Banana Oatmeal Bars
These banana oatmeal bars are the perfect combination of simple, wholesome ingredients and delicious flavor. Made with ripe bananas, creamy nut butter, hearty rolled oats, maple syrup, and chocolate chips, they come together quickly and bake into soft, chewy bars that are perfect for breakfast or snacking.
I love this recipe because it’s an easy way to use up those extra-ripe bananas sitting on the counter. There’s no complicated prep or special equipment needed, and you can easily customize the bars with your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or extra chocolate chips.
Whether you’re looking for an easy grab-and-go breakfast, a satisfying afternoon snack, or a healthier treat when your sweet tooth hits, these banana oatmeal bars are a recipe you’ll want to make again and again. Simple, cozy, and loaded with banana and chocolate flavor—what’s not to love?
INGREDIENT NOTES
Mashed bananas: Choose bananas that are very ripe and soft. The riper they are, the easier they’ll be to mash and the more natural sweetness they’ll add to the bars.
Nut butter: I like using peanut butter, but you can swap in your favorite nut butter. If you’re using natural nut butter, stir it really well beforehand to evenly incorporate any separated oils.
Rolled oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats give these bars a hearty texture and a delicious oat flavor. Quick or instant oats may not provide the same structure, so rolled oats are the better choice. Avoid using steel-cut oats.
Cinnamon: A little ground cinnamon adds warmth and complements the sweetness of the bananas and maple syrup.
Vanilla: For the best flavor, I recommend using pure vanilla extract.
Maple syrup or honey: If using syrup, be sure to use pure maple syrup rather than pancake syrup. They aren't interchangeable—pancake syrup typically contains corn syrup and artificial maple flavoring.
Chocolate chips: Use whichever variety of chocolate chips you enjoy most. Mini chocolate chips are also a fun option and distribute nicely throughout the oatmeal bars.
Salt: Just a small pinch is all you need. It helps enhance the other flavors and keeps the sweetness nicely balanced.
Recipe Variations
Mix-in ideas: Feel free to customize these bars with your favorite add-ins! Chopped walnuts are a delicious choice, while pumpkin or sunflower seeds add a nice crunch. For a naturally sweet twist, try mixing in raisins or your favorite dried fruit. You can swap the chocolate chips for any of these options or add them alongside the chocolate for an extra-loaded treat!
Why You'll Love These Oatmeal Banana Bars
Quick and easy to make: These bars come together with just a few simple steps, making them perfect for busy mornings or an easy homemade snack.
Made with simple ingredients: You only need everyday pantry staples like ripe bananas, oats, nut butter, and maple syrup.
Naturally sweetened: Ripe bananas and real maple syrup provide plenty of sweetness without needing refined sugar.
Soft and chewy: The rolled oats give these bars a hearty texture while the mashed banana keeps them soft and satisfying.
Chocolatey and delicious: Chocolate chips add little pockets of melty chocolate that make these oatmeal bars feel like a treat.
Easy to customize: Add walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, or your favorite mix-ins to make them your own.
Great for any time of day: Enjoy them for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or whenever you're craving something sweet and homemade.
Perfect for meal prep: Bake a batch ahead of time so you have an easy grab-and-go option ready throughout the week.
Ingredients
1.5 cups mashed bananas, (approx. 3 bananas)
0.5 cup nut butter
2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 cup chocolate chips
0.5 teaspoon salt
How to Make Oatmeal Banana Bars
Prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang to make the bars easier to remove later.
Combine the ingredients: Add the mashed bananas, nut butter, rolled oats, cinnamon, vanilla extract, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and salt to a large mixing bowl.
Mix everything together: Stir the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined and you have an evenly mixed mixture.
Fill the pan: Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it down firmly, creating one smooth, even layer. If you're a chocolate lover, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips over the top before baking.
Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the edges turn golden and the center looks set.
Cool before slicing: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting them into individual squares. This helps them firm up and makes slicing much easier.
Prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang to make the bars easier to remove later.
Combine the ingredients: Add the mashed bananas, nut butter, rolled oats, cinnamon, vanilla extract, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and salt to a large mixing bowl.
Mix everything together: Stir the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined and you have an evenly mixed mixture.
Fill the pan: Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it down firmly, creating one smooth, even layer. If you're a chocolate lover, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips over the top before baking.
Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the edges turn golden and the center looks set.
Cool before slicing: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting them into individual squares. This helps them firm up and makes slicing much easier.
Oatmeal Banana Bars
Whether you’re looking for an easy grab-and-go breakfast, a satisfying afternoon snack, or a healthier treat when your sweet tooth hits, these banana oatmeal bars are a recipe you’ll want to make again and again. Simple, cozy, and loaded with banana and chocolate flavor—what’s not to love?
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang to make the bars easier to remove later.
- Combine the ingredients: Add the mashed bananas, nut butter, rolled oats, cinnamon, vanilla extract, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and salt to a large mixing bowl.
- Mix everything together: Stir the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined and you have an evenly mixed mixture.
- Fill the pan: Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it down firmly, creating one smooth, even layer. If you're a chocolate lover, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips over the top before baking.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the edges turn golden and the center looks set.
- Cool before slicing: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting them into individual squares. This helps them firm up and makes slicing much easier.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
173Fat
8 gSat. Fat
2 gCarbs
23 gFiber
2 gNet carbs
21 gSugar
12 gProtein
3 gSodium
74 mgCholesterol
0 mgNutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation only.
What kind of nut butter works best?
You can use just about any creamy nut butter in these banana oatmeal bars. Peanut butter is a favorite of mine and makes a delicious peanut butter banana combination, while cashew butter is another great option for a slightly milder flavor. Whichever nut butter you choose, give it a good stir first if the oils have separated so the mixture is smooth and evenly combined.
How can I ripen bananas faster?
If your bananas aren’t quite ripe enough for baking, there’s an easy way to speed things up. Place them inside a paper bag and loosely close the top. The bananas naturally release ethylene gas, which helps encourage them to ripen in roughly 1–2 days. Want to speed things up even more? Toss an apple into the bag—the additional ethylene can help move the process along faster.