Oat, Fruit, and Nut Bars

I just received a huge order of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit from nuts.com.  I love that so many of their products are certified gluten free.  No need to worry about cross contamination!

I purchased so much this time because they enticed me with an offer of free shipping on orders over $75.  I'm weak, what can I say.  :-)  I was going to make biscotti, but a Sugar-Free Mom recipe for Oat & Fruit Breakfast Bars caught my eye.  I changed it up a lot, so be sure to check out the original for other variations you could make.  

I always love an excuse to get out my stick blender! 

Lots of healthy ingredients in this recipe! 

Ready to go in the oven! 

My husband absolutely loved these bars!  He took them to work every day for lunch until they were gone.  I enjoyed them several days for breakfast.

Oat, Fruit & Nut Bars

Ingredients

1/2 C tahini

2 T raw organic honey

1 C mashed bananas

1 T ground flax seed

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 T pure vanilla extract

1 C diced figs

1/2 C dried blueberries -- chopped

1/2 C dried bing cherries -- chopped

1/2 C pumpkin seeds

1/2 C gluten free old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 C chopped pistachios or cashews

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9 by 13 baking pan with parchment paper, then spray it with nonstick cooking spray.  

Combine the tahini, honey, bananas, flax seed, cinnamon, baking soda, and vanilla with a stick blender or in your food processor.  Add the diced figs and process until smooth.

Place the banana mixture in a large bowl, then stir in the oats, seeds, dried fruit, and nuts.  Pour the mixture into your prepared pan, spreading it evenly.  

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until browned around the edges, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out fairly clean.  

Let cool completely before cutting into 16 bars.  Store in the refrigerator.  

After making this recipe, I saw a recipe for Banana Split Bars on skinnytaste.com. I made them today, subbing cashews for the nuts called for in the recipe.  They were very good, but I prefer my Oat, Fruit and Nut Bar Recipe.

Linked to:  Gluten-Free Wednesdays