A healthier portable snack or alternative to breakfast cereal.
These cookies/breakfast bars are full of healthy, natural ingredients to give you lasting energy, and are quick and easy to make.
Makes approximately 12 servings
Preparation time is approximately 10-15 minutes
Cooking time is approximately 15-25 minutes
Ingredients
125g (1 ½ cups) rolled oats
3 Medium sized ripe bananas
2 tbsp Chia Seeds
80g (1/2 cup) mixed seeds or ground almonds (The seeds can be ground if preferred)
50g (1/3 cup) of chopped dried apricots OR other dried fruit
1-2 tsp ground cinnamon or ground ginger (optional)
How to make Banana Breakfast Cookies or Bars
Preheat the oven to 180°C (Gas mark 4 or 170°C for a fan oven).
Line a baking tray with greaseproof/baking paper or reusable liner
Mash/puree bananas with the chia seeds until there are no lumps
Combine the sticky chia /banana mixture thoroughly with all the other ingredients.
Place table spoonfuls on 2 lined baking sheets and flatten to make cookies; or spread on the lined baking tray and level the top so it’s an even depth if you want to make bars (they will be cut into bars once cooked).
Cook for approx. 18 mins until the cookies are turning golden (20-25 mins for the bars)
Leave on tray for 5 minutes before cutting the bars and cooling on a wire rack.
HINTS & TIPS
Try different combinations of spices and dried fruit, such as mixed spice with cranberries; ginger with apricots; cinnamon & raisin
If mixture is very soft, mix in extra 1-3 tbsp oats/ground almonds or desiccated coconut
A tablespoon of nut butter can be stirred into the mix before cooking or is also delicious served with the cookies and helps to increase the protein content.
Once cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week
For a treat include a handful of dark chocolate chips when mixing all the ingredients together or drizzle with melted dark chocolate once cooled.
Be aware of nut and seed allergies.
Chia seeds are a healthy addition to most baked goods, porridge or overnight oats.
Please click HERE to see Cooking Good’s statement on allergens and substitutions within recipes.
Don’t forget to look at our useful articles on a variety of family topics including batch cooking, leftovers, hydration, fussy eaters and more! Here is the LINK.