Healthy Chewy Homemade Carrot Banana Granola Bars

This recipe for Healthy Chewy Homemade Carrot Banana Granola Bars is so easy and good! I love the recipe and it is kid-friendly too:)

I knew this recipe was a keeper when my son said, “Wow! Mom, you could sell these!”

I didn’t tell him about the healthy ingredients in the granola bars like the chia seeds, carrots, bananas, or the low amount of added in sugar. He loved the taste and that was all I needed to hear. I was thrilled! It’s a good recipe if a kid who refuses carrots loves a granola bar with them hidden inside. It was a Mom win!! If kids like them and they are healthy, I’m a happy smilin’ mama:) I don’t need to tell them what is in the bars.

We eat a lot of granola bars at our house I’m happy to say. I buy a variety and my kids gobble them up. I wanted to use up some pureed carrots one day, so I dreamt up this recipe.

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Easy Breakfast or Snack

These granola bars are great for an easy breakfast. When I’m in a hurry to get my kids off to school, sometimes it’s a challenge to feed myself. I’m so focused on getting the kids ready. I’m always helping them get all they need for their day and getting them out the door on time. If I can grab something healthy like these granola bars to munch on with coffee while I help the kids in the morning, it’s a perfect fix for me.

I also love these bars with tea in the afternoon as a snack. I love chai tea especially, and these bars are yummy with a mug of tea.

Try out my White Chai Tea Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe for a yummy fall chai tea latte idea!

Healthy Ingredients in these Healthy Chewy Homemade Carrot Banana Granola Bars

There are so many healthy ingredients I love in these chewy granola bars. With the sweetness of the ripe banana mixed in, the granola bars remind me a bit of banana bread. I love how the chia seeds aren’t even evident in the bars so they add an extra amount of hidden healthy nutrients and protein.

Did you know chia seeds are rich in protein, omega-3, fiber, calcium, and iron? I love adding them to bread recipes, muffins, or granola bars. They are hidden healthy gems that aren’t even noticed in the food.

The ingredients are:

• pureed carrots (I like to use organic carrots because I think they have better flavor)
• chia seeds
• mashed banana-very ripe works best
• reduced sugar dried cranberries
• brown sugar (only a Tbsp.)
• oats
• sunflower seeds
• honey
• coconut oil

Chia Seed Recipes! I’m such a fan of chia seeds! 

Jalapeno Chia and Pumpkin Seed Cheese Ball

 Jalapeno Pumpkin & Chia Seed Wontons

 Amazing Marinating Secret Plus Marinated Balsamic Mushroom Cap Burger Vegetarian Recipe

I Like These Granola Bars Chewy and Soft

I keep them in a sealed container and I find they stay soft and chewy this way for a few days. They could be baked longer to get them to firm up if desired, but be sure to watch the edges for burning.

My ecookbook!

I have an ecookbook I’m working on which will come out later this fall. I’m super excited about it! I have many recipes in it that work for a hybrid family composed of vegetarians and meat-eaters. The beauty of the book is the hybrid recipes are easily adapted to all-vegetarian or all-meat, so the book will appeal to both vegetarians and meat-eaters. I have meat-eaters in my family, so I’m a vegetarian who cooks meat. Kind of a contradiction, but I feel my family members should make their own choices. I’m sharing my ideas for cooking in this type of hybrid way with the world with this book. I have tips and ideas I’ve learned through years of cooking this way.

If you’d like to be notified of when my book is available, click here to sign up:)

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, and I hope you love the granola bars more:)

Healthy Chewy Homemade Carrot Banana Granola Bars

These granola bars are great for an easy breakfast. When I'm in a hurry to get my kids off to school, sometimes it's a challenge to feed myself. I'm so focused on getting the kids ready. I'm always helping them get all they need for their day and getting them out the door on time. If I can grab something healthy like these granola bars to munch on with coffee while I help the kids in the morning, it's a perfect fix for me. I also love these bars with tea in the afternoon as a snack. I love chai tea especially, and these bars are yummy with a mug of tea. It's also a kid-friendly recipe!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Breakfast or Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 12 people

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1/2 cup carrots, pureed steamed and pureed with a tiny bit of water added in
• 1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds
• 1/2 banana very ripe and mashed
• 1/4 cup cranberries, dried reduced sugar
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, packed
• 2 cups oats
• 1 Tablespoon sunflower seeds, roasted and salted
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

Instructions

 

• Mix 1/2 cup pureed carrots with 1 Tbsp. chia seeds. Stir and let sit for about an hour.
• Add 1/4 c. ripe mashed banana, 1/4 c. dried cranberries, 1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar, 2 cups oats, 1 Tbsp. sunflower seeds, and 1/3 c. honey. Stir all together.
• Grease an 8x11.5 inch 2 quart glass rectangular pan with 1 tsp. coconut oil. Spread mixture in the pan. Flatten with the back of a spoon.
  
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until edges turn brown. Cool and cut into bars.

Notes

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