Soft Baked Breakfast Bars

Good

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Prep the Oven and Pans ​Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.

Step 2

Whisk the Dry Ingredients ​In a large mixing bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, oats, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Whisk thoroughly to ensure the baking powder is evenly distributed throughout the grains.

Step 3

Emulsify the Wet Mix ​In a separate bowl, add the thoroughly mashed banana, creamy almond butter, oil, brown sugar, molasses, and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and the oils are fully incorporated into the almond butter and banana.

Step 4

Combine into a Dough ​Pour the wet almond butter and banana mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula just until a thick, slightly tacky dough forms and no dry pockets of flour remain. Do not overmix, as this can make the bars tough rather than soft. ​Note: If the dough feels a bit too wet, let it rest for 5 minutes so the oats can absorb the moisture.

Step 5

Shape the Bars ​Divide the dough into 6 to 8 equal portions. Place them on your prepared baking sheet and use your hands to shape each portion into an oval biscuit/bar shape (matching the look of the commercial bars). Gently press them down until they are about ½ inch thick so they retain their soft center.

Step 6

Bake to Soft Perfection ​Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. The edges should look just lightly golden, but the tops should still feel tender and soft to a gentle touch. Do not overbake.

Step 7

Cool completely ​Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the bars cool completely on the pan. They will be fragile right out of the oven but will set into a perfect, chewy, soft-baked texture as they cool.