{"id":30906,"date":"2020-06-10T17:00:41","date_gmt":"2020-06-10T22:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slimmingeats.com\/blog\/?p=30906"},"modified":"2024-01-02T11:46:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T16:46:13","slug":"chocolate-chip-banana-granola-bars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingeats.com\/blog\/chocolate-chip-banana-granola-bars","title":{"rendered":"Chocolate Chip Banana Granola Bars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chocolate Chip Banana Granola Bars - a delicious recipe for healthier chocolate chip granola bars using ripe bananas, maple syrup and a few other ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Granola Bars <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to a granola bar, most recipes use lots of sugar and oil or butter which can use a lot of calories, if you are trying to be healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I decided to experiment in the kitchen and come with a healthier granola bar using a few tricks that are perfect for low-calorie cooking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banana's can be a great ingredient in baking and not only to do they add some natural sweetness but they can also be a perfect replacement for fat too. Which can help you reduce quite a few calories in a recipe. Plus I don't know about you, but I always end up with ripe bananas that I need to use up, so the more recipes the better, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Can I use sweetener instead of Maple Syrup?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We already use some sukrin:gold in this recipe, which is a brown sugar replacement made from Erythritol, so you may be wondering, can I not just use all sweetener?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is no, you need the maple syrup, for a few reasons. It's a liquid and it's stick so it helps the granola bars along with the other ingredients hold together. Skip it out and your granola bars won't work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Different types of Sweetener<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, the sweetener I use in this recipe is sukrin gold, a brown sugar replacement made from Erythritol, if you can't get your hands on this, you can replace with any Erythritol based sweetener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to try with a different type of sweetener, you need to check the packaging to see the sugar to sweetener ratio, because different sweeteners vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sukrin gold is used like for like with sugar, so if you are using it in place of sugar you use the same amount, whereas other sweeteners you may need to use more or less. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chocolate Chips in Granola Bars<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I use milk chocolate chips in this recipe as that is what the kids like, but you can swap to dark chocolate, semi sweet or even white chocolate chips if that is what you prefer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don't like chocolate, then raisins (or sultanas) are another great option to use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Storing the Granola Bars<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To store these once baked and cooled, I add in a lidded tub with a sheet or kitchen paper. All ready and on hand then for whenever you want to enjoy one as a snack or treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They should keep a few days in a tub, when stored this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you freeze the granola bars?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yep, these will freeze fine, just allow to cool and then you can individually wrap and freeze or pop in a freezer bag. Then just take out and enjoy as you want one. Hey I've even been known to enjoy one from frozen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Recipe for Ripe Bananas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wondering what else you can make with some ripe bananas? Check out these other recipes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n