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Banana Oatmeal Bars

Banana oatmeal bars with a chewy, golden oat interior and a slightly crisp top, baked until the center is set. Mash-ripe bananas and oats into a dense bar base, then add optional chocolate chips, cranberries, or raisins for texture.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 205
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Bananas
  • 3 ripe bananas Mash until completely smooth for a soft center.
Oats and binder
  • 2 cup rolled oats Fold in until fully combined to keep the bars dense.
  • 3 tbsp honey or maple syrup Use either honey or maple syrup for sweetness.
  • 0.25 cup almond butter or peanut butter Stir in until smooth and evenly distributed.
Flavoring
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp salt
Mix-ins
  • 0.5 cup chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or raisins Choose one option or mix if you prefer.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and bake
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
  2. Mash the ripe bananas until completely smooth, then stir in the almond butter or peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Fold in the rolled oats until fully combined, then fold in your chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or raisins.
  4. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan so the bars hold together when sliced.
  5. Bake for 22–25 minutes at 350°F until the edges are golden and the center is set with no wet spots.
Cool and slice
  1. Cool the bars completely before slicing so they cut cleanly without crumbling.
  2. Refrigerate for cleaner cuts, then cut into neat rectangles.

Notes

Pro tip: press the mixture very firmly into the pan and let the bars cool fully (or refrigerate) to get the soft center and neat rectangles shown. Store covered in the fridge for up to 5 days; freeze bars for up to 2 months for meal prep. For a dietary swap, use peanut butter instead of almond butter if you need a different allergy-friendly option and keep the rest the same.