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!
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.
Lois
Thursday 18th of April 2024
I'm wondering if I could use hemp hearts instead of the oats or at least for a portion of it. Thanks
Julia
Saturday 20th of April 2024
Hi Lois! I haven't tested the recipe replacing any of the oats with hemp hearts, but I think it could be done! If it were me, I would use 1 2/3 cups of oats and 1/3 cup of hemp hearts. Let me know how it turns out! xo
Mary Ann
Saturday 23rd of March 2024
Just made them and they look just like the photo. I added some agave nectar just because. Turned out great! It will make a great quick breakfast for the kids. They have a thick cake like consistency because I used mostly quick oats with partial old fashioned oats.
Julia
Monday 25th of March 2024
Thanks so much for sharing, Mary Ann! This is super helpful to others who want to try adding a liquid sweetener to bump up the sweetness. Much appreciated! xo
Wendy
Thursday 21st of March 2024
These are delish ! I made them as per your recipe for my first batch (very good!) but because I used almond butter and a little almond extract, I tried a batch made with drained frozen sour cherries...awesome. These can be made in so many ways and I love the recipe for that reason...Thank you for a great recipe ! Might add a little cocoa powder next time !
Julia
Friday 22nd of March 2024
Ooh, I love the idea of adding cherries! How brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing, Wendy! xo
Autumn
Sunday 17th of March 2024
These are incredible. I used Hazelnut Butter! And absolutely love them! My new go to for sure! Thank you so much for sharing !!!
Julia
Monday 18th of March 2024
Ooh, hazelnut butter sounds incredible! I'll have to give that a try too. Thanks for the sweet note, Autumn :)
Holly Hatchett
Tuesday 12th of March 2024
I have made these multiple times - they are my weekly go-to for a quick breakfast bite. Guests also love them. Those guests who have to head out for early flights (2.5 hours to the airport) usually get these bars and coffee or tea to go for the drive.
I use GF oats. I don’t know if they are drier than regular oats but I wanted something less crumbly and a little more moist. So I used 2 bananas and added 1/2 cup of homemade apples puree (in essence and apple sauce with no added sugar). This worked out great! So if you are using a GF oat I suggest this substitution!
Julia
Wednesday 13th of March 2024
Thanks so much for your feedback, Holly! Adding the homemade apple puree is super useful information for those who are looking to try the recipe - much appreciated! I'm betting store-bought applesauce would work too. I'm so happy to hear you and your guests have been enjoying the bars! I appreciate you taking the time to swing back around to share your experience! xo