Feel Good Hearty Granola Bars

Yum.  These granola bars are exactly as they sound they are sweet and hearty and make you feel great knowing they're good for you!  They aren't packed with butter or sugar or anything bad to make them taste great.  We've made them multiple times and Reese loves them just as much as we do.  I usually make the full batch and freeze half to eat the following week.

Feel Good Hearty Granola Bars
via Oh She Glows (check out her blog!!!)

• 1.5 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium/large bananas)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries, raisins, or cherries, chopped (I haven't tried cherries yet)
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup pepita seeds (shelled pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup hulled hemp seeds (I didn't have so used chia seeds)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a large rectangular baking dish (approx. 8.5" x 12.5") with foil or parchment paper so the bars are easier to lift out and lightly grease the foil.
2. In a large bowl, mash the banana until smooth. Stir in the vanilla.
3. Place the rolled oats into a food processor (or blender on the lowest speed) and pulse until the oats are coarsely chopped (but still with lots of texture). Stir oats into the banana mixture.
4. Chop the walnuts and dried fruit and stir these and the rest of the ingredients into the banana-oat mixture until thoroughly combined.
5. Spoon mixture into prepared dish. Press down until compacted and smooth out until even.
6. Bake for 23-27 minutes until firm and lightly golden along the edge - do not overcook! Place dish on a cooling rack for 10 minutes then carefully slide a knife to loosen the ends and lift out. Place granola slab on a cooling rack until completely cool.
7. Slice into bars once they are cool.