Description
These Banana Oatmeal Bars are simple, wholesome, and naturally sweetened snacks packed with ripe bananas and hearty oats. Perfect for quick breakfasts, post-workout fuel, or grab-and-go snacks, they combine nourishment with convenience using minimal ingredients and no artificial additives.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Sweeteners
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional)
Optional Mix-ins
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds or flaxseeds
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal later.
- Mash the Bananas: In a mixing bowl, mash 3 ripe bananas until smooth with some small chunks remaining, providing natural sweetness and moisture for the bars.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add vanilla extract and optional sweetener (honey or maple syrup) to the mashed bananas. Stir well to combine all wet ingredients thoroughly.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in the oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Gently stir until the mixture forms a sticky dough.
- Add Optional Mix-Ins: Fold in any nuts, seeds, or chocolate chips evenly throughout the batter, if using, to customize flavor and texture.
- Bake the Bars: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and press down evenly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the top turns golden and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before removing and slicing into squares or rectangles for serving and storage.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas with brown spots for the sweetest, most moist bars.
- Gently fold ingredients to avoid overmixing, which can make bars tough.
- Press the batter firmly and evenly into the pan to prevent crumbly edges.
- Check your oven temperature with a thermometer for consistent baking results.
- Adjust sweetener amounts based on the ripeness of your bananas and personal taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: banana oatmeal bars, healthy snack, gluten free, vegan options, homemade snack, easy baking, kid-friendly
