Name: Oatmeal Banana Peanut Butter Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 3 cups old fashioned oats; 1 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 cup ground flaxseed; 3 over-ripe bananas, peeled; 1/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed; 3/4 cup natural creamy peanut butter; 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

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These Oatmeal Banana Peanut Butter Bars are a great option for a quick breakfast or healthy snack that are kid-tested and dietitian mom-approved!

WHAT’S NEW?

Last week was a successful year 3 of the variety show. It didn’t go off without a few hiccups, including two water-filled buckets of fresh flower bouquets being tipped over in the back of my car. LOVELY. Maybe the musty smell will be gone by next year’s performance! Both of my girls are anxiously talking about the show next year and planning what type of act they want to perform. Very cute!

Both girls got good report cards in the second trimester and Alaska is fully-fully booked. It’s hard to believe summer will be here in no time! Until then, life slows down none at all. In fact, my friend and I have agreed to co-coach a U8 soccer team our youngest daughters will end up on. Wish us luck! The need for quick, easy, and make-ahead breakfast and snack options will live on and these banana peanut butter oat bars will be a repeat in our house for busy mornings and for an easy snack!

ROLL CALL FOR THIS RECIPE

Flavor Combo: The classic combination of sweet banana and creamy peanut butter combines with whole grain oats is a fresh new way to enjoy these wholesome ingredients and flavors!
Kid-Friendly: These peanut butter banana oatmeal bars are everything kids love about granola bars made into healthy breakfast bars that can also be served as a snack or even a healthy dessert.
Simple Ingredients: What I love MOST about these bears is that these healthy ingredients are pantry and fridge staples.

KEY INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Oats*: Old-fashioned oats are minimally processed giving the bars good stability and texture, however quick oats or instant rolled oats work well, too. Steel cut oats will not work.
Baking Powder: You can use 1/2 teaspoon baking soda with 1 teaspoon cream of tartar if you don’t have baking powder.
Salt: A bit of salt in baked goods activates the leavening agents, such as baking powder, so that the final product isn’t overly dense or dry.
Flaxseed: You can also omit the ground flaxseed or use wheat germ as an alternative. Chia seeds or hemp seeds can also be used as an alternative, however use half as much (2 tablespoons).
Bananas: Use overripe bananas with lots of brown spots for the sweetest natural sugars. If you prefer something other than fresh banana, use about 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened applesauce or another fruit puree or baby food.
Brown Sugar: Use more or less to your liking. As an alternative, granulated sugar, pure maple syrup, honey, or agave can be used.
Peanut Butter: I love the use of a creamy natural peanut butter (crunchy peanut butter works, too) however almond butter, cashew butter, soy butter, sun butter (sunflower seed butter), or any other nut butter or seed butter, such as tahini, can be used in place of peanut butter.
Milk: Unsweetened almond milk was used, however regular dairy milk or soy milk could be used for additional protein. Another plant-based milk such as oat milk, creamy coconut milk, hemp milk, etc. Use any kind of milk you enjoy or have on hand.
Vanilla: A bit of pure vanilla extract goes a long way in adding flavor without added sugar, however you can use another flavor extract in a greater or lesser quantity (almond extract, etc).

VARIATIONS, STORAGE, and TIPS

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. Be sure to distribute batches each into a separate square baking pan if you choose to do this so the bars bake through.
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Consider freezing the bars between layers of parchment paper for up to 6 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge or on the counter at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
If you’re not on-the-go, serve these bars with some fresh fruit on top – yum!

FAQ

What’s the easiest ways to mash bananas? I don’t find the back of a fork easy to do!

Be sure to use overripe bananas and consider using a potato masher instead of a fork.

Why did you choose unsweetened almond milk instead of a higher protein milk?

I love the flavor and tend to have it on hand. It’s also very low in calories and carbohydrates, however it offers a negligible amount of protein. It really depends on what you’re looking for in determining what milk to use, but the good news is that there’s no going wrong!

Are these bars gluten-free?

Yes, if gluten-free oats are used. Assess the label to ensure the oats are certified gluten-free oats. Look closely on the label to make sure the oats were not processed in facilities that also process wheat, barley, or rye.

Are there other add-ins you would recommend to make different variations of these bars?

There’s so many options to make these unique and your own! Try adding any number of optional ingredient add-ins, such as dark chocolate chips, a little cinnamon, unsweetened coconut flakes, chopped nuts, dried cranberries or raisins, etc.

NUTRITIONAL MERITS

With 5 grams of fiber per bar, these delicious bars are a good source of fiber
These bars are made from whole grain oats
Gluten-free* and dairy-free
Bananas are rich in potassium with a single banana providing close to 10% of the daily value recommended for adults.

Oatmeal Banana Peanut Butter Bars

Yield: 10 bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

These Oatmeal Banana Peanut Butter Bars are a great option for a quick breakfast or healthy snack that are kid-tested and dietitian mom-approved!

Ingredients

3 cups old fashioned oats
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
3 over-ripe bananas, peeled
1/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
3/4 cup natural creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-in x 9-in baking pan with parchment paper, overhanging the sides; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, baking powder, salt, and flaxseed until well-combined.
In a second bowl, mash the bananas against the sides of the bowl using the backside of a fork until few lumps remain. Add the brown sugar, peanut butter, almond milk, and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until combined. Transfer to the prepared baking pan and spread evenly to reach the sides and corners, smoothing out the top.
Bake for 35 minutes or until edges begin to turn a golden brown. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 bar
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 274Total Fat: 12.8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 282mgCarbohydrates: 35.1gFiber: 5.0gSugar: 11.6gProtein: 8.4g

If you go crazy for bananas, be sure to check out these recipes!

Be well,