Step 1

You will need cooked and cooled quinoa before beginning. If you’re making quinoa specifically for this recipe, I recommend making it the day before or in the morning and then letting it cool in the fridge for a few hours before making the bars. If you have leftover quinoa ready to go, that’s perfect!

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Step 3

Add the banana to a mixing bowl and mash into a smooth paste using a fork or immersion blender.

Step 4

Add everything except for the quinoa, oats and berries and mix until fully combined into a smooth mixture.

Step 5

Stir in the quinoa and oats until they’re fully incorporated into the wet ingredients.

Step 6

Gently fold in the berries and any other add-ins you wish.

Step 7

Lightly coat a 7 or 8 inch square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Transfer the mixture to the pan and use a spatula (or your hands) to firmly press into the pan until spread flat.

Step 8

Bake for 30 minutes then let cool in the pan for at least 60 minutes before slicing. The bars will continue to firm as they cool and are firmest after they’ve completely cooled in the fridge. You can certainly enjoy them right away but they’ll be soft and mushy until they cool.

Step 9

Enjoy warm or cold as a portable bar, spread with peanut butter, jam or vegan butter, or serve in a bowl with milk or yogurt, berries, banana and your favourite nut or seed butter.