If you’re looking for a super simple, healthy snack that’s perfect for using up those ripe bananas on your counter, you’ve found it! These banana oatmeal bars are a fantastic soft treat that’s incredibly easy to whip up, even if you’re new to baking. They’re packed with wholesome ingredients and require minimal effort, making them a go-to for busy mornings or an afternoon pick-me-up.
This recipe is designed to be straightforward and fuss-free, delivering delicious results every time. You’ll love how quickly these come together and how satisfyingly chewy and flavorful they are. Let’s get baking!
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Easy Banana Oatmeal Bars
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
Description
These banana oatmeal bars are a simple, healthy, and delicious snack perfect for using up ripe bananas. They are incredibly easy to make, even for beginner bakers, and are packed with wholesome ingredients. Ideal for quick breakfasts, snacks, or lunchboxes, these soft and chewy bars come together quickly and are naturally sweet.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. 1. Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Your Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 F (175 C). Lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later. This ensures your bars won’t stick and makes cleanup a breeze.
2. 2. Mash the Bananas Thoroughly: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until they are mostly smooth with only a few small lumps remaining. The riper the bananas, the easier they will be to mash and the sweeter your bars will be.
3. 3. Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the unsweetened applesauce, milk, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Stir these wet ingredients together well until they are fully incorporated and form a smooth, uniform mixture.
4. 4. Mix Dry Ingredients Separately: In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, ground cinnamon, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Make sure these dry ingredients are evenly distributed to ensure consistent flavor and rise in your bars.
5. 5. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the dry oat mixture into the wet banana mixture. Stir gently with a spoon or spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; just stir until no dry streaks of oats are visible. The mixture will be thick.
6. 6. Spread into the Prepared Pan: Transfer the oatmeal bar mixture into your prepared 8×8 inch baking pan. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to spread the mixture evenly into the pan, pressing it down lightly to form a compact layer.
7. 7. Bake Until Golden: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The bars should feel firm to the touch.
8. 8. Cool Completely Before Slicing: Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes. For best results, allow them to cool completely before lifting them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and slicing them into squares or rectangles. This cooling time is crucial for them to set properly and prevent crumbling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: snack
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
Keywords: banana, oatmeal, bars, healthy, snack, easy, breakfast, dessert, kid-friendly, make ahead
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true winner for so many reasons, making it an ideal choice for almost anyone. First and foremost, it’s incredibly beginner-friendly. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by baking, this is the perfect recipe to build your confidence. The steps are simple, the ingredients are common, and the results are consistently good. It’s also a fantastic way to tackle that age-old problem of overripe bananas. Instead of letting them go to waste, you can transform them into a delicious and healthy snack that the whole family will enjoy.
These banana oatmeal bars are perfect for a variety of occasions. They make an excellent grab-and-go breakfast on hectic weekdays, a wholesome mid-morning snack, or a satisfying after-school treat for kids. They’re soft, chewy, and naturally sweet, making them a healthier alternative to many store-bought options. Plus, because they’re so easy to make, you can whip up a batch on a Sunday afternoon and have healthy snacks ready for the entire week. They’re also great for packing in lunchboxes or taking on picnics.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients for these banana oatmeal bars is a breeze, as they rely on common pantry staples. You won’t need any fancy equipment or hard-to-find items, which is part of what makes this recipe so stress-free. Just a few simple items will get you started on your way to delicious, healthy bars.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 ripe medium bananas, mashed
- 1 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned oats)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
For the rolled oats, make sure to use old-fashioned oats, not instant or quick-cooking oats, as they provide the best texture and chewiness for these bars. If you don’t have unsweetened applesauce, you can use a pureed fruit like pear or even a little extra mashed banana, though it might slightly alter the moisture content. For milk, feel free to use any type you have on hand – almond milk, soy milk, or regular dairy milk all work perfectly. If you want to add a touch more sweetness without refined sugar, a tablespoon of maple syrup or honey can be stirred in, though the ripe bananas usually provide plenty of natural sweetness.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
One of the best features of these healthy banana oatmeal bars is how quickly they come together, making them ideal for busy schedules.
