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Top down view of a banana bar with peanut butter drizzled over top.
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Banana Oatmeal Bars Recipe

Easy Banana Oatmeal Bars are the perfect way to enjoy a healthy breakfast or snack! Real food and real flavor! One bowl and one pan are all you need.
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 278kcal
Author Erin @ Suburban Simplicity

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 medium ripe bananas about 1 cup
  • ½ cup butter or melted coconut oil
  • ½ cup honey or ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats not instant
  • 1½ cups whole wheat flour or a combo of white and whole wheat depending on your preference
  • 1 cup chocolate morsels optional

Optional Topping

  • 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter optional
  • ¼ cup white chocolate optional

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas. Next, stir in melted coconut oil and honey. Add egg, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla, mixing well.
  • Add in oats and flour and mix until well combined. (Add any optional mix-ins like chocolate morsels. See notes for suggestions)
  • Spread mixture in a parchment-lined 8x8 inch baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and bars are set.
  • Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the baking dish. Once cooled, lift the parchment paper with the bars from the dish and transfer them to a cutting board.

Optional Peanut Butter Topping

  • Once cooled, you can melt melting the peanut butter and white chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until soft. Then, place it in a sandwich baggie and drizzle it over the top of the bars. Enjoy!

Notes

ADD-INS: Feel free to customize the recipe by adding your favorite ingredients, such as chia seeds, dark chocolate chips, or spices like nutmeg or ginger. The possibilities for delicious add-ins are endless! Dried fruit, shredded coconut, chocolate, caramel, nuts, and M&Ms all work!
PAN: Use an 8-inch square baking dish for the recipe or if you'd like thinner bars, use a 9-inch square. Remember to line your pan with parchment paper so the bars come out of the baking dish easily!
OATS. We recommend using old-fashioned oats instead of instant or quick oats in this oatmeal banana bar recipe for optimal results. Using quick oats may result in overly dense bars.
You can cut the bars into 9 or 16 squares, depending on your preference. 
To Freeze:  Bake as directed and allow them to cool completely. Cut into bars, then wrap individually in foil or plastic. Place wrapped bars in a freezer bag for later. Thaw for at least one hour before eating.
To Store: Layer the bars between waxed paper in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3 - 5 days. Bring back to room temperature before serving.
Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 160mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1.3mg