Lunchbox-friendly Quinoa Granola Bars
These lunchbox-friendly (aka, nut-free) granola bars make great use of ripe bananas and pantry staples for an easy, on-the-go breakfast or snack that you can feel good about!
I am not the biggest fan of nutrition bars. There. I said it. I, like Goldilocks, have yet to find one that is ‘just right’. Though, I have tried my friends. Protein bars with ingredients I cannot pronounce, scare me. Overly sweetened granola bites, make me thirsty. Limited-ingredient varieties that tout “simplicity,” leave me wanting the ingredients that were left out!
Unfortunately, nutrition bars are an absolute necessity in my household. My kids, my husband and even me, are often found running out the door, needing to grab something portable to eat.
Enter. This. Recipe.
These bars are packed with fiber and protein thanks to quinoa, chia seeds and sun butter. And they are perfect for a nut-free lunch room or dance studio, as they contain no nuts. Plus, they have chocolate! Need I say more.
Lunchbox-friendly Quinoa Granola Bars
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl ,medium to large
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup quinoa ,rinsed
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- ¼ tsp salt ,kosher
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
- ¼ cup coconut flakes ,unsweetened
- ¼ cup chocolate chips (dairy free chips will make this recipe vegan)
- ¼ cup sun butter
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 bananas (ripe, mashed) (about 3/4 cup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F
- Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper to prevent bars from sticking.
- In a mixing bowl, combine (1 cup) oats, (1/2 cup) rinsed raw quinoa, (1/4 cup coconut), (2 tbsp) chia seeds, (1/4 tsp) salt, and (1tsp) cinnamon.
- Stir in the mashed bananas and (1/2 tsp) vanilla. Fold in the (1/4 cup) chocolate chips and (1/4 cup) cranberries. Once combined, add the (1/4 cup) sun butter and (2 tbsp) maple syrup and stir gently until coated.
- Pour into prepared pan and press down firmly with hands or back of spoon to create an even layer. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting into bars.
