Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread Bars

Hope everyone had a great new year! Naturally here in New England we had a snowstorm to start off 2014, so I was stuck inside all day. As much as I hate being cooped up inside, it was a good opportunity for my sister and I to bake these chocolate peanut butter banana bread bars because they take a little bit longer to make with all of the different layers. It was so worth it though-- I can’t think of a better combination than banana bread, peanut butter and chocolate!

Banana Bread Layer
Ingredients:

-1 cup oat flour (rolled oats ground into a flour)

-1 tsp baking powder

-1 tsp baking soda

-1/2 tsp sea salt

-1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

-1/4 cup sugar-free maple syrup (can use regular)

-1/3 cup almond milk

-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-2 ripe bananas, mashed

-1 tsp cinnamon

Directions: Preheat oven to 325. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another, and then mix wet into dry. Pour into a baking pan sprayed well with non-stick spray (we used a 9” round cake pan..a square pan would probably be better). Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for at least 20 minutes.

Peanut Butter Layer

Ingredients:

-1/4 cup natural peanut butter

-1 tbs coconut oil, soft but not melted

-2 tbs almond meal

-2 tbs sugar-free maple syrup

-pinch of sea salt

Directions: Mix ingredients and spread evenly on top of banana bread layer. Put pan in the freezer for 45 minutes to an hour.

Chocolate layer:

-1/3 bag of dairy-free chocolate chips

-1/2 tbs coconut oil

Directions: Heat oil on medium-low until melted. Then add the chocolate chips and stir until completely melted. Pour on top of peanut butter layer and freeze for an hour. 

Cut into squares and enjoy! :)

*These are vegan-friendly and have no added sugar. They can be gluten-free if you use gluten-free oats for the flour, or a different gluten-free flour. They're also dairy-free if you use dairy-free chocolate chips, such as Enjoy Life brand. 

Mini Breakfast Breads: 3 Variations

Hey everyone! Like I mentioned in my last post, grad school consumes my life so I haven't had time to post a bunch of things that I've been meaning to! I decided to take a super quick break (which never happens...I actually spend literally every second of my free time doing work) and post this recipe that I've been making a lot lately because it's quick and easy. Originally I came up with this mini banana bread recipe, and then I decided to substitute applesauce for the banana to make a mini apple bread. And then of course I had to try using pumpkin puree instead in the spirit of fall to make a mini pumpkin bread. All 3 versions are delicious and they're the perfect size for a quick snack (especially a pre-workout snack!) or for breakfast.

Ingredients for the Banana Bread version:
3 tbs oat flour (you could also grind up rolled oats in a blender/food processor to make oat flour)
1/2 of banana, mashed
3 tbs liquid egg whites
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of sea salt
1 packet stevia (or use a sweetener of your choice)

Apple Bread version:
3 tbs oat flour
2 heaping tbsp unsweetened applesauce
3 tbsp egg whites
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp apple spice (optional)
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of sea salt
1 packet stevia

Pumpkin Bread version:
3 tbs oat flour
2 heaping tbsp pumpkin puree
3 tbsp egg whites
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp pumpkin spice
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of sea salt
1 packet stevia

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, and mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Then add wet to dry and mix well. Spray a mini bread loaf tin or ramekin with non-stick cooking spray and pour in the mixture. Bake for 14-16 minutes. I've found that the banana bread usually takes 14-15 minutes, while the pumpkin and apple breads take a little longer. But my oven is weird... so just make sure to watch it! I usually just check them with a toothpick around 14 minutes. Top with more bananas/apples, peanut butter, greek yogurt, anything you'd like! Enjoy!