These Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars are perfect for breakfast on the go! This one-bowl recipe is easy to make in under an hour!
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Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars are the new snack on rotation in my house! They are packed with oats & bananas and sweetened with maple syrup, so you know they are good for you.
These bars can be made in about 45 minutes, in one bowl, and you don't even need an electric mixer. Super easy to make ahead and grab for on-the-go breakfasts.
My other fav quick & easy snack is my Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls. If you love oats and want to add more protein to your meals, try my Protein Baked Oats!
Why You Need These Oatmeal Bars
- They are easy to make- you only need one bowl and no fancy equipment is needed!
- These oatmeal bars are on the healthier side and use maple syrup as a sweetener.
- They make a great healthy snack or something quick to grab for breakfast! I also love them for a sweet treat at night as well.
- Make it gluten-free by using GF free oats and flour, as well as dairy-free by using DF chocolate chips.
Recipe Ingredients
Here are some notes on a few ingredients- please see the full ingredient list in the recipe card below!
- bananas- Using ripe bananas works best for this recipe, as they are easier to mash.
- peanut butter- I tested this with both regular peanut butter and natural peanut butter, so feel free to use either. I would just avoid the super oily peanut butter as it can add a lot of extra oil to the bars.
- maple syrup- we are using this as our sweetener for this recipe!
- oats- I use old-fashioned or rolled oats for this recipe.
- chocolate chips- feel free to skip these but I like the taste of the chocolate. Dark chocolate tastes great!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line an 8x8 square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal. Set aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed banana, peanut butter, syrup, egg, and vanilla until fully combined.
Step 3: Add in the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Mix using a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Step 4: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 27-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the bars comes out clean.
Step 5: Allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire cooling rack before slicing them into bars.
Frequently Asked Questions
They are! These bars are full of oats that are high in fiber (keep you fuller for longer) and use only maple syrup to sweeten them. Feel free to skip the chocolate chips or use a sugar-free brand like Hu no sugar added chocolate chips.
I used both regular peanut butter & natural peanut butter, and both worked! So use whichever you like.
I only tested this recipe with all-purpose flour, but you could probably swap for gluten-free or whole wheat flour 1 for 1. You could also use all oats (instead of half oats half flour) but note that the texture will be slightly different.
Tips and Tricks
- If you don't want to mash your bananas with a fork, use an electric mixer!
- Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper, it makes removing the bars from the pan a million times easier.
- Wait to cut your bars until they cool completely, they cut better when they have cooled off.
- Cut your bars into squares to get more servings.
Storing & Freezing
These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, or up to a week in the fridge. To freeze, store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Let the bars sit at room temperature to thaw.
Want to try more healthy breakfast recipes?
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📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1¼ cup mashed banana
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line an 8x8 square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the mashed banana, peanut butter, syrup, egg, and vanilla until combined.
- Add in the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Mix using a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 27-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the bars comes out clean.
- Allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire cooling rack before slicing them into bars.
Notes
- If you don't want to mash your bananas with a fork, use an electric mixer!
- Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper, it makes removing the bars from the pan a million times easier.
- Wait to cut your bars until they cool completely, they cut better when they have cooled off.
- Cut your bars into squares to get more servings.
Nutrition
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Christine says
These are unreal! Was looking for something a bit healthier and they hit the spot
Kelly Hamilton says
Glad you enjoyed these! Thanks for trying them!