Banana Nut Chip Granola Bars

A good friend of mine recently had a baby, and I wanted to make her a good snack that she could nibble on anytime throughout the day.  I thought some granola bars would be perfect!  It wasn't too long ago that I was spending my first few weeks at home with a newborn, and my stomach would be screaming to me at 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 in the morning while nursing my baby.  Granola bars were my go to snack.  Of course mine weren't homemade, because there was no way in you know where I was making ANYTHING from scratch at that point.

These bars are super yummy and good for you too!  This special recipe calls for no eggs or processed sugar.  The bananas work as a binder while the honey gives the bars just the right amount of sweetness.  One bite and you will never buy a box of granola bars again. 

Banana Nut Chip Granola Bars

YEILD: 12-16 snack size granola bars

ingredients:

3 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking)
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1 cup mashed banana (about 2 large, very ripe)
1/4 cup honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips, preferably Enjoy Life dairy-free mini chips

directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 8x8 inch baking pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper.

In a large bowl toss together the oats and flax seed.  In a medium bowl stir together the mashed banana, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.  Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir until thoroughly combined and all oats are moistened.  Stir in chopped walnuts and chocolate chips.  Press mixture into the prepared baking pan.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges.  Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes before lifting the bars out with the parchment paper.  Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into bars.  To keep fresh, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  

Recipe by Katelyn of Pisa Cake