Banana Energy Bars

Printed from: www.grandmotherskitchen.net

Ingredients

Makes 9x9 inch square cut into 12 pieces

2 bananas, medium to large in size

1/4 cup grapeseed oil (or coconut oil)

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, (at least 70% so you get the good positive value from the chocolate) *Optional

1 ounce chocolate, melted to drizzle *Optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

1. Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper. Cut two pieces to fit, one in each direction leaving overhang edges for easy removal of the bars when they are baked and cooled. Grease with a small amount of oil.

1. Have ready the mixer.

2. Cut the bananas into small 1/2 inch rounds. Put into the mixer and beat on low speed until they are mushy.

3. Add the oil and brown sugar, beat in for 2 minutes.

4. Add the egg and beat until well combined. Add the vanilla and mix in.

5. In a small container, stir the flour, salt and baking soda together with a fork to combine. Add the oats, stir into the other dry ingredients.

6. Stop the mixer, add all the dry ingredients at the same time. Turn the mixer back on and mix until well combined.

7. Add the chocolate chips and mix in.

8. Transfer to the prepared baking dish, use a spatula to even out the top and move the chocolate chips around if there are clumps of chocolate chips.

9. Place into the preheated oven and bake for 20-22 minutes or until browned around the edges and not jiggling in the center.

10.The banana breakfast bars are baked at this point, but we like a browned top, so we turned the oven to broil, transferred the banana bars to the top rack and let broil for just a few minutes. NEVER walk away from things you are broiling. It happens quickly and you can go from having a beautiful baked item to a terrible burnt black on the top. When you are satisfied with the color, remove from the oven to cool. Leave in the pan until the banana breakfast bars are at room temperature.

11. Lift out the parchment paper and bars, Place onto a cutting board and cut into squares.

12. If you decide to drizzle chocolate, melt the chocolate in a chocolate melting pot or double boiler over low heat. Once melted just use a teaspoon to drizzle a little on each banana energy bar.

Enjoy!

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