Raspberry Banana Almond Bars: A Lovely Recipe For Your Valentine and For National Heart Month Featuring Driscoll's Raspberries!

 

Valentine's Day is not the only big thing happening this month- February also happens to be "American Heart Month"- a month where organizations such as the American Heart Association focus their efforts on raising awareness about heart disease and promoting prevention through education. I was contacted by Driscoll's berries to be part of this effort by posting on the topic.  I was happy to do so and was excited to get some coupons from them in the mail too!  Driscoll's raspberries "are certified by the American Heart Association and have received the trusted Heart-Check Mark as a heart-healthy food" as listed on their website. They have plenty of cardio-protective ingredients like fiber, vitamin C, manganese and phytochemicals.  I developed this bar recipe using their organic raspberries and other heart healthy ingredients such as almond butter and oats as well.  They all come together to great a very moist, lightly sweet bar that is bursting with raspberry flavor.  Make some for your Valentine to enjoy as a heart healthy treat for breakfast, dessert or a snack!

Ingredients:


½ heaping cup creamy or crunchy unsalted natural almond butter (I used Trader Joes Raw Salted Creamy) 
½ cup pure maple syrup
1 cup (packed) mashed over ripe banana
¾ cup chopped fresh raspberries½ cup egg whites

1 tablespoon vanilla

½ teaspoon baking powder

1.75 cup oats (old fashioned, not quick)(*use a gluten-free oats such as Bob's Red Mill if you are on a gluten-free diet)

Cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add the almond butter, maple syrup, banana, vanilla, baking powder and eggs to a medium bowl and mix well.  Stir in the oats and the raspberries and add to a 9x 9 inch pan coated with cooking spray. Bake for 35-40  minutes until set and lightly browned on the edges. Cut into squares and serve. 

Note : These bars are very moist, almost cake like, and can be a bit crumbly. So you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge to keep longer and pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds or so to warm them up for a nice treat!

Makes 16 bar squares

Serving size: 1 bar Calories 120 Protein  4 g Carb  17 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 8 g Fat 5 g Saturated fat  0 g Sodium  30 mg