Description
Delicious and wholesome Banana Oatmeal Bars made with ripe bananas, rolled oats, and natural sweeteners. These bars are perfect as a quick snack or a healthy breakfast option, combining the goodness of oats, nuts, and optional chocolate chips or dried fruit for extra flavor and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2-3 bananas)
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond butter or peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips or dried fruits (raisins or cranberries)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×9 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow for easy removal of the bars.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, mashed bananas, honey or maple syrup, almond butter or peanut butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Stir the mixture well until all the ingredients are fully incorporated and the batter is uniform.
- Add Optional Mix-Ins: Fold in the chopped nuts and/or chocolate chips or dried fruits gently to evenly distribute them without breaking the mixture.
- Fill the Baking Pan: Pour the oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly using a spatula to ensure uniform thickness and even baking.
- Bake the Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating that the bars are cooked through.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. This helps them firm up for easier cutting.
- Cool Completely and Serve: Transfer the bars to a wire rack to cool completely, then cut into squares or rectangles for serving.
Notes
- You can customize these bars by substituting different nuts or dried fruits to your liking.
- To make the bars vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
- These bars freeze well; wrap them individually and freeze for up to 2 months.
- If you prefer a sweeter bar, feel free to add a little more honey or maple syrup.
