Fruity-Nutty Banana, Chocolate Granola Bars

Ingredients

• 2 each bananas mashed
• 1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter
• 2 tablespoons cherries
• dried chopped
• 2 tablespoons blueberries dried and chopped
• 1/4 cup apricots
• dried chopped
• 1/4 cup prunes chopped
• 1/4 cup cranberries
• dried chopped
• 1 cup rolled oats quick-cooking or rolled
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed freshly ground
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds black
• 1/2 cup almonds chopped
• or other nuts
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (180C).
2. Line a 8 by 8-inch or a similar capacity baking pan with parchment paper or foil.
3. In a large saucepan, heat together mashed banana and peanut or almond butter over medium heat until slightly bubbles.
4. Remove from the heat, add all the dried fruits, oats, ground flax seeds, sesame seeds, and all the nuts into the saucepan.
5. Stir with a wooden spatula until well mixed.
6. Stir in the chocolate chips until well combined.
7. Transfer the mixture into the prepare baking pan, spread the mixture evenly with a rubber spatular, and smooth the top.
8. Bake for about 30 minutes until the top is firm to touch.
9. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack completely.
10. Cut into bars and enjoy.
11. The granola bars can be kept in an air-tight container in the frige for at least a week or in the freezer for up to months.