Cashew Peanut Butter Banana Bars

These no bake bars are the perfect quick breakfast or afternoon snack. Healthy and delicious!

Does everyone else love things like chocolate and peanut butter as much as I do, or do I bore you lovely people with my incessant bombardment of chocolate and peanut butter flavored desserts?

As you can probably tell, I can’t get enough of chocolate and peanut butter. I eat it all the chances I can get and these peanut butter banana bars have become a staple dessert and snack and dare I say it….‘breakfast’ item. It’s dessert for breakfast, a little more guilt free…but definitely worth waking up for.

So today I bring you a recipe that is fast, easy and delicious. It requires just minutes of melting/stirring time and no candy thermometer is required! Its creamy, rich, and decadent yet healthy!  You will love it! It’s great for gifts, dessert platters, or any time you want a piece of deliciousness.

These yummy bars are so delish - but secretly healthy and guilt-free!  Yup, that means no butter, no white sugar and no sweetened condensed milk…  just pure, fudgy, nutty, banana-ey goodness. They are full of healthy fats and nutty goodness.

A nutty oatmeal crust forms the base of these delicious bars. Topped with a layer of cashew, peanut butter and banana filling then drizzled with chocolate – this vintage dessert will look like a million bucks!

People go wild for these bars, and only take a few ingredients and 10 minutes (plus chilling time) to make, and then take just seconds to disappear.

These bars are so pretty and are a must-make for anyone who loves the timeless combination of peanut butter, nuts, bananas and chocolate. It’s a comforting, healthy dessert and great for a treat anytime!

But c’mon – I don’t have to tell you how delicious chocolate and peanut butter is together. Peanut butter recipes exist for a reason. They are so darn satisfying that if you keep a few of these in the freezer they will put an end to those sweet cravings once and for all but still have you staying in the healthy eating plan. Guaranteed!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword cashew peanut butter banana bars, clean eating dessert or snack, healthy cashew banana bars, no bake banana bars

Servings 16

Ingredients

Base Crust

• 1 cup almonds or walnuts
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut

Cashew Banana Filling

• 1 cup cashews, soaked 3+ hours and drained
• 1 cup peanut, cashew or almond butter
• 2 large ripe bananas or 3 regular-sized
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Drizzle

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil

Toppings Optional

• Chocolate chips
• Salted roasted peanuts

Instructions

Base Crust

• Line a 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some overhanging to act as a handle to get the bars out easier for cutting. Or use a silicon pan.

  Place almonds in a food processor and process until broken down and crumbly. Add oats, dates and coconut oil and continue to process until well combined.  

  Be careful not to over process as its nice to have texture variance and different sized “bits” in your base crust.

  Scoop out into the lined loaf pan and evenly press mixture into the base with a spatula or back of a spoon.

   

Cashew Banana Filling

• Place all filling ingredients into the food processor – cashews, peanut butter, banana, honey, coconut oil and vanilla extract and process until smooth and creamy.

  Scoop filling mixture out on top of the base crust and smooth out evenly with a spatula or back of a spoon. Place in refrigerator while you make melt the chocolate drizzle.

   

Chocolate Drizzle

• Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave at 50% power with 20 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.

  Drizzle the melted chocolate over the bars and top with peanuts or chocolate chips pressing them gently in so they stay put when eating the bars.

  Place in refrigerator for 1-2 hours or until firm and set.

  When ready to serve, remove slice from the pan using the parchment paper handles and cut into 16 bars or more smaller squares depending on your preference.

  Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freezer up to 3 months. If frozen, take your bars out 20 minutes before you want to serve to soften.

   

   

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If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites