Banana Oatmeal Bars
Banana Oatmeal Bars are soft, chewy treats made with ripe bananas, hearty oats, and bursts of rich chocolate in every bite. These are a perfect healthier breakfast or snack that the whole family will love!
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars
Oatmeal is a constant here, and I keep a large stock of old fashioned oats in my pantry. I make Mike’s breakfast in bulk (as in I make a bunch at a time and store in the refrigerator) and rotate between Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats, Frozen Berry Overnight Oats, and Apple Steel Cut Oats.
It’s ok to have “bars” for breakfast as long as they have some nutritional value, am I right? For other easy oatmeal recipes that will make you smile in the morning, try our Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies (with pb&j!) and our Oatmeal Raspberry Jam Bars – my personal fav!
Why We Love This Recipe:
- NUTRIENT DENSE – These oatmeal bars are full of protein, fiber, and vitamins. We love a healthy breakfast that feels like you’re eating cookies!
- SIMPLE – This one bowl recipe is simple to make and uses mostly pantry staples. We keep most of these stocked in our kitchen!
- DELICIOUS – We love these because they’re chock full of oatmeal and studded with mini chocolate chips! How can you go wrong?
- FREEZE WELL – I recommend wrapping individual bars up in cling wrap and freezing for later. They’re a great on-the-go breakfast recipe.
Ingredients Used for Baked Oat Bars:
The nice thing about these oat bars is that most of these are pantry staples. I love that I can whip up a batch at the last minute!
- ripe bananas
- egg
- peanut butter
- honey
- milk
- vanilla extract
- oatmeal
- brown sugar
- baking powder
- cinnamon
- kosher salt
- mini chocolate chips
How to make Banana Oatmeal Bars:
Step 1
Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add parchment paper to a square baking pan (linked below).
Step 2
Combine wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to a large mixing bowl – the pureed bananas, honey, milk, egg, and vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer to combine.
Step 3
Process oatmeal. Add the old fashioned oatmeal to a food processor and pulse. Or use quick oats.
Step 4
Add dry ingredients. Then add the dry ingredients to the bowl – the processed oatmeal, brown sugar, peanut butter, baking powder, ground cinnamon, kosher salt, and mini chocolate chips (reserve a few for the top). Mix again until combined.
Step 5
Pour into pan. Pour the oatmeal batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly to all sides. Top with some reserved chocolate chips.
Step 6
Bake. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the center is set. Remove pan from oven.
Step 7
Cool. Let bars rest in the pan until cool. Then place the pan in the refrigerator for about an hour to firm up slightly.
Step 8
Serve. Slice chocolate chip oatmeal bars into 12 slices. I recommend warming one up and adding a light coating of butter to serve.
Storing:
- Let bars cool completely, then store them in an airtight container. They’ll last 3–4 days at room temperature or up to a week in the fridge.
- Wrap oatmeal bars individually and freeze for up to 3 months. Just thaw or microwave before eating.
What to pair with healthy oatmeal bars:
Want to make a full breakfast with all the things? Try some of the recipes listed below!
- Egg Dish – Try our Overnight Omelette Breakfast Casserole or Sausage Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole for tons of flavor and protein!
- Scones – Our Best Blueberry Lemon Scones are super delish as well as Mike’s favorite, Maple Nut Scones.
- How about a latte? Try a Caramel Latte Recipe or (Better-Than-Starbucks) Homemade Eggnog Lattes!
Recipe FAQs:
The riper the bananas (brown and spotty), the sweeter and softer they are, which makes the bars taste better and hold together nicely.
Try adding chopped nuts, shredded coconut, dried fruit, or a sprinkle of flax or chia seeds for extra texture and nutrition.
Bake at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes, until the bars are firm and lightly golden around the edges.
Let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container. They’ll last 3–4 days at room temperature or up to a week in the fridge.
Wrap them individually and freeze for up to 3 months. Just thaw or microwave before eating.
Recipe Variations:
- Use quick oats. Instead of old fashioned oatmeal, you could use quick oats.
- Change up the sweetener. Instead of using a combo of brown sugar and honey, you could use pure maple syrup.
- Replace the type of milk. I went with 1% milk but any milk you drink will work just fine. I never recommend using skim, however, because it’s watery.
- Use other mix-ins. Use other types of chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins.
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Banana Oatmeal Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed bananas – from 2-3 bananas
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup peanut butter – creamy or chunky
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups old fashioned oatmeal – or use quick oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add parchment paper to a square baking pan (linked below).
- Combine wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to a large mixing bowl – the pureed bananas, honey, milk, egg, and vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer to combine.1 cup mashed bananas, 1/4 cup honey, 1/2 cup milk, 1 large egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Process oatmeal. Add the old fashioned oatmeal to a food processor and pulse. Or use quick oats.
- Add dry ingredients. Then add the dry ingredients to the bowl – the processed oatmeal, brown sugar, peanut butter, baking powder, ground cinnamon, kosher salt, and mini chocolate chips (reserve a few for the top). Mix again until combined.2 ½ cups old fashioned oatmeal, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- Pour into pan. Pour the oatmeal batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly to all sides. Top with some reserved chocolate chips.
- Bake. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the center is set. Remove pan from oven.
- Cool. Let bars rest in the pan until cool. Then place the pan in the refrigerator for about an hour to firm up slightly.
- Serve. Slice chocolate chip oatmeal bars into 12 slices. I recommend warming one up and adding a light coating of butter to serve.
Notes
- The riper the bananas (brown and spotty), the sweeter and softer they are, which makes the bars taste better and hold together nicely.
- Try adding chopped nuts, shredded coconut, dried fruit, or a sprinkle of flax or chia seeds for extra texture and nutrition.
- Let bars cool completely, then store them in an airtight container. They’ll last 3–4 days at room temperature or up to a week in the fridge.
- Wrap oatmeal bars individually and freeze for up to 3 months. Just thaw or microwave before eating.
I am the king of oatmeal as I eat it everyday for breakfast…. this is my favorite.
Oh I know! Oatmeal is a staple here!
Dessert for breakfast. Made the oatmeal cups this morning and what a great way to start the day. Turned out awesome. Only milk i had in the house was coconut but worked just fine. Another favorite!!