Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Treat yourself to a delicious, healthy snack that you can make in minutes! These Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, and packed with flavor. They’re made with just a handful of simple ingredients, and they make a satisfying snack or meal prep breakfast!
I love creating nutritious snacks that leave me feeling satisfied and also taste like a treat. My healthy banana snack cake and peanut butter granola definitely fit the bill!
These Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars also check all the boxes. I started making them years ago when I wanted my boys to have a healthy after school snack, and they quickly became a favorite.
They’re packed with wholesome rolled oats, banana, peanut butter and some dark chocolate chips for good measure, and there’s no refined sugar, dairy or gluten.
I love that they’re versatile enough to serve for snacks and breakfast, and they double as a sweet treat.
They’re also incredibly easy to whip up, which is probably why I make them so often.
If you’re not in the mood to bake, be sure to check out my no bake peanut butter bars! They’re just as satisfying and you don’t even need to turn on the oven. 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- These Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are completely crave worthy with whole grain rolled oats, creamy peanut butter, banana and chocolate chips.
- They include just a few ingredients and come together in about 10 minutes.
- They’re dairy and gluten-free, and can be customized with ingredients that you have on hand.
- The bars are extremely versatile and can be enjoyed for breakfast, snacks and even dessert.
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Rolled oats. Be sure to opt for old fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Quick oats may be used in a pinch, but steel cut oats will not work in this recipe.
- Banana. Ripe bananas lend natural sweetness to the bars and also act as a binding agent. The more ripe the bananas, the sweeter your bars will be.
- Peanut butter. Adds protein and healthy fats, and is an essential ingredient. For best results, use natural peanut butter with no added sugar. It may be substituted with your favorite nut butter or sun butter.
- Oil. Use whatever type of oil that you have on hand.
- Maple syrup. Substitute the maple syrup with honey if desired.
- Egg. The egg acts as a binder in the oat bars.
- Baking powder. Provides leavening in the bars.
- Chocolate chips. Optional but highly recommended! Use your favorite variety.
How to make banana peanut butter oat bars
These banana peanut butter oat bars include just a few ingredients and they take about 10 minutes of prep time!
Pro tip: Use natural peanut butter that doesn’t contain added sugar or salt, as this will allow you to control the amount of sugar and sodium. Creamy or crunchy peanut butter may be used.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Place the peanut butter in a large microwave bowl and heat for 20 – 30 seconds until melted (add the coconut oil as well if it is in solid state). Whisk well to combine.
- Add the banana, maple syrup, egg and baking powder to the bowl and whisk until incorporated.
- Stir in the oats until they’re coated evenly with the banana mixture, then stir in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden brown and set.
FAQs
These banana peanut butter oat bars are packed with wholesome ingredients, no refined sugar and oils, and are a good source of protein and fiber. They’re low in sugar and are dairy and gluten-free as well.
They do include roughly 22 grams of carbohydrates per bar, so if you are diabetic or are following a low carb diet, it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor to find out if this recipe is right for you.
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they are often processed in facilities that also process wheat. In short, be sure that your rolled oats are certified gluten-free if you are gluten intolerant.
Store peanut butter oatmeal bars at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Peanut butter banana oatmeal bars may be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, cut the bars into squares and store in a Stasher or zip top bag. To thaw, place the bars in the refrigerator overnight.
Customize this recipe
You can easily customize these peanut butter banana oat bars to suit your taste and/or dietary preferences.
- Swap out the chocolate chips with your favorite chopped fresh fruit, dried fruit, chopped nuts, seeds or coconut.
- Sub the peanut butter with your favorite nut butter or make them nut free by using sun butter.
- Spice them up with a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, cardamom, chai spice mix or pumpkin pie spice.
- Sub the banana with pumpkin purée or applesauce. Note that the texture may vary slightly!
- Serve them as a snack, as breakfast bars or as a sweet treat drizzled with extra peanut butter and sliced banana.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: Use natural peanut butter that doesn’t contain added sugar or salt, as this will allow you to control the amount of sugar and sodium. Creamy or crunchy peanut butter may be used.
- Make sure you use ripe bananas. The riper the bananas are, the sweeter and more flavorful they will be, and the easier they will mash.
- Baking time may vary depending on your oven. Check for doneness after 20 minutes and go from there.
- Store bars in an air tight container at room temperature for 3-5 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
More healthy snacks that you’ll love!
- 5-Ingredient Granola Bars by Minimalist Baker
- Banana breakfast cookies
- Banana smoothie recipe
- Chia seed pudding
- Chocolate banana protein smoothie
- Chocolate granola
- Peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies
- Roasted nuts
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy or crunchy; see notes
- 1/4 cup coconut oil or your favorite oil
- 2 large ripe bananas mashed (about 1 cup)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup sub with honey
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats quick oats may be subbed but they will have less texture
- 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips or your favorite
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13" baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place the peanut butter in a large microwave bowl and heat for 20 – 30 seconds until melted. If the coconut oil is in solid state, heat it with the peanut butter. If not, add it with the banana in the next step.1 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup coconut oil
- Add the banana, maple syrup, egg and baking powder to the bowl and whisk until incorporated. Stir in the oats until they're coated evenly with the banana mixture, then stir in the chocolate chips.2 large ripe bananas, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 3 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden brown and set.
- Cool on a wire rack and cut into bars. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Pro tip: Use natural peanut butter that doesn’t contain added sugar or salt, as this will allow you to control the amount of sugar and sodium. Creamy or crunchy peanut butter may be used.
