Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
These Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are deliciously adaptable and perfect for a quick snack.
Equipment
- Electric mixer
- Glass Mixing Bowl
- 9-inch Square Baking Pan
Ingredients
Fruits
- 1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 medium or 2 large ripe bananas)
Nut Butters
- ½ cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
Sweeteners
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
Sauces
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
Dairy Alternatives
- ½ cup almond milk (or any nondairy milk)
Grains
- 2.5 cups old-fashioned whole oats (or quick oats, not instant)
Baking Essentials
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Add-Ins
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (use dairy free for vegan)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper with enough overhang on the sides to easily remove the bars from the pan. Set aside.
- In a large bowl or in the bowl of your stand mixer, mash the bananas. On medium speed, beat or whisk in the remaining ingredients in the order listed. Batter will be a little thick, but still pourable.
- Pour/spoon the mixture evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 25-28 minutes or until the center is set (it will still look relatively soft!).
- Remove from the oven and cool in the pan at room temperature for 30-60 minutes. After that, place the pan in the refrigerator for 1 hour until chilled. The bars are difficult to cut if they haven’t been chilled.
- Remove bars from the pan using the overhang on the sides then cut into bars. Sometimes I drizzle melted peanut butter over each, but that’s optional. (Note: the parchment paper is always a little moist from soaking up some moisture from the bars.)
- Cover leftover bars tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Notes
Freezing Instructions: Freeze squares in single layers between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. You can use any nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew) you want—natural, homemade, or processed. Use certified gluten free oats to ensure the bars are gluten free. Vegan: Use dairy-free chocolate chips and nondairy milk to ensure the bars are vegan.
Nutrition
Serving: 1barCalories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 100mgPotassium: 150mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 6mg
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