These simple, soft, and chewy banana chocolate chip granola bars bars are vegan, gluten free, nut-free and naturally sweetened with dates. Soft and chewy in texture, they are the perfect quick homemade snack to provide you with energy anytime of the day.
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There is nothing better than a homemade snack. Not only it helps you to plan ahead and prevents you from rushing to the closest Starbucks whenever you feel hungry, but it also gives you a much better control over the ingredients you are using (we all know that most of the snacks are loaded with unnecessary sugars, even the ones that pretend to be healthy for most of them).
Among my favorite snacks, there are two categories: all sorts of smoothies on one side, and the sweet protein snacks on the other side. Don’t get me wrong, I can totally go for a huge cookie once in a while. However, these little homemade healthy snacks are usually the ones that leave me the most satisfied, as they are not too sweet, not too fat, and still very delicious.
What are banana chocolate chip granola bars?
As I was saying before, there are healthy snacks and unhealthy snacks. Today I am just in between, with these irresistible banana chocolate chip granola bars.
Naturally sweetened with fruits (banana and dates), these granola bars are free of refined sugar and any other natural sweetener such as honey, agave, or maple syrup. They still contain some sugar though, with the use of mini chocolate chips (that you can choose sugar-free if you want). Totally decadent, they make a perfect snack for your kids after school, and for yourself too!
Anyone with allergies will also love the fact that the banana chocolate chip granola bars are naturally vegan, nut-free and gluten free (if using gluten-free oats).
Their texture is chewy rather than dry and crispy, exactly as I like them, and they’re super easy to make. All you need is a food processor (or a blender), a mixing bowl, and a baking pan. You’ve got everything at home? Now grab the recipe below and simply go for it!
Can I make these bars even healthier?
They’re is a possibility to use unsweetened chocolate chips and/or chocolate for the drizzle (however, the drizzle is totally optional).
In case you would like to avoid chocolate for any reason, know that you can adapt this version. Just skip the chocolate chips and replace them with cacao nibs or any kind of dried fruits (cranberries, apricots, raisins…), or nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts) for instance.
How to store banana chocolate chip granola bars?
Like I do with energy balls, I usually prepare my granola bars in advance, on Sunday afternoon/evening, and store them in an airtight container or a large ziploc bag. Then, place them in the refrigrator, and you’ll have snacks planned for the entire week. You can also freeze them up to a month. The bars will thaw within minutes at room temperature.
More healthy snacks you’ll love:
- Among my favorites, there are the Healthy No-Bake Energy Bites (that I sometimes turn into these Mini Healthy Peanut Butter Pies. I also love these Healthy Lemon Coconut Energy Balls, or these Almond Energy Balls with Dried Fruits.
- When it comes to granola bars, I’m huge with these Apricot Cashew Granola Bars, as well as these Soft Chocolate Cashew Granola Bars and these Chocolate-Covered Nut Date Bars.
- I also love these Vegan Banana Oatmeal Cookie for a slightly different version!
To go further, check these 10+ Nutritious Grab-and-Go Snacks. You’ll have plenty of inspiration for the weeks to come. Keep in mind that all recipes freeze very well, so you can make a batch of each, freeze in ziploc bags, and grab a different one very day of the week!
Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 10-12 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: Healthy
These simple, soft, and chewy banana chocolate chip granola bars bars are vegan, gluten free, nut-free and naturally sweetened with dates. Soft and chewy in texture, they are the perfect quick homemade snack to provide you with energy anytime of the day.
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We’ll send it straight to your inbox, along with weekly food inspiration!
Ingredients
- 5 unpitted dates
- 1 cup (250 ml) boiling water
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) coconut oil + 1 teaspoon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 3/4 cups (250g) gluten free oats
- 1/3 cup (60g) mini chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup (45g) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Place the dates in a bowl and cover with the boiling water and leave to soak for at leas 5 minutes.
- After the dates are done soaking, drain the water and place the dates in a blender or food processor with the banana, 1/4 cup melted coconut oil, vanilla extract and baking soda. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the banana-date mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add the oats and the mini chocolate chips, and stir until well combined.
- Place the mixture into a greased 8×8 inch or 8×10 inch baking dish, and bake for 25 minutes until golden and firm. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- In the meantime, melt the chocolate chips with one teaspoon of coconut oil. Once melted, drizzle all over the bars.
