Coconut and Berries

Healthy, Vegan Recipes by Emma Potts

Banana-Almond-Oat Bars

Banana Almond Oat Bars

I’m definitely a breakfast lover. It just doesn’t make sense to me why so many people would skip it!

But as much as I enjoy my morning meal, I’m not someone who can eat the same thing day in, day out and, probably unlike most of the population’s breakfast eaters (in the UK at least) I rarely eat cereal or toast.

Banana Almond Oat Bars

Instead, I go for porridge with various toppings, baked oats, big smoothies, pancakes, waffles, chia puddings, overnight oats, sweet potatoes with nut butter and homemade treats like muffins, scones or breakfast cookies! Then there are all the savoury options too. 

It makes me cranky to have to rush breakfast, or heaven forbid, miss it altogether (!) so I try and make the time to have a leisurely start to the day.

Banana, Almond Butter, Maple Syrup, Coconut Oil

I do like my sleep though, so more often than not, my mornings are a bit of a scramble…

That’s where these Banana-Almond-Oat Bars come in. Chewy and nutty and with all the staying power of my bowl of porridge but in portable form! I can just grab a couple as I’m dashing out the door! They’re easy to make and super healthy with very little added sweetener needed since the bananas provide most of the sweetness.

I kept them simple and just added chopped almonds for some crunch, but you could try them with your favourite dried fruit and nuts, or even chocolate chips!

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Banana-Almond-Oat Bars

Yield: 16 squares or 8 bars

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp Coconut oil
  • 1 Tbsp Coconut nectar OR agave nectar (you could also try brown rice syrup or maple syrup)
  • 2 Tbsp Almond butter
  • 3 Very ripe bananas
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 2 2/3 C Rolled oats (gluten-free if necessary)
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 2 Tbsp Ground flax seeds
  • 1/2 C Chopped almonds (or other mix-ins)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Grease a small, square brownie tin ((mine was 7"x7") with coconut oil.
  2. Mash the bananas very well with a fork until smooth. Set aside
  3. In a small pan, melt the coconut oil, almond butter and coconut nectar over a low heat. Remove from heat and stir in the mashed banana and vanilla.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the oats, salt and ground flax.
  5. Add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients and stir very well until a sticky mixture is formed.
  6. Fold in the chopped almonds or other mix-ins, reserving a small amount to sprinkle over the top.
  7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared tin, pressing it down firmly, and smooth over the top. Sprinkle the remaining almonds over the top and press down slightly to help stick.
  8. Bake for approx 20 minutes, until golden brown.
  9. Allow to cool before cutting into squares or bars.
http://www.coconutandberries.com/2014/04/27/banana-almond-oat-bars/

Banana Almond Oat Bars

Sorry for all the irregular posting these last few weeks. Cooking and blogging haven’t been the easiest while I’ve been away in Geneva- both for lack of time and lack of kitchen equipment and ingredients! This is my final week here though so it won’t be long until I’m home and back to my regular cooking/blogging schedule. Thanks for sticking with me!

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Comments

  3. These look great - I’ve been looking for a healthy breakfast bar recipe for ages so thank you!

    I just wondered if is possible to put these in the freezer? X

  4. I was talking to a friend today who informed me she’d had a banana-spinach smoothie for breakfast, which is the only breakfast you’ve mentioned I don’t like the sound of - don’t like drinking my meals. I’d miss chewing:P But I’ve just remembered I bought chia seeds to make your jam earlier - I’m going to have to try chia pudding!

    These bars look great. Quite often I find breakfast/cereal bars just too sugary for my liking, but these look as though the balance would be just perfect. I’m a religious breakfast-eater. Porridge, porridge, and more porridge… But I think these bars would make a great snack, as I tend to snack on cereal!

