Banana Quinoa Breakfast Bars

Get your quinoa first thing in the morning with these Banana Quinoa Breakfast Bars. An easy, make-ahead breakfast that is vegan, refined-sugar-free and absolutely delicious.

Quinoa for breakfast? Don’t knock it until you try it! These breakfast bars are the perfect meal to start your morning with. They’re packed with protein, vegan and free of refined sugar!

There is truly nothing better than having healthy meals and snacks on hand. If you get sick of cooking every meal, every day (like me!), this recipe is perfect for you. It can be prepped in advance so you have a yummy breakfast or snack ready to enjoy!

Banana Quinoa Breakfast Bar Ingredients

• rolled oats – grab gluten-free oats if necessary.
• uncooked white quinoa – the most neutral tasting quinoa with the lightest texture… perfect for these bars! Make sure you rinse the quinoa before using both for removing the outer coating and also for the final texture of the bars.
• bananas – you’ll want super ripe bananas!
• ground flaxseed – helps bind the bars together.
• peanut butter – look for natural peanut butter with just peanuts and salt listed for ingredients! You can also swap for a different nut or seed butter.
• coconut oil – look for unrefined and/or organic coconut oil.
• maple syrup – a hint of added sweetness!
• baking powder – helps the bars rise.
• cinnamon – I love the combination of cinnamon and banana.
• sea salt – to bring all of the flavors together
• optional add-ins – chocolate chips, coconut, chopped dried fruit, etc.

Why white quinoa?

Did you even know white quinoa was a thing? It is! There are actually lots of different colors of quinoa – white, red, black and more! White quinoa is the fastest cooking quinoa that is light in texture and mild in flavor. It’s perfect for these breakfast bars!

Do you have to rinse quinoa?

Yes! Quinoa is coated in saponin which is bitter tasting and could result in a gross tasting breakfast bar! Add the quinoa to a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water before using in this recipe.

How to Make Banana Quinoa Breakfast Bars

STEP 1: In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, quinoa, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add in the mashed bananas, flaxseed, peanut butter, coconut oil and maple syrup. Stir until well combined. Stir in any optional add-ins and let the batter sit for 10 minutes so the flaxseed can absorb some liquid. 

STEP 2: Spray or grease a 9 x 9 inch baking dish with coconut oil and spread the batter evenly in the pan.  Bake at 350ºF for 25 minutes or until the edges are crisp and the center is cooked through.

STEP 3: Let sit for 20 minutes before cutting into 9-12 squares. 

How to Store Quinoa Breakfast Bars

These bars store really well! After allowing the bars to cool completely, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month. 

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