Banana Oatmeal Bars
Discover the perfect recipe for banana oatmeal bars! This guide provides everything you need to bake delicious and healthy treats. They are a fantastic snack, perfect for breakfast or even dessert, combining the wholesome goodness of oats with the natural sweetness of bananas.
Equipment
- 9x13 inch baking pan
- Large Bowl
- Medium bowl
- Whisk
- Wire rack
Ingredients
- 3 medium Ripe Bananas about 1 ½ cups mashed
- 3 cups Rolled Oats
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
- ¾ cup Brown Sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Melted Butter or coconut oil
- 1 large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ cup Optional Add-Ins chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk them together until they are well mixed.
- In a separate bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. Add the melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until everything is well combined. Make sure there are no lumps.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- If you're using any add-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit, gently fold them into the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. The bars should be golden brown around the edges. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
- Once baked, let the bars cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before cutting. Cut them into squares or rectangles. Allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions:
Flour: Use gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version.
Sugar: Replace brown sugar with coconut sugar or honey.
Butter: Use coconut oil or applesauce for a dairy-free option.
Egg: Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water). Flavor Variations:
Chocolate Chip Banana Oatmeal Bars: Add ½ cup of chocolate chips to the batter.
Nutty Banana Oatmeal Bars: Incorporate ½ cup of chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds.
Cinnamon Spice Banana Oatmeal Bars: Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients.
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars: Swirl in ¼ cup of peanut butter into the batter before baking.
Flour: Use gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version.
Sugar: Replace brown sugar with coconut sugar or honey.
Butter: Use coconut oil or applesauce for a dairy-free option.
Egg: Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water). Flavor Variations:
Chocolate Chip Banana Oatmeal Bars: Add ½ cup of chocolate chips to the batter.
Nutty Banana Oatmeal Bars: Incorporate ½ cup of chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds.
Cinnamon Spice Banana Oatmeal Bars: Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients.
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars: Swirl in ¼ cup of peanut butter into the batter before baking.