I mean why have a boyfriend when there’s banana bread?
Hold the phone. This recipe isn’t for banana bread. I’m such a tease.
Don’t worry. It still has oats and nanners and cinnamon and vanilla and all that shtuff. You just don’t have to stand over your oven for an hour with a knife in your hand ready to stab something other than the banana bread because you’ve tested it four times and it’s STILL.NOT.DONE.
Is it just me or do you always have to bake banana bread for like 15 minutes longer than the directions tell you to? Maybe it’s my oven? Maybe it’s my loaf pan? Maybe it’s me?
I don’t think it’s me.
I’m not gonna get on my soap box and preach to the choir about how I’m not a huge fan of protein powder and I like to get my protein from whole foods blah blah blah. You already know that about me. That said, I get hangry and a half when I’m sitting at the coffee shop all darn day. I pack enough apples and chocolate peanut butter dessert hummus to feed an army, but sometimes I need something with more of a protein punch. We all know that most store-bought protein bars are usually just glorified candy bars with whey protein isolate, so those aren’t much help either.
Well thank God for Davida’s cinnamon roll protein bars. They pretty much defended my thesis for me. I finished those suckers in like three days. I’m not gonna say they taste like Cinnabon (because um, they don’t) but they’re hands down my favorite protein bar recipe thus far. I have those babies to thank for inspiring this recipe.
I’ve been snacking on one of these bad boys plus a sliced apple during my seemingly never-ending shifts at The Crest. Yep, I’m that waitress awkwardly scarfing down a weird looking bar while I ring in your bison burger. “Alexis, you’re always gnawing on something. What is that, a cookie?” Hah. A cookie. I wish. More like a hippietastic homemade banana nut protein bar, yo! Obviously they think I’m super weird until I offer them a hunk. “You make those??” Hellz to the ya! Mind = blown.
Cheers to no boyfriends and not turning on the oven in this sweltering fifty-five degree Ohio heat.
- ½ cup pitted Medjool dates, packed (about 9 large dates)
- ½ cup mashed overripe banana (about 1 medium banana)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup walnuts
- ½ cup almonds
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder (I used MCT Lean)
- ¼ cup chocolate chips (optional)
- Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper or plastic wrap and set aside. To help the parchment paper stick, you can spray the pan with cooking spray first.
- Blend dates, banana and vanilla in a large food processor for about a minute, or until smooth. Add walnuts, almonds, ¾ cup of the oats, flaxseed, cinnamon and salt and blend for another minute or two, or until fairly smooth.
- Scrape down the sides and add in the other ¼ cup of oats and protein powder. Process for another minute or until the mixture is well combined. It will be very thick and sticky. Stir in optional chocolate chips.
- Spoon mixture into prepared pan. With wet hands, flatten in pan until it looks fairly even throughout.
- Place pan in freezer for at least 2-3 hours. Remove from freezer and slice into 10 bars.
- Store bars in freezer--they can be eaten directly from the freezer without thawing.
What is with you and Davs whipping the damn food processor for everything? I NEED ONE.
Also the cinnamon roll bars AND these ones too. Banana bread- Have you ever tried the GNU bars? I tried one in america which claimed to taste like banana bread in a bar. It tasted like lies.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…NEW DESIGN, NEW QUEST CELEBRATORY GIVEAWAY
you taste like LIES.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven recently posted…You CAN Do It + An Announcement!
Now I want to make both of these bars and am also without a food processor. Wahhhhhh. Next paycheck, I know what I’m getting.
OMG you need a food processor. Life changing. Get a big one, not the mini one!
Liez with burgerz and friez.
Ya they’re alright…kinda weird and crunchy-ish. You NEED a food processor. Life changing purchase, mah dude.
My only beef with this recipe is that chocolate chips are NEVER optional 😛 Banana bread anything is amazing, but chocolate chip banana bread anything is even more win 😀
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. link love 4/6 .
You’re so right. When is chocolate ever optional?! I should have written “required.” And doubled the amount.
