PEANUT BUTTER BANANA AND CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS


I love cooking on parchment.  So easy to get out of the pan and cut.
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup peanut butter (I used all natural creamy)
2 small ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
*Optional - add 1/2 cup peanuts (unsalted, dry roasted) for extra crunch!


1. In a large bowl, mix together oats, flour, brown sugar and salt (you don't need to use an electric mixer, this is really easy to mix by hand). Then, begin adding in all the wet ingredients (oil, egg, vanilla extract, peanut butter and mashed bananas). Mix until all ingredients are incorporated, then add in the chocolate chips (and peanuts, if you are adding them). Preheat your oven to 350 deg F.

2. Next, line a 9x13 inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Transfer the granola bar mixture onto it, and pat it down with your hands to form an even rectangle, leaving about an inch border around the edges of the pan.

3. Bake for 15 - 18 minutes (I only baked them for 15 minutes to make sure they wouldn't get crumbly, but bake for longer if the center is not baked through), until the edges begin to brown slightly. Take out of the oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars using a sharp knife. Make sure you cut the bars while they are still warm, this way they won't crumble. Store in an air tight container for up to four days.

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