Preparation Time: 10 minutes Baking Time: 20-25 minutes Total Time: 30-35 minutes
You can have a fresh batch of these wholesome bars ready to enjoy in just over half an hour, from the moment you start mashing bananas to the time they’re cooling on a rack. This efficiency makes them a perfect last-minute baking project or a quick addition to your weekly meal prep.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Making these banana oatmeal bars is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a delicious, healthy snack in no time.
- Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Your Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later. This ensures your bars won’t stick and makes cleanup a breeze.
- Mash the Bananas Thoroughly: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until they are mostly smooth with only a few small lumps remaining. The riper the bananas, the easier they will be to mash and the sweeter your bars will be.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the unsweetened applesauce, milk, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Stir these wet ingredients together well until they are fully incorporated and form a smooth, uniform mixture.
- Mix Dry Ingredients Separately: In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, ground cinnamon, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Make sure these dry ingredients are evenly distributed to ensure consistent flavor and rise in your bars.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the dry oat mixture into the wet banana mixture. Stir gently with a spoon or spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; just stir until no dry streaks of oats are visible. The mixture will be thick.
- Spread into the Prepared Pan: Transfer the oatmeal bar mixture into your prepared 8×8 inch baking pan. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to spread the mixture evenly into the pan, pressing it down lightly to form a compact layer.
- Bake Until Golden: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The bars should feel firm to the touch.
- Cool Completely Before Slicing: Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes. For best results, allow them to cool completely before lifting them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and slicing them into squares or rectangles. This cooling time is crucial for them to set properly and prevent crumbling.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
These banana oatmeal bars are wonderfully versatile and can be customized to suit your taste or what you have on hand. They’re also perfect for various serving scenarios, from quick snacks to a simple dessert.
For a little extra texture and flavor, consider adding a handful of mini chocolate chips (about 1/4 cup) to the batter before baking. Dark chocolate chips pair especially well with banana. If you prefer a nutty flavor, a tablespoon or two of chopped walnuts or pecans can be folded in. For a fruitier twist, a small amount of dried cranberries or raisins would also be delicious. Just remember that adding extra ingredients might slightly change the baking time, so keep an eye on them.
These bars are fantastic on their own, but you can elevate them with simple toppings. A drizzle of honey or maple syrup just before serving adds a touch more sweetness. A sprinkle of extra cinnamon or a dollop of Greek yogurt can also make for a lovely presentation and flavor boost. For kids, a smear of peanut butter or almond butter on top of a cooled bar makes for an even more filling and protein-rich snack. They’re also great served slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a healthier dessert option.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even with a simple recipe like these banana oatmeal bars, a few common mistakes can occur. Knowing how to avoid them will ensure your baking experience is smooth and successful every time.
One frequent slip-up is not using ripe enough bananas. Green or slightly yellow bananas won’t mash easily and won’t contribute the necessary sweetness and moisture to the bars. Always wait until your bananas have plenty of brown spots on their peels; this indicates they are perfectly ripe and full of natural sugars.
Another common issue is overmixing the batter. While it’s not as critical as with gluten-based recipes, overmixing can still lead to a tougher texture. Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, stir just until everything is combined and no dry streaks of oats are visible. A few lumps are perfectly fine.
Not letting the bars cool completely before slicing is a mistake many eager bakers make. If you try to cut them while they’re still warm, they will be very soft and prone to crumbling. Allowing them to cool completely, ideally for at least an hour or even longer, helps them set up properly, making them much easier to slice into neat bars. Patience is key here for the best texture.
Finally, using the wrong type of oats can affect the final texture. Instant or quick-cooking oats are often too finely processed and will result in a mushier bar. Rolled oats (also known as old-fashioned oats) provide the perfect chewiness and structural integrity for these bars. Stick to rolled oats for the best results.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Proper storage is key to keeping your banana oatmeal bars fresh and delicious for as long as possible. These bars are excellent for making ahead, which is perfect for meal prepping healthy snacks for the week.
Once the bars have completely cooled, slice them
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
