RECIPE: Banana Coconut Oat Bars

In order to use up some really ripe bananas a couple of days ago, I made these bars from OhSheGlows.

These bars are SO GOOD. I've made them several times, and each time, I can't get enough. It's hard not to binge on them! I added craisins, raisins, dried cherries, walnuts, and a nut-free trail mix (made with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips, dried apple bits, and some other stuff). I used an 8x8 pan, and cut it into 8 bars. You could probably cut them in half to get 16 if you're eating them for a snack, but I wanted something heartier that I could have for breakfast.

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Here is the recipe, the way I made them:

Banana Coconut Oat Bars

Ingredients

1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (you could swap out with unsweetened applesauce if you want to save calories)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 to 3/4 cup of dried cranberries, nuts, seeds, other dried fruit, chocolate chips, etc.
1-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Line a square (8x8 or 9x9 inch) pan with parchment paper. Combine the bananas, sugar, flaxseed, milk, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl. Add dry ingredients and stir well. Stir in dried fruit, nuts, etc.

Scoop batter into pan and smooth out with spoon. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes until the edges begin to brown and it is slightly firm to touch. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then remove to wire rack using the parchment paper. Slice into 8 bars.