    • I used to be the same with smoothies for breakfast and I usually still only have them if it’s a late breakfast so I don’t need to stay satisfied for several hours. You should definitely try chia pudding! I love it and it’s surprisingly filling too :)
      I’ve been eating a LOT of porridge this month while I’ve been in Geneva. Oats are easy to find and cheap.

  5. I’m a breakfast lover too! It’s pretty much my favourite meal of the day and I couldn’t imagine missing or skipping it!-what am I crazy? No! I love all things breakfast, I think I’d be a viscious mess if I missed the all important breakfast ritual(believe me I know I would!) 😀 hehehe, awesome recipe and portable snacks are handy- keep hunger and moodiness at bay!

  7. I grew up eating cereal for breakfast. Since becoming vegan, however, I’ve been trying different recipes for different breakfast meals. I made chia pudding last night and it was delicious. These bars look amazing and are next on my list! :)

    • Me too. I only ever had cereal growing up and I guess it was going vegan which started me off trying new things! I’ve been missing out on all these tasty breakfasts!

  8. I’m definitely the same way about breakfast! I like to give myself lots of time to enjoy. It always sets the tone for the day. I love how these look! I like the idea of the banana to add natural sweetness. Yum!

  9. I don’t know how some people go without breakfast. I turn into a savage when I don’t eat my breakfast. (I once had to sit through class on an empty stomach because I was taking a health test at the hospital at noon, and my friend said I was the grumpiest person she’d ever had the misfortune of sitting next to.)

  10. Mornings are my most favourite time of day. I absolutely love days when I have time to leisurely enjoy them! I am so excited for the fall since I will be spending more time working out of home and can organize my schedule to allow for that :)

    These look delicious! I made some blueberry almond bars last week that have been a nice addition to my morning along with a smoothie. I had to freeze half though because, like you, I get sick of having the same thing all the time!

  11. They look like a great breakfast or even morning tea - I love breakfast too - I used to be really grumpy when I didn’t have it first thing but these sort of routines were shot to pieces with a baby about and now I just must eat before leaving the house int he morning. I do love fresh toast and porridge or fruit and yoghurt but like you I like to vary my breakfasts I get bored of the same thing day after day

  12. I rarely eat toast too - in fact, pretty much never for breakfast (occasionally at other times) - and would take these over cereal any day :) They look lovely! I would struggle to contain them to breakfast though…!

  14. These look fantastic! These look perfect for taking to go when I haven’t got my breakfast act to gather (about 50% of the time). Thanks Emma!

  15. these are so beautiful and the ingredients are so minimal, which i love. i eat the same breakfast every morning, so we are definite opposites in that way, but, like you, i can neverrrrr rush through breakfast. i get up super early just to enjoy eating my meal in the stillness of the morning.

    • I’ve eaten pretty much the same breakfast this past month while I’ve been away, simply through lack of ingredients and money! Porridge with sliced banana and almond butter. It’s hard to get sick of that but I’m pretty excited about some variety when I get back :)

  16. I love breakfast bars Emma. I eat them all the time! I love oats and almonds and pecans in them. I, unfortunately, am not a banana fan. :( However, these could probably work with mashed pumpkin! They look so pretty!

    • Not a banana fan?! You crazy lady 😉 I’m sure they would be yummy with pumpkin too, though you’d need to add some more sweetener as the banana brings most of the sweetness to these.

  17. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and I too get pretty out of sorts if I can’t have it the way I like! I know I would love nibbling down on these bars!

  18. I’m the same. Need my breakfast but also love my beauty sleep. Overnight oats are one of my favorites for having breakfast ready to go, but these bars may need to join the rounds. If nothing else, this would be a great afternoon snack!

    • Definitely good for a portable breakfast in the field- or your mid-morning snack 😀 They’re nice and sturdy so you don’t have to worry about them crumbling in your pockets!

  22. Just made these with a few tweaks of my own- added flax, hemp seed, chia, and raw cacao! Love them! Making them again for a road trip in just a couple of weeks for a friend and I :)

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