We’re embarking on travel season, and a lot of us are getting ready to hit the road, packing up coolers and carry-on bags, ready for long hauls and layovers and crappy rest stop food. I’m here to rescue you from stale candy bars and overpriced protein bars with these no bake chocolate banana granola bars.
When I asked you guys what you wanted to see a month or so ago, snacks was on that list. I’ll confess to you that I’m not a huge snacker, and I’ll blame mom for that because when we were young, she consciously made us eat dinner as soon as we got home from school so that we didn’t snack and fill up on junk food and spoil our dinner. As such, it’s never been part of my nature to rustle through pantry in search of sustenance (until it was time for dessert which, as it happens, is also a snack, but a different kind of snack, ya know?).
However, when I do need a little something to keep me going through the afternoon, on a plane, through a layover, or on a late night road trip, ready-made bars are my go-to. I LOVE Zone Bars (LOVE!), and KIND bars, and they are the ones that I go to time and again, completely unimpressed by Luna, Lara, Power, GoMacro and all the other popular bars that I find to be overpriced and, somehow still unimpressive and tasteless in texture.
I’m sorry if my slander of your favorite go-to snack has now made us frenemies, but I call it like I see it and I’m here to present you with an alternative to consider.
I’ve adapted these from Ambitious Kitchen, and while I appreciate the flavors that she’s got going on, I’ve added some twists of my own. Back in the days when I participated in races: half-marathons, triathlons, biking expeditions and the like, my go-to power up meal was a peanut butter, chocolate chip and banana sandwich. Don’t hate- it was delicious.
I’m recreating those favorite flavors in this little nugget, with peanut butter holding everything else together: oats, flax and crushed banana chips.
Unrelated but also a good thing with bananas: dark chocolate banana coconut brownies.
A quick stop in the freezer and these are ready for the road. Best to store in the freezer, these wrap up and pack up nicely.
Keeping away the travel hanger that will surely ruin any holiday.
No bake chocolate banana granola bars
No bake chocolate banana granola bars are held together by creamy peanut butter, spiced with cinnamon and topped with crunchy almonds.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 TB honey
- 1 1/2 TB coconut oil
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup ground flax seeds
- 1/3 cup crushed banana chips
- 1/4 cup chocolate chunks
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds
Directions
- Step 1 Add peanut butter, coconut oil, and honey in a glass measure or microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute and mix well until smooth, heating again in 15 second increments if needed. Add the vanilla.
- Step 2 In a small bowl, add the oats, flax, banana chips and cinnamon. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oat mixture and coat thoroughly.
- Step 3 Line an 8 x 4 loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Step 4 Pour granola bar mixture in and spread out evenly, then press down in the pan very firmly. Press the almonds and chocolate chunks on top. Place bars in the freezer for 15-20 minutes or in the fridge for 30 minutes-1 hour, or until mixture has hardened.
- Step 5 Cut into 8 granola bars. Store bars in the fridge, either individually wrapped in plastic or in foil.