YES PUHHHHLEASE. I am on my third batch of the cinnamon roll bars but these will be next! One benefit to Curt being kidnapped by work is he isn’t home to eat all my food. Not that the bars last longer than 2 days anyway.
P.s. have you ever tried sundried red bananas? If not I WILL SEND YOU SOME. we use them in Kewaza and I legit have an O when I eat them.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven recently posted…You CAN Do It + An Announcement!
Sundried red nanners?? Whaaaa? I’m a nanner virgin!!!!
I’ve already made the decision that men are easily replaced by food (<- does that make me sound jaded), so I'm WAAAAAY on board with these naner nut bars! I've never made a protein bar but have been meaning to, considering I'm in the same banana boat as you when it comes to getting ravenous mid-day. LOVE these! They look absolutely perfect.
Julia recently posted…Fennel and Cabbage Slaw
Food > men. 100%. Thanks my sweet 🙂
These sound fantastic and I LOVE that they are no-bake. These truly will be perfect once the 100 degree weather hits…if it ever does 😉
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl recently posted…Weekly Meal Plan + What’s In My Grocery Bag (Whole Foods)
I want 100 degree weather right now!!!
I’m so excited to make these! Could I use vanilla Vega One? Or would it change the taste too much? Thanks!! 🙂
Definitely! I think any vanilla protein powder (sweetened) would be just fine!
these look delicious I definitely want to give them a try. Overall i’m not a huge fan of protein powder either but these look like they are mainly made up of yummy whole foods! yay for no boyfriends..definitely in that club with ya 🙂 I was also laughing at people at work commenting on you eating weird stuff because at my job this summer as a waitress that happened to me all the time haha girls gotta eat!
chelcie @ chelcie’s food files recently posted…Trader Joes Grocery Haul
Single ladies and protein bars unite!!!
Passed this along to my client, who is about to start making her own bars, because she is looking for new snack options. This will be perfect for her and really hoping she’ll share some with me. 😉 Thanks for sharing! XOXO
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…Mourning…Healing…Loving…Growing
That’s so sweet of you, girl! Thanks!
These so remind me of larabars, but I’m sure they’re much better! They look amazing and I’d love them to bring to work for a morning snack.
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat recently posted…Motivation Monday – BE Happy
The oats and nanner make them WAY yummier than larabars 🙂
Drool! I need to make this with my SFH whey (the best).
Matt @ Runner Savvy recently posted…Weekly Rundown: 3/31/14-4/6/14 + The Big D Half Marathon
gah! these look so good! banana, oats & cinnamon! can’t wait to make these.
Jen recently posted…well, hello monday…
Alllll the best foods 🙂
I’ve been looking at different bar recipes for about a week now and this is my new favorite! I love that these are no-bake and I always have overripe bananas that are looking for a new home. I’m the ultimate hangry type and have learned that not having a healthy option on me at all times can lead to bad decisions!! Thanks for the recipe!
Brooke recently posted…Smorgasbord Sunday
You’re welcome! Hope you love them.
These bars look so good! I love that they’re no-bake. =)
Helen recently posted…Weekly Meals and Workouts 14
No-bake is my jam these days!
These totally remind me of Lara bars, but better because they’re homemade. Nice work!
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog recently posted…#100HappyDays
They’re way better than larabars…I think because of the oats and bananas!
Oh my gosh — my husband would love these!!
Rachel Cooks recently posted…Pesto and Cheese Stuffed Zucchini
They’re awesome! I need to make another batch because the first one was gone in like three days…eeeek!
Do you eat these frozen? Or do you thaw when you want one?
Yep–I eat them straight from the freezer, no need to thaw! They’re pretty soft so they don’t taste frozen.
THX that’s a great anrsew!
These look awesome. The ingredients list looks a lot like Larabars, which are my favorite!
Danica @ It’s Progression recently posted…this week’s grocery haul {wiaw}
They do look like Larabars but they actually taste way better 🙂
Nice! I like the fact that you used a fresh banana in these. And I agree that energy bars are the one place to use protein powder as an ingredient— makes sense when you are out and about and want a snack that isn’t just fruit and/or fats.
