Made with pantry staples, these banana oatmeal bars are the perfect make-ahead breakfast or snack. They’re soft, naturally sweetened, and packed with wholesome ingredients that will keep you satisfied for hours.
Whether you enjoy them fresh from the oven or grab one from the fridge during a busy morning, they’re a convenient and nourishing choice.
One of the best parts about these bars is how simple they are to prepare. You only need one mixing bowl, a baking pan, and a handful of common ingredients you might already have at home.
The sweetness comes from ripe bananas, so there’s no need for refined sugar, and the combination of oats, nut butter, and a touch of maple syrup gives them a comforting, hearty flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These oatmeal bars come together quickly and easily, making them ideal for meal prepping at the start of the week. Simply mix your ingredients, spread the mixture into a baking dish, and let the oven do the work. The result is a batch of soft, chewy bars that can be eaten as-is or paired with yogurt, fruit, or a smoothie for a fuller breakfast.
You can also customize them endlessly. If you have different types of nut butters, dried fruits, nuts, or seeds on hand, you can swap or add ingredients to suit your taste. This flexibility means you’ll never get bored, and it’s a great way to use up odds and ends from your pantry.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mashed bananas — The riper, the better. Overripe bananas with brown spots are naturally sweeter and mash more easily, making them perfect for baking.
- Nut butter — Almond butter is a great choice for a rich, slightly sweet flavor, but peanut butter or cashew butter work well, too. Just make sure it’s well-mixed if it’s a natural variety.
- Rolled oats — Old-fashioned rolled oats provide the best chewy texture. Avoid steel-cut oats, which won’t soften enough, and note that instant oats may make the bars too soft.
- Cinnamon — A warm spice that complements both the banana and oats beautifully.
- Vanilla extract — Use pure vanilla extract for the best aroma and flavor.
- Maple syrup — Adds gentle sweetness and moisture; be sure to use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup.
- Chocolate chips — You can use dark, milk, or mini chocolate chips depending on your preference. They add a sweet, melty contrast to the chewy oats.
- Salt — Just a pinch to balance and enhance all the flavors.
Using high-quality, fresh ingredients will make a noticeable difference in flavor. For example, pure maple syrup will give your bars a richer, more natural sweetness compared to syrup blends. If you want to make the bars extra nutrient-dense, consider adding a tablespoon of ground flaxseed or chia seeds for added fiber and omega-3s.
How to Make Banana Oatmeal Bars
- Preheat and Prepare
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the sides for easy removal after baking. If you find the parchment slipping, secure it with binder clips while you press in the batter—just remember to remove the clips before placing it in the oven. - Mix the Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. Add the nut butter, rolled oats, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and a pinch of salt. Stir until everything is well combined and the oats are evenly coated. The mixture should be thick but spreadable. - Shape and Bake
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to press it into an even layer. For a prettier presentation, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center looks set. - Cool and Slice
Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely before slicing. This cooling period helps them firm up and hold their shape. Cutting them too early can cause them to crumble.
Recipe Tips and Variations
You can easily make these bars your own by adding mix-ins such as chopped walnuts, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, or dried cranberries. If you’re looking for a chocolate-free option, simply replace the chips with extra fruit or nuts. The flavor of the bars changes subtly depending on the nut butter used, so experiment to see what you like best.
If your bananas aren’t ripe enough, you can speed up the ripening process by placing them in a paper bag for 1–2 days. Adding an apple to the bag will release ethylene gas, helping the bananas ripen even faster.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Once cooled and sliced, store your banana oatmeal bars in an airtight container. They’ll keep for up to 5 days in the fridge and about 2 days at room temperature. For longer storage, wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before eating.
Having a batch of these bars on hand means you’ll always have a healthy grab-and-go snack ready. They’re perfect for lunch boxes, road trips, or a quick pick-me-up between meals.
Recipe Card
Banana Oatmeal Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat the oven to 350F and line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix together the mashed bananas, nut butter, rolled oats, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Transfer the mixture to the lined baking pan and flatten it into a flat, even layer. Feel free to add more chocolate chips on top!
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the edges of the bars are golden and the bars appear to be set. Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting.
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