4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars are so quick and easy to make and are a lovely snack, breakfast, or healthy dessert! Put them on repeat to enjoy throughout the week.
After growing completely obsessed with my 3-Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies, I felt I just had to revisit the recipe and turn it into bars.
The way I see it, these easy 4-ingredient banana oat bars are the perfect healthy snack on the go or breakfast.
Or if you’re like me and you love a sweet treat but try to minimize your intake of excess sugar, these healthy bars can double as dessert!
The texture on these oatmeal breakfast bars is soft and chewy. You could compare it to a thinner version of Banana Baked Oatmeal.
If you’re looking for a granola bar texture, make my 5-Ingredient Healthy Granola Bars.
Let’s discuss the simple ingredients involved in these tasty oatmeal bars!
Ingredients for Banana Oatmeal Bars:
Ripe Bananas: The sweetener of these banana oatmeal bars! Be sure you use very ripe bananas that have plenty of brown spots for the best result. The riper the banana, the sweeter it will be, which will ensure these cookie bars turn out nice and tasty.
Almond Butter or Peanut Butter: Unsweetened almond butter or peanut butter is the glue that holds these bars together, eliminating the need for eggs or a leavening agent. It also adds delicious rich flavor!
Rolled Oats: Rolled oats give that amazing unparalleled oaty flavor to the banana oatmeal bars with that lovely texture. I use gluten-free sprouted oats, but you can use regular oats if you aren’t concerned about the gluten content. While you can use quick oats, I find old fashioned rolled oats have the best texture.
If you want to try a grain-free version of these bars, you can swap the oats for any mixed nuts you enjoy, just like I did in my 3-Ingredient Nutty Banana Cookies.
Chocolate Chips: Providing those scintillating pockets of delicious chocolatey goodness, chocolate chips make these bars so inviting!
To keep the recipe vegan, use dairy-free vegan chocolate chips.
For a lower sugar treat, omit the chocolate chips altogether, or use sugar-free chocolate chips.
Optional Additions:
You can add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and up to ⅔ cup chopped nuts (such as pecans or walnuts).
If you love dried fruit, feel free to swap the chocolate chips for raisins or dried cranberries.
Let’s bake these healthy breakfast bars!
How to Make Banana Oatmeal Bars:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9” x 9” baking pan with parchment paper (you can also use an 8” x 8” cake pan as well).
Mash the bananas in a bowl until most of the chunks are out and they’re nice and creamy.
Stir in the almond butter until it is well-combined with the banana and a thick creamy substance results.
Mix in the rolled oats and chocolate chips and stir until everything is well-combined.
Transfer the bar mixture to the prepared baking pan and smooth it into an even layer.
Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 18 to 25 minutes, or until the edges of the bars are golden-brown and the bars appear set up.
Allow the oatmeal chocolate chip bars to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Because the bars are dairy-free, you can cover them in plastic wrap and store them on the counter for up to 2 days.
Store any leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Freeze any remaining bars in a zip lock bag for up to 3 months.
More Banana-Sweetened Recipes:
- Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins
- 4-Ingredient Healthy Flourless Brownies
- 5-Ingredient Paleo Banana Bread Cookies
- Healthy Apple Muffins
- 4-Ingredient Healthy Samoa Cookies
And that’s it! Your gateway to a versatile healthy oatmeal bars recipe that is easy to customize and fun to make!
4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large ripe bananas 1 ½ cups mashed
- ½ cup (120g) creamy almond butter*
- 2 cups (200g) rolled oats
- 1 cup (170g) chocolate chips
Optional Additions:
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup (100g) chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9” x 9” baking pan with parchment paper (you can also use an 8” x 8” cake pan as well).
- Mash the bananas in a bowl until most of the chunks are out and they’re nice and creamy.
- Stir in the almond butter until it is well-combined with the banana and a thick creamy substance results.
- Mix in the rolled oats and chocolate chips and stir until everything is well-combined.
- Transfer the bar mixture to the prepared baking pan and smooth it into an even layer.
- Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 18 to 25 minutes, or until the edges of the bars are golden-brown and the bars appear set up. Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
How many games of 11/2 cup of the smashed banana? Can I use PB2 instead? Thank you.
Hi Janice! Is it PB2 powder you’re interested in using or the brand of PB2 peanut butter? If you’re looking to use the powder, I don’t think the bars will turn out well. If you’re trying to use their brand of peanut butter, it should work, although the bars might taste a little less rich 🙂 When I google how much one mashed banana weighs, I get a variety of answers. I would recommend picking three large bananas (each weighing around 140 grams with the peel on) that have lots of brown spots. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Can I put a cup trail nuts which chocolate chips in
Hi Sheila! If the trail mix is salted, I wouldn’t recommend it because it might make the bars too salty. If it is unsalted, I say go for it! You may want to chop any larger nuts (like almonds or cashews) first. Happy baking!
These look ideal! Would it work to add chia seeds into this for extra goodness? Perhaps pre-soaked?
Hi Molly! I’m not sure how soaked chia seeds would work in the recipe, but I have had others report back that they have added chia seeds. If it were me, I would add about 2 teaspoons of either dry or soaked 🙂
Good healthy bar. I used less almond butter and just sprinkled sugar free chips and a small amount of chopped walnuts on top only. Tasted like banana bread or a muffin. Great for breakfast or a small bay for a snack. Really satisfying
I’m happy you think so, Ann! I find the bars to be super tasty and convenient to take anywhere too. I appreciate you sharing your experience! xo
So fast, easy, and delicious! I have made these a dozen times always with old fashioned oats. I bake them for 20-22 minutes and let cool. I cut into bars then freeze. Once frozen I keep them in a baggie in the freezer and take a few out at a time to keep in the fridge.
I’m on that same page! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve made these bars…they’re a staple for us! Thanks so much for the sweet note, Jen! xo
Hi! Is it possible to use old fashioned oats, as that’s what I have on hand?! Thank you!
Hi Jen! You can use old fashioned oats for sure! In fact, I do the same sometimes. The only difference is the bars require a bit more chewing. Instant oats act almost as a flour in this recipe so the bars turn out fairly soft, but rolled oats or old fashioned oats don’t blend in the same way so there’s just more chewing involved. I love the bars either way! xo
Love these!
I make them 1-2 per week, so glad I found this recipe! I make them with dark chocolate chunks and about a tsp of sweetener and heat a square in the microwave every morning. It comes out so rich and thick.
I’m going to try making the next bach with frozen fruit and maybe some jam, I can’t wait!
Wahoo! I love hearing that, Jenn! We make them regularly too! I never thought to use jam, but that sounds amazing! xo
I really loved this recipe.
To reduce the sugar I added only 1/4 of chocolate chips and dried cherries. It was very good!
QUESTION: DO THESE NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED OR CAN THEY SIT OUT AT ROOM TEMPERATURE FOR A FEW DAYS.
Hi Randi! The bars can sit at room temperature for a few days 🙂 After 3 days, I’d move them to the refrigerator. You can also freeze them too!
How long can you refrigerator them for? Thanks 🙂
Hi Claire! I keep them in my refrigerator for up to 7 days, although the bars usually disappear before then 😉