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Easy Banana Oat Breakfast Bars

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Quick and healthy banana oat breakfast bars perfect for busy mornings or meal prep. These bars are moist, chewy, and made with simple pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
  • 2 cups (180g) rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup (60g) chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans, optional)
  • 1/2 cup (90g) chocolate chips or dried fruit (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter or peanut butter (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, mash 3 medium ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth with a few small lumps remaining (about 2-3 minutes).
  3. Add 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and optionally 2 tablespoons almond butter. Stir until combined and smooth.
  4. In a separate bowl, mix 2 cups (180g) rolled oats, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet banana mixture. Stir gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
  6. Fold in 1/2 cup chopped nuts and/or 1/2 cup chocolate chips or dried fruit if using.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula. The batter will be thick and sticky.
  8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
  9. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack (about 20-30 minutes). Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the slab out and cut into 9 or 12 bars.
  10. Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerate for up to a week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Use ripe bananas for natural sweetness and moisture. Avoid overmixing to keep bars tender. Watch baking time closely to prevent dryness. Parchment paper helps with easy removal and cleanup. Optional mix-ins like nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit add texture and flavor. For vegan version, replace honey with maple syrup and almond butter with sunflower seed butter. Use gluten-free oats for gluten-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana oat bars, breakfast bars, healthy breakfast, meal prep, quick breakfast, vegan breakfast, gluten-free breakfast

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