These Easy Banana Oat Bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, kid-friendly and make the perfect snack. Grab the kids and try this recipe today!
*Originally published in Jan 2017. Updated July 2024*
Hi friends!
These Healthy Banana Oat Bars are a kid favorite around here and they’re so darn easy. We make them frequently because they’re pretty forgiving. They don’t require exact measurements and always taste good. Plus I always have ripe bananas on hand.
Looking for other banana recipes? Find all my banana recipes here including things like Lentil Banana Muffins and Banana Flax Muffins.
Plus they’re the perfect recipe for having the kids help! You guys know I’m a huge proponent of kids in the kitchen! Here’s the Ultimate Guide for Teaching Kids To Cook and I’ve got a whole roundup of Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes if you’re looking for a place to start.
Ingredients for Healthy Banana Oat Bars
So what ingredients do you need for these banana breakfast bars?
- Bananas – The riper the better because we don’t add a ton of added sugar to this recipe.
- Oats – Rolled oats work best. Instant oat will change the texture.
- Peanut Butter – Adds some healthy fats and boosts the protein content.
- Maple syrup – Depending on how ripe your bananas are, you can adjust how much maple syrup you need. You could also sub regular sugar or leave it out completely.
- Egg- adds some structure.
- Baking powder – adds a little lift to the bars.
- Vanilla and cinnamon – for flavor!
- Chocolate chips – optional.
As you can see, there’s nothing fancy and you probably have all these ingredients on hand already!
How To Make Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Making these bars couldn’t be easier!
- Mash the bananas in a large bowl.
- Mix in the peanut butter, maple syrup, egg and vanilla and stir until well combined.
- Stir in the oats, baking powder, cinnamon and chocolate chips.
- Pour into an 8×8 or 9×9 pan and bake.
Grab your kids and head to the kitchen to make these today!
Healthy Banana Oat Bars Recipe
PrintEasy Banana Oat Bars
Print RecipeThese Easy Banana Oat Bars are gluten-free, kid-friendly and make the perfect snack.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8×8 or 9×9 pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup ripe bananas (approx 3 medium-large)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2–4 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- optional mix-ins: chocolate chips, hemp seeds, ground flax
Instructions
- Mash bananas in a bowl.
- Add peanut butter, maple syrup and egg and mix well.
- Stir in oats, cinnamon, baking powder and chocolate chips and mix until combined.
- Pour into a 8×8 baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 350 for 20-22 minutes.
- Let cool, cut and serve.
Notes
This recipe is very forgiving. A little extra banana or oats won’t hurt. You can leave out the maple syrup or chocolate chips if you want.
Feel free to bake in a 9×9 pan if desired. Bars will just be a bit thinner.
See what I mean by super easy? This recipe is very forgiving. If your measurements aren’t exact, don’t worry!
You can use an 8×8 pan for thicker bars or a 9×9 pan if you like them a bit thinner.
Banana Oat Bars FAQS
Can I make blueberry banana oat bars?
Yes! Feel free to substitute fresh or frozen blueberries for the chocolate chips if you prefer.
How to make chocolate banana oat bars?
Try adding 1/4 cup cocoa powder to give these a chocolate twist. If using cocoa powder, I would use 1/4 cup maple syrup as well.
How to make vegan banana oat bars?
To make these bars vegan, sub 1/4 cup applesauce for the egg.
How to store these bars?
Once the bars are cooled and cut, you can store in a container on the counter for 3-4 days.
Are these gluten-free banana oat bars?
Yes! This recipe is naturally gluten-free. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
How can I make no-bake banana oat bars?
These bars require an oven but if you’re looking for a no-bake recipe, try these No Bake Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars.
Can these be carrot banana oat bars?
Yes! You could easily add 1/2 – 3/4 cup of shredded carrots to these bars!
How can I make 4 ingredient banana oat bars?
The 4 main ingredients in these bars are mashed bananas, peanut butter, oats and an egg so if you really want to keep it simple you can try that. The cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup just add a little more flavor. Mix-ins are extra ingredients but a fun way to customize these bars to your liking.
Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Bars
Let’s chat:
Do your kids help you in the kitchen? What’s your favorite thing to make?
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–