Amazeballs Granola Bars
As a busy mother and business owner, it’s important that I find healthy and time saving snack ideas. So to curb those 3pm snack attacks, here’s a recipe that’s easy to make and you can even get the kids involved.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium/large bananas)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup pepita seeds
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup hulled hemp seeds (or linseed or chia)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 180c. Lightly grease a large rectangular baking dish (approx. 8.5″ x 12.5″) and line with a piece of parchment paper so the bars are easier to lift out.
- In a large bowl, mash the banana until smooth. Stir in the vanilla.
- Place the rolled oats into a food processor (or blender on the lowest speed) and pulse until the oats are coarsely chopped (but still with lots of texture). Stir oats into the banana mixture.
- Chop the walnuts and cranberries and stir these and the rest of the ingredients into the banana-oat mixture until thoroughly combined.
- Spoon mixture into prepared dish. Press down until compacted and smooth out with hands until even.
- Bake for 23-27 minutes (I baked for 25 mins.) until firm and lightly golden along the edge. Place dish on a cooling rack for 10 minutes then carefully slide a knife to loosen the ends and lift out. Place granola slab on a cooling rack for 10 minutes and then into the freezer for another 10 mins. (if you are impatient like me).
- Slice into bars once they are cool.
- These bars freeze well and if you’re a little bit of a sweet tooth, drizzle some melted dark chocolate on for an added treat.
Sarah Toquero is the owner of Amaze Balls, an energy and protein ball delivery service in Perth.