- Allow the chocolate to set before slicing. Store in a airtight container up to 5 days.
Did you make this recipe?
Lastly, if you make this Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thank you and enjoy!
Diane
Love this recipe..swopped choc chips for dried cherries..delicious
Sooo pleased this site (unlike so many others) gives metric weights aswell for us Brits who do not use ‘cups’
Jane O’Hare
Hi There,
I love your recipes – thank you. Fir this granola am I supposed to use the water from the soaked dates ?
Delphine Fortin
Thanks, Jane! I’m so happy to read you like my recipes! You should drain the water from the soaked dates before using them. I will add this to the recipe to make sure everyone understands. Del
Alison
Hi! These look delicious but I am not a fan of bananas Is there anything else I can use instead? Thank you!
Delphine Fortin
Hi Alison! Unfortunately this recipe works best with bananas since it also gives texture to the bars. I hope this helps! Del
Lea Valentini
Made this with my kids, they did like them but I think, they are a tiny bit bland and could be improved with a couple of additional ingredients, maybe an extra date or 2, a couple of tps of dessicated coconut and a few chopped nuts (pecan make be).
SophieR
Hello Delphine, je voulais essayer la recette sans banane, est ce possible de trouver un substituant? Merci de tes conseils !!
Delphine Fortin
Bonjour Sophie! L’ingredient principal de ces barres étant la banane, la remplacer reviendrait à changer complètement de recette niveau proportions etc. Je vais r pencher sur la question pour réfléchir à une alternative de cette recette. Bien à vous. Del
Leslie
Bonjour Delphine,
Je voudrais tenter cette recette et je me demande sous quelle forme doit on incorporer l’huile de noix de coco dans la recette, sous forme liquide ou solide ?
Merci d’avance pour votre réponse.
Et merci de proposer toutes ces recettes de snacks healthy que je vais essayer et qui j’espère auront du succès auprès de mes enfants.
Delphine Fortin
Bonjour Leslie! Très bonne question 🙂 J’utilise de l’huile de coco fondue pour cette recette. Très bonne journée à vous!
Christine
Hi,
I would like to try this recipe and was wondering if I could substitute some of the oats for puffed cereal to make them even chewier?
Delphine Fortin
Hi Christine. I have never tried this way so I wouldn’t advise to do it, unless you like experimenting!
Charline
Bonjour!
Le goût des dattes est-il fort prononcé? Car pour en avoir déjà goûté, je n’aime pas tellement. Sinon, existe-t-il un substituant?
Merci beaucoup!
Delphine Fortin
Bonjour Charline! Rassure toi, je ne suis pas une très grande fan de dattes natures non plus, mais utilisées comme sucrant naturel, elles apportent de la douceur aux barres de céréales sans le petit goût qui va avec. Cette recette est un vrai régal!
duduche
ça serait encore plus sympa s’il n’y avait pas tous ces anglicismes pompeux “pies”, “healthy”, “chewy”…
Delphine Fortin
Bonjour… duduche(?!). Je suis désolée que tous ces anglicismes ne vous plaisent pas. Pour ma part, cela fait près d’une dizaine d’années que je vis à l’étranger, dans un environnement international et je trouve parfois certains adjectifs plus appropriés et précis en anglais qu’en francais. Par ailleurs, comme vous l’avez peut être remarqué, le blog est quant à lui intégralement bilingue anglais-francais. Les anglicismes font donc partie de ma marque de fabrique et sachez qu’il n’y a rien de pompeux là-dedans. Pour en revenir à cette recette, elle est simplissime et vaut à mon avis le détour ; à vous maintenant de juger ce qui vous tient le plus à coeur : déguster une bonne recette réalisée avec des ingrédients naturels ou bien vous focaliser sur les anglicismes qui l’accompagnent. Bien à vous. Del
Laureen Emily
Très bonne réponse…. n aurais pas dis mieux. Merci pour cette excellente recette et pour le partage
Guy
Bravo! Bien répondu!
Guy
sotis
sympa tes petites barres, j’en aurai bien besoin pour retrouver toute mon énergie!!!!! bisous
Delphine Fortin
Oh, j’espère que tu vas aller mieux très vite. En effet elles sont parfaites pour faire le plein d’énergie !
Petite cuillère et Charentaises
Elles m’ont l’air absolument délicieuses ces petites barres !
Bises et belle soirée,
Gabrielle