Mary @ Fit and Fed recently posted…Apricot Almond Chia Energy Bars
Lots of times my snacks are fruits and fats (nuts, apple and nut butter, etc) so it’s definitely nice to have a little boost. Your apricot almond chia energy bars sound amazing!
mmm!! LOVE it! Love that they are no bake… kinda like no bake cookies….but better!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted…50% More Rest and Giveaway!
Definitely! I’m all about the no-bake treats these days. Easy peasy!
Seriously need to try adding banana to my energy bites/bars! Do you eat them straight out of the freezer or let them thaw?
Oh, and cheers to no boyfriends haha.
Cassie recently posted…Now Trending
Alexis,
Thanks for sharing this recipe. Most of all I like that it’s gluten free 🙂
You may want to reduce the size of your profile picture though. It’s over 3 MB and really slows down the site. I just noticed when I loaded your page.
Daniel
Daniel recently posted…Oorja Bar
Glad you like the recipe! Thanks for the tip!
Hi Alexis! Thank you for all these delicious recipes. At one time you had given me a website where you can look up calories in a recipe….can you remind me what that site was. I accidentally deleted it. Thank you so much! Tracy
You’re so welcome, Tracy! I think the site I told you about was sparkrecipes.com 🙂
Wow, these banana nut protein bars look so delicious. I can’t wait to make a batch and start eating. I especially like the way you have a) found a use for overripe bananas and b) used protein powder in the recipe.
Overripe nanners are the key!
Thanks so much for this yummy recipe! I could live off these! 🙂
Made them without the protein powder though.
You can check out my results on my blog if you like 🙂
I also linked your side for the original recipe.
Joi
http://www.joiscakesandcelebrations.com
Glad you liked them!
After gastric bypass surgery almost 19 years ago, I am forever looking for quick & easy high protein snacks. Making my own bars never occurred to me. This seems so easy and delic!!!
Few questions: 1) how do they hold up when thawed in refrig? 2) will they hold up at room temp? 3) don’t have food processor, can I use blender?
Good for you, Etta! Unfortunately, you need a food proccesor to break up the dates for this recipe and combine everything. I use mine alllll the time (nut and date bars, black bean brownies, veggie burgers, etc). They will be perfectly fine in the fridge. They’ll be softer at room temp, but they’ll still hold together!
I’m curious to find out wgat blog system you have been using?
I’m having some minor security issues with my
latest blog and I would like to find something
more risk-free. Do you have any recommendations?
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Hey Alexis! I am still following all of your blog posts! I would love to make this recipe but I do not have protein powder and don’t plan on buying any. Any recommendations of what I could substitute with?
Hi Jessie! Awww I’m so glad! The protein powder gives these bars a lot of sweetness, so I don’t think you’d want to go with this recipe sans the protein. Maybe you could do ground oats and then add some dry sweetener or stevia?
is there any difference flavor wise if I forgo the protein powder?
They’ll be less sweet since most protein powders are sweetened with stevia. I would add some oats or something to make up for it so they hold together!
Well, I broke my food processor making these but the mix tasted amazing. They are currently in the freezer waiting to be cut. I didn’t add the protein powder and thought better to leave them plain even though I had chocolate chips on hand. It tastes exactly like banana bread. Yum!
Thanks for sharing. How do the bananas not spoil if left out? I never use commercial protein powder, but am about to try making egg white powder. Do you think that would work?
Hi Alexis,my mum and i are new to your website.These bars are AWESOME! Thanks for the share!They really help when out and about on very busy days.Btw we didn’t have protein powder so wacked in some bran flakes and cornflakes to substitute,turned out fine….👍 x
Awesome! Thanks so much for reporting back!
where is the nutritional label for these? Calories, fat, protein, etc…
Best protein bars that I’ve made, I was worried they would be too banana-y but it was much more subtle, like banana bread for sure. Will have to make a double batch of these next time!