Grace & Grit: Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Bars - No flour, No Dairy, and No Added Sugar!

Every week, I try to find a new recipe to share with you that contains no flour, no dairy and no added sugar.

I do this because:

1) I know I'm not the only one with a dairy intolerance & a sweet tooth

and

2) I know how addicting sugar can be.

It didn't take me long to find this recipe this morning. This woman is a genius - these are SO good!

No flour, no dairy, and no added sugar?

Ummmm yes, please!

So let's get right to it!

What you need:

2 1/4 cups Oats
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
3 medium ripe bananas
2 tsp pure vanilla extract (gluten free, if desired)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup honey (agave nectar if you're completely vegan)
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (vegan, if desired)

For chocolate drizzle:
2 tablespoons chocolate chips (vegan, if desired)
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 9x9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

To make oat flour: Place oats into blender or food processor and blend for 1-2 minutes until oatmeal resembles flour. You may need to stop blender and stir oats a couple of times to ensure that all oats have been blended. I used my Nutri-bullet.

Transfer oat flour medium bowl; whisk in baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside.

Add bananas, vanilla, applesauce, and honey to a separate bowl or a blender; blend (or use a hand mixer) for 1-2 minutes or until smooth and creamy. Add to oat flour mixture and mix until just combined. Gently fold in 1/3 cup of chocolate chips.

Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly with rubber spatula.

Bake for 15 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. Cool 10-15 minutes on wire rack.

Prepare drizzle by adding 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips and coconut oil in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high 30 seconds; stir well to combine then drizzle over the top of bars.