- Make sure you use ripe bananas. The riper the bananas are, the sweeter and more flavorful they will be, and the easier they will mash.
- Baking time may vary depending on your oven. Check for doneness after 20 minutes and go from there.
- Store bars in an air tight container at room temperature for 3-5 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
**This post was originally published in April 2016. The photos have been updated to include step by step photos, and the text has been modified to include more recipe information.
81 Comments on “Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars”
I love making my own snacks, too…especially when they’re healthier! These oat bars look fantastic, Marcie! I love the peanut butter and banana combo. I know I would devour these in no time, too. Such a great breakfast or snack!
You can never go wrong with peanut butter, banana, and chocolate, right? Thanks, Gayle!
I feel like I’m making snack food incessantly too – and constantly talking about how I hate to buy it but am always running out. Love these bars – healthy, filling and tasty, plus some chocolate? That’s basically the perfect snack!
It’s an endless cycle, isn’t it Stacey? At least these last for 2-3 days. haha Thanks, and have a great weekend!
Love these!! I have been looking for healthy snacks I can stash in the freezer for baby comes, and I think these would be perfect! I’ll definitely have to make them– they sound so yummy!
Thanks, Jess!
Did you just natural peanut butter in your recipe? It’s not specified in the list of ingredients.
Yes — I used natural peanut butter.
These oat bars look awesome! I am totally loving the PB & banana combo and how minimal the ingredients list is! 🙂 Pinning!
Thanks so much, Medha!
Making your own snacks is where it’s at… especially when they are delicious as this! Love these bars, Marcie! Love love love that they are healthy, but don’t sacrifice flavor! They looks seriously scrumptious! Plus you packed these babies with all the things delish! You make healthy snacking look good, my friend! I’ll take a dozen bars please! Cheers!
Homemade snacks are the best, especially with these ingredients! Thanks, Cheyanne, and I’m sending a dozen your way. 🙂
Gah peanut butter + banana + chocolate is just the best!! These look fantastic!
haha I always joke that my husband alone eats me out of the house! I am slightly scared for when we have kids!!!
Thank you so much! You’re right to be scared too, especially if you have a boy or two! haha Thanks, Ashley, and have a great weekend!
Marcie I am always looking for healthy snacks to keep at home and these sound so yummy! I love the addition of peanut butter & banana together! My favorite combo!
Thank you so much, Ami! 🙂
ooooh these looks so so incredible, Marcie! Love those gooey chocolate chips 🙂 I wish I could have one of these ASAP.
Hi Marcie, love chewy bars with oatmeal and peanutbutter in them, the chocolate chips make them extra special.
Chocolate makes everything more special, right? Thanks, Cheri!
Do these need to be refrigerated once they’re cooled?
Making them now!!
They don’t have to be but you certainly can refrigerate them!
I love healthier snacks like these bars! They look awesome! Great combination, I need to try them!
Thanks, Mira!
I think you must’ve made these just for me, Marcie, because they have all of my favorite ingredients! 😉 I love making homemade snacks, especially when they come together as quickly as these bars!
Yes I made them for you! ?. Thanks, Kristine!
I want one or five of these bars for breakfast RIGHT now!! Peanut butter, banana, and chocolate is one of my FAVORITE combos of all time, so how could you ever go wrong with these??
You just can’t go wrong with these! Thanks, Sarah! 🙂
Marcie – I am always looking for breakfast bars that double as snack bars that will satisfy my ornery sweet tooth! and these sound delightful! Love that you prevailed on – though your first few attempts sound pretty darm amazing too!
Thank you, Shashi! These bars are total multi-taskers! 🙂
This is amazing combo. Looks so healthy and delicious. Can;t wait to try this out!
Thanks, Kushi!
Wow! Peanut butter + banana + chocolate is the best!! This is such a beautiful and delicious combo. They look absolutely ah-mazing, Marcie. I wish I could have these for breakfast now!
I wish I could send you some Anu! Thank you! 🙂
These oat bars are delicious! Love PB and chocolate, it’s one of my favourite flavour combos! I’m always looking for healthy snack recipes, so I’ll definitely have to give these a try soon. 🙂
Thanks, Jess, and I hope you get to try them soon!
Peanut butter banana is such a great combination! I love having snacks like this on hand for when hunger hits!
Thanks, Jessica — so do I! 🙂
I always struggle at snack time! It’s so hard to find stuff that’s not just a waste of calories, but I also want to put as little effort into making it from scratch as possible. These bars look fantastic! Though I’ll need to hide some bananas to actually get them overripe – my daughter gobbles them up like crazy 😉
I’m really trying hard to make snacks that aren’t a waste of calories for my kids! You definitely should hide some bananas, haha — that’s what I do! 🙂
Thank you, Vivian!
Love that you combines peanut butter and banana in these bars Marcie. They look simply divine!
Thank you, Dannii, and yes — homemade snacks save so much money! 🙂
I almost always have overripe bananas laying around too! I love the idea of having something a little bit healthier than all those sugary treats we usually make! Saving this one!!
Thanks, Jamie!
These look so delicious! My kids constantly feel deprived because of my refusal to buy them processed snacks and treats. I’m guessing they wouldn’t feel deprived if I made these, though!
My kids love processed treats, but when these are around they definitely don’t miss them! Thanks, Cathy! 🙂
Just