These banana oatmeal bars are delicious for breakfast or as an on-the-go snack. They are very easy to make and can be individually wrapped for those easy grab-n-go times.
One of my favorite afternoon snacks is a sweet cookie or chocolatey treat and this recipe is the perfect recipe for those times. I mean, who doesn’t love chocolate and banana together! Not only do they taste good, but they are full of protein and fiber to keep you full and satisfied. Fiber is also important for Gastrointestinal (GI) health and may help reduce cholesterol levels.
I love that these bars can be very allergy friendly. They are peanut free and can be made nut free by using a nut-free butter such as Wow Butter instead of the almond butter. The recipe can be made dairy free by using a dairy free milk alternative and it is already egg free and gluten free (as long as non-contaminated gluten-free oats are used).
Start by mashing the bananas in a large mixing bowl. Use up those ripe bananas! If you have very ripe bananas, I would recommend using those because it will give the bars more flavor and it will be easy to mash with a fork. Once you have the bananas mashed up really well, mix in all the ingredients except the toppings. Place the batter in a 8×8 baking pan. I recommend lining the pan with parchment paper to keep it from sticking to the pan while baking. This is also helpful for removing the bars from the pan. I chose to top mine with banana slices and chocolate chips but you could choose a combination of your favorite nuts, shredded coconut, blueberries, strawberry slices, raisins etc. Have fun with your toppings!
Banana Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 2 medium bananas ripe
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (quick oats work too)
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- optional: nuts, sliced banana or chocolate chips for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉ and prepare an 8x8 baking pan by lining with parchment paper.
- Mash banana in a large mixing bowl and add all remaining ingredients except optional items for topping.
- Mix until well incorporated
- Pour mixture into the prepared baking pan and top with desired ingredients. I chose to top mine with banana slices and a few chocolates chips.
- Bake for approximately 25 minutes until the bars appear dark colored and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow bars to cool completely
- Cut into 8 bars and wrap individually for an easy grab-n-go breakfast or snack.
Notes
- Additional nutrition information per serving: Sodium: 75mg, Carbohydrates: 28g, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 11g, Protein: 6g