Banana Oatmeal Bars Recipe

Side view of two stacked banana oat bars.

5 from 2 votes

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!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword banana oatmeal bars, chocolate chip baked oatmeal, peanut butter oatmeal bars

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 242kcal

Author Sue Ringsdorf

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.

Nutrition