Trail Mix Berry Banana Bars (Gluten Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free)

If I could only eat one gluten free snack for the rest of my life, it would have to be a homemade, healthy trail mix. There's something addictive about combining sweet and salty, crunchy and chewy, into one healthy snack that you can eat on-the-go.

And, honestly? I need healthy gluten free snacks now more than ever. Between taking classes, teaching my own college class, writing for grad school, blogging and cooking, I finally understand what people mean when they say they're too busy to eat.

Of course, not eating isn't an option for this foodie, and I'm also craving my fair share of healthy comfort food...which is where these gluten free Trail Mix Berry Banana Bars come in!

These gluten free banana bars have a texture similar to scones but with areas of gooey goodness from mashed ripe bananas and tart strawberries. They're also loaded with healthy ingredients like chia seeds and your choice of gluten free oats or buckwheat flakes. To take this banana bars recipe to the next level, though, I've added crunchy trail mix ingredients like shredded coconut, sunflower seeds and chia seeds. Whether you want a portable gluten free snack, a tasty vegan dessert or a healthy breakfast, these berry banana bars are calling your name! 

Fun fact: it's also National Trail Mix Day this coming Thursday, August 31. So there's really no excuse to not whip up these gluten free Trail Mix Berry Banana Bars and dig in. 

Ingredients for One 9X9 Pan of Gluten Free Banana Bars:

Ready to discover your new favorite trail mix recipe? Start by gathering the following ingredients:

3/4 cup of gluten free All Purpose Flour (I used Bob's Red Mill's 1-for-1 gluten free blend)
1/2 cup of buckwheat flakes, rice flakes, quinoa flakes or gluten free oats
1/2 cup of coconut flakes
1/4 cup of sunflower seeds (or other seeds/nuts)
1 TBSP of whole chia seeds (or flax seeds)
1 tsp of baking powder
1 TBSP of cinnamon

2 ripe bananas, mashed
Handful of chopped strawberries or mixed berries (can be fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup of (dairy free) milk
Dash of vanilla
1 chia egg (1 TBSP ground chia seeds and 3 TBSP water)

How to Make Your Vegan Trail Mix Berry Banana Bars:

One of the best things about this banana bars recipe? They're super easy to make! Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and combining three tablespoons of water with one tablespoon of ground chia seeds. Stir thoroughly and let your chia egg do its thang for 10 to 15 minutes. Once it has gelled, add your chia egg to a bowl with the rest of your wet ingredients, except for the berries. In a separate bowl, do the same thing with all of your dry ingredients. Then, combine everything (minus the berries) into one bowl and mix it all up!

Once your banana bars batter (try saying that ten times fast!) is mixed, gently stir in your chosen berries. Your batter should be thick, but you can add more liquid if it seems too dry to incorporate easily.

Pour your berry-packed batter into a baking dish (I used a 9X9 inch cake pan, but you could also use bread loafs or whatever dish you have handy) and pop it in the oven. Bake your banana bars for 25 to 30 minutes or until a fork/tooth pick comes out clean. Let your banana bars cool, cover and store them in the fridge for up to a week. These banana bars also freeze well, making them the perfect gluten free snack to keep stashed away in your freezer!

How to Enjoy Your Gluten Free Trail Mix Bars!

As for how you can eat these banana bars, there are plenty of options. I've been especially enjoying these banana bars as a night snack, paired with some vegan coconut yogurt, sunflower butter and extra strawberries. You can also eat them as banana breakfast bars or as a healthy dessert.

Like this gluten free recipe? Then tweet me some love by clicking here: "Trail mix just got an upgrade w/ these #glutenfree & #vegan berry banana bars! #Sugarfree & #oilfree but flavorful! http://bit.ly/2iwkIdr"

As always, there are also tons of ways to experiment with this gluten free banana bars recipe! Add chocolate chips or cacao powder for a sweeter treat, dates for an extra chewiness or even other ingredients from your favorite gluten free trail mix, like cashew pieces or raisins. You can also easily use whatever berries you happen to have on hand, whether they're fresh or frozen, strawberries or raspberries.

I'll admit it: before I got busy experimenting in the kitchen last month, I had no idea that "banana bars" were even a thing. Now that I've tasted the gluten free trail mix version of this popular baked good, though, my taste buds are definitely addicted. (And when I say "addicted," I mean that I may or may not have whipped up three batches in less than two months...)

Because what's the only thing better than gluten free trail mix for snacking? A trail-mix-loaded baked good that tastes just as delicious for a snack as it does for breakfast or dessert!




Have you ever tried adding trail mix ingredients into a baked good? What's your favorite healthy snack or breakfast? Tell me in the comments!


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