Baked Oatmeal Bars with Banana (Printer-Friendly)

Soft, chewy banana oatmeal bars ready in 25 minutes. Perfect for meal prep and freezer-friendly.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups rolled oats
02 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Wet Ingredients

03 - 1 1/3 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium bananas)
04 - 6 tbsp water
05 - 3 tbsp pure maple syrup, agave, or honey, or stevia equivalent
06 - 3 tbsp oil (such as coconut, vegetable), nut butter, or additional water
07 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

→ Optional Mix-Ins

08 - 1/3 cup chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or seeds

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or grease well.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats and salt.
03 - Add the mashed banana, water, maple syrup or other sweetener, oil or nut butter or extra water, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir until evenly combined.
04 - Fold in any optional mix-ins such as chocolate chips or nuts.
05 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and use a spatula to smooth the top. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips or nuts on top if desired.
06 - Bake for 20 minutes. Turn off the oven without opening the door and let the bars sit inside the closed oven for an additional 5 minutes to set.
07 - Remove from the oven, allow to cool completely, then slice into 6 to 9 bars.
08 - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They taste like dessert but fuel you like a wholesome breakfast
  • My toddler eats them without realizing theyre packed with oats
  • Freezing a batch means Im never scrambling for healthy snacks
02 -
  • The sit-in-oven step is non-negotiable. It firms up the center so you dont have a mushy middle.
  • Overripe bananas are your secret weapon. Theyre sweeter, mash easier, and incorporate better.
  • These keep improving in the fridge. Day two bars taste even better than fresh ones.
03 -
  • Press the mixture firmly into the pan with the back of a measuring cup for neat, compact bars
  • Letting them cool completely is the difference between bars and oatmeal crumble
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