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Banana Oatmeal Bars

Banana oatmeal bars with golden edges and a soft, chewy center—made in one bowl and baked until set. These healthy breakfast bars use mashed ripe bananas and no-sugar option sweetened with honey or maple.
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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: 230
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 ripe bananas Mash until completely smooth.
  • 2 cup rolled oats Use certified gluten-free if needed.
  • 0.25 cup honey or maple syrup Choose honey for classic flavor or maple syrup for a caramel note.
  • 0.3333 cup peanut butter or almond butter Stir until the batter looks uniform.
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 0.5 cup chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped nuts (optional) Fold in once the base is fully mixed.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Bake setup
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line an 8x8 or 9x13 pan with parchment paper for easy lifting.
Mash and mix
  1. Mash ripe bananas until completely smooth in a large bowl so the bars bake evenly.
  2. Add rolled oats, honey, peanut butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt, then mix until fully combined and cohesive.
Add-ins and bake
  1. Fold in chocolate chips or add-ins if using so they’re evenly distributed through the bars.
  2. Press the mixture evenly into the pan and smooth the top for a uniform bake.
  3. Bake for 22–25 minutes at 350°F until edges are golden and the center is set; the surface should look slightly firm and not wet.
  4. Cool completely before cutting into bars so the center holds a soft, chewy texture.

Notes

For the cleanest slices, let the bars cool fully on the counter, then chill 1–2 hours for tighter edges. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days (freezing up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge). For a dietary swap, use almond butter and certified gluten-free rolled oats for gluten-free oat bars.