for porridge or fruit – ever!
Hahaha! Ok, I won’t tell her if you don’t.
Oh I love granola bar and oats – honestly one of my fav things – maybe its because i have lived in Scotland for so long! Not cooked with date nectar yet but l give it a go:)
Yo can’t escape oats in Scotland can you…although there are worse things. Date nectar is really lovelt to bake with.
These look really good! I use porridge oats, bananas and stewed apple to create a sugar-free snack that keeps the blood sugar level up without creating a sugar rush. I prefer to use organic ingredients too.
I think these would make splendid snacks for the festive season – they look so colourful!
I love the sound of your sugar-free snack with the stewed apples, yum!
Banana bread AND granola?? What a delicious combo! Banana bread is my ideal afternoon treat.
Thank you! The two together totally work. You can’t bet a cheeky slice of banana bread in the afternoon.
These look amazing! Random question, but were you at the sing and sign group at weymouth fire station today? There was someone there that looked remarkably like your pictures, but not sure where you’re based xx
Haha! Kirstie, yes I was. Would be lovely to meet you for a coffee. ?
Wow, small world! I’ve been following your blog and facebook page for a little while and love your recipes but had no idea you were local to me 🙂 x
We’re new in town and haven’t been here long. Loving it so far though! 🙂
These granola bars look so delicious and healthy, a great snack for kids after school:-)
Thanks Camilla, I did think they would be great for kids too.
Those look great! My kids would love them! I’ve never tried to make granola bars, but I may try this!
They are great as healthy snacks for kids and so easy to make too!
Yeah overripe bananas are AWFUL. It’s the texture as well – just so soft! Perfect to use in something like this though (or banana bread…mmmm).
Grim aren’t they! It’s the smell I can’t stand let alone the taste. Perfect for baking thought like you say…:-)
These looks so tasty! You can just imagine they’re really moist with a subtle crunch from the pumpkin seeds. Yum! I absolutely love oats, I could easily consumer bowls of porridge for every meal of the day! Totally know what you mean about overripe bananas – even the texture of the skin as it just flops away (grim) is horrible! I’d never ever eat an overripe banana, I actually prefer it when the skin’s a little green, but because bananas ripen so quickly, I never really bother buying a bunch unless I have the intention of making a banana bread based bake.
She’s So Lucy
I much prefer bananas with a slightly green skin too, far tastier! Have you ever tried storing your bananas in the fridge as the don’t ripen as fast that way or better yet the freezer if you want to save them for baking or smoothies?
I love the idea of Banana bread granola bars – they are just tick all the right boxes.
Thanks Bintu, I would like to think so too. 🙂
This is a great idea for black bananas. I always seem to have loads of them in my freezer and they usually end up as banana loaves or banana muffins. Thanks for a new suggestion!
I’m always looking for new ideas on how to use them too. Although I will never get bored of banana bread. 🙂
These look lovely. I’m a huge fan of a banana bread so I’m going to give granola a go too.
A girl after my own heart, I love it too.
These look absolutely yummy. I would love to take them to work for a snack.
Thanks Agnes, they would be great as a snack at work.
These look delicious! I am the same- once a banana gets a bit of brown on it (or really, once all the green is gone) I can’t eat them and I really hate the smell. At that point they are only good for baking!
These look like such a good, mid-morning snack, perfect with a glass of milk.