Why Make This Recipe
Banana Oatmeal Bars are a perfect combination of healthy ingredients and delicious taste. They make a great snack or a quick breakfast option. Made with simple ingredients, these bars are easy to prepare and can be enjoyed by everyone, including kids. Plus, they are a fantastic way to use up ripe bananas!
How to Make Banana Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups mashed bananas (approx. 3 bananas)
- ½ cup nut butter
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon salt
Directions:
- Heat the oven to 350°F 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.
How to Serve Banana Oatmeal Bars
Banana Oatmeal Bars can be served as a snack or a breakfast item. They taste great on their own, but you can also pair them with a dollop of yogurt or a drizzle of honey for extra flavor. Packing them in lunch boxes makes for a convenient healthy treat on the go!
How to Store Banana Oatmeal Bars
To store Banana Oatmeal Bars, let them cool completely and then cut them into squares. Place the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to keep them longer, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze them for up to 2 months. Just make sure to wrap them well to prevent freezer burn.
Tips to Make Banana Oatmeal Bars
- Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and sweetness.
- You can swap nut butter with any nut or seed butter you prefer.
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less maple syrup based on your taste preferences.
- Add nuts, dried fruits, or seeds for extra texture and flavor.
Variation
For a different flavor, try adding peanut butter chips instead of chocolate chips or include raisins and nuts for crunch. You can also make these bars gluten-free by using certified gluten-free oats!
FAQs
1. Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?
Yes, you can use quick oats, but rolled oats give the bars a better texture.
2. How can I make these bars vegan?
This recipe is already vegan-friendly when you use plant-based nut butter and maple syrup.
3. Can I replace maple syrup with another sweetener?
Certainly! You can substitute maple syrup with honey or agave syrup if you prefer. Just note that using honey will make the recipe not vegan.
Banana Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 cups mashed bananas (approx. 3 bananas) Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and sweetness.
- 0.5 cup nut butter Can swap with any nut or seed butter you prefer.
- 2 cups rolled oats Can use certified gluten-free oats for gluten-free bars.
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup Adjust the sweetness based on your taste preferences.
- 1 cup chocolate chips Can replace with peanut butter chips or other mix-ins.
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Preparation
- Heat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the mashed bananas, nut butter, rolled oats, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and salt.
- 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!
Baking
- 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.
1 thought on “Banana Oatmeal Bars”