Banana Oatmeal Bars Recipe
These Banana Oatmeal Bars are a wholesome and delicious snack, combining the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with hearty rolled oats and a hint of cinnamon. Enhanced with nut butter and chocolate chips, they offer a perfect balance of flavors and textures, making them an ideal on-the-go treat or a nutritious breakfast option.
- Author: Zane
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Banana Oatmeal Bars Ingredients
- 1½ cups mashed bananas (approx. 3 bananas)
- ½ cup nut butter
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the bars.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, nut butter, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add rolled oats, cinnamon, and salt to the wet mixture. Stir until all the ingredients are combined into a thick batter.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the batter without melting.
- Prepare Baking Pan: Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it lightly to prevent sticking.
- Transfer and Spread Batter: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly with a spatula to form a flat surface.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares for serving.
Notes
- You can substitute nut butter with sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version.
- For a vegan version, ensure the chocolate chips are dairy-free.
- Storing bars in an airtight container keeps them fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature or up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
- Freeze for longer storage, thawing as needed.
- To reduce sugar, you may decrease the maple syrup to 2 tablespoons or omit the chocolate chips.
Keywords: banana oatmeal bars, healthy snack, baked oatmeal bars, banana bars, easy breakfast bars, nut butter bars