This banana oatmeal bars recipe is great for breakfast or a snack and uses things you probably already have in your kitchen.

These oatmeal banana bars are loaded of good-for-you ingredients that will keep you full and happy.

I like to snack. Of course, I enjoy having these banana oatmeal bars in my fridge so I can snack on them all day. They are always a favorite at my house, and I like that they are made with simple ingredients that I nearly always have on hand. For another sweet treat, you might enjoy making chewy brownies with a soft, crinkly top.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• You can make these oatmeal bars in no time. Put everything in a basin, mix it up, and then put it in a baking dish that has been lined.
• You may simply change this oatmeal bar recipe to fit what you have on hand.
• You probably already have the easy, healthy ingredients for these oatmeal bars on hand. I like to make my own because some of the ones you can buy have a lot of sugar in them. I like to keep handmade ones on hand when I can, even if store-bought ones are easier.

Ingredients

• ◯ 1½ cups of mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)
• ◯ ½ cup of nut butter
• ◯ Two cups of rolled oats
• ◯ 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• ◯ 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• ◯ 3 tablespoons of maple syrup
• ◯ 1 cup of chocolate chips
• ◯ ½ teaspoon of salt

mashed bananas—make sure the bananas are quite ripe so they mash together easily. Also, they’ll taste better!

Nut butter: I’m using almond butter, but you may use any nut butter you have on hand. If you’re using a natural nut butter, be careful to blend it well so that it doesn’t separate.

Old-fashioned rolled oats give the bars a great oat flavor and texture. You might be able to use instant oats, but they might not hold up as well as the flaky rolled oats. Don’t use oats that have been sliced with steel.

Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon gives the rolled oats a wonderful toasty flavor.

Vanilla: For the finest flavor, I suggest using real vanilla extract.

Use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup. They are different. Corn syrup and fake maple essence are used to make pancake syrup.

Use your favorite type of chocolate chip or chips. These oatmeal bars are also fantastic with little chocolate chips.

Just a touch of salt will bring out the tastes and balance them out.

Tools

9 by 9 baking dish

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350F and line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a big mixing basin, mix together the mashed bananas, nut butter, rolled oats, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and salt. If you enjoy recipes using ripe bananas, also try this easy moist banana bread with raisins.
   
   Blend until everything is mixed up well.
3. Put the mixture in the lined baking pan and press it down into a flat, equal layer. You can sprinkle more chocolate chips on top if you want!
4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the edges of the bars are brown and the bars seem like they are set. Let the bars cool all the way down before you cut them.

Notes and tips for the recipe

• I like to add things like nuts (walnuts are fantastic! ), seeds (pumpkin and sunflower seeds are my go-tos), or dried fruit (raisins are my favorite). You can use these instead of chocolate chips or add them to the chips! These bars are also a great alternative to fluffy homemade pancakes for breakfast.
• Don’t cut the bars right away; they need time to harden. When these bars cool off, they get harder.
• If you have difficulties keeping the parchment paper in place as you pour the mixture into the pan, blinder clips are quite helpful. I use them to hold the parchment in place. Before baking, be careful to take them out.
• Your bananas should be as ripe as possible. Your bananas should be quite brown and spotty for the best results. They will be the sweetest and the simplest to mash.

Tips for Getting Ready

Meal prep: After they cool and are cut, you can keep the banana oatmeal bars in the fridge for up to five days in an airtight container. They will survive about two days if you leave them on the counter. For another easy make-ahead dessert, try an easy no-churn ice cream recipe.

Wrap each serving in plastic wrap, put it in a bag that can go in the freezer, and freeze it for 2 to 3 months. Before serving, let it thaw in the fridge overnight.

FAQ

What kind of nut butter may I use?

One of my favorite ways to change up this oatmeal bar recipe is to make peanut butter banana oatmeal bars. I have a big container of peanut butter in my pantry virtually all the time. Cashew butter is also really good! Again, just make sure that the nut butter you use is well combined so that it doesn’t separate. These bars also pair wonderfully with a super soft coffee cake recipe.

How can I make a banana ripen quickly?

Put your bananas in a paper bag to help them ripen faster if they aren’t already. They speed up the ripening process by 1 to 2 days by giving off ethylene gas. If you have an apple, you can also put it in there to speed things up even faster!