Description

These Banana Oat Bars are a wholesome and delicious breakfast or snack option made with ripe bananas, peanut butter, rolled oats, and a touch of dark chocolate. Packed with protein and fiber, they are easy to prepare and baked to golden perfection, making for a nutritious treat that’s perfect to enjoy any time of the day.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

2 cups Mashed Banana (equivalent to 4 large ripe bananas)
3/4 cup Peanut Butter
2 3/4 cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Chopped Nuts
1/2 cup Hemp Seeds
1/4 cup Vanilla Protein Powder

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (180 °C). Prepare a 9-inch square baking pan by lining it with parchment paper, then lightly grease the pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set aside for later use.
Mash Bananas: Peel and mash the ripe bananas thoroughly until smooth. Pack the mashed bananas firmly into measuring cups to exactly measure 2 cups, ensuring accurate quantities for the recipe.
Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the mashed bananas, peanut butter, rolled oats, dark chocolate chips, vanilla extract, chopped nuts, hemp seeds, and vanilla protein powder. Stir all the ingredients together very well until you achieve a consistent, thick mixture.
Transfer to Pan: Pour the mixed batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula or your hands to press the mixture evenly across the pan surface. Optionally, sprinkle extra dark chocolate chips on top for added texture and flavor.
Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Bake until the top is dry, golden brown, and the bars are set, with no wet or gooey spots remaining.
Cool in Pan: Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool for 15 minutes. Then carefully lift the overhanging parchment paper to release the baked oat bars onto a cooling rack.
Complete Cooling: Let the bars cool completely for 2 to 3 hours on the rack, which allows them to firm up for clean slicing without crumbling.
Slice and Serve: Once fully cooled, slice the bars into squares or rectangles. Serve as a nutritious breakfast option alongside fruits, yogurt, or enjoy plain as a satisfying snack.

Notes

Use ripe bananas with brown spots for maximum natural sweetness and better texture.
Old-fashioned rolled oats work best to provide structure; avoid quick oats as they may make the bars too soft.
Peanut butter can be substituted with any nut or seed butter, such as almond or sunflower butter, depending on dietary preferences.
For a nut-free version, omit the chopped nuts and check that your peanut butter or substitute is nut-free.
Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
These bars also freeze well; wrap individually and freeze for up to a month.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: banana oat bars, healthy breakfast bars, baked oat bars, peanut butter bars, protein bars, easy breakfast recipe, snack bars, homemade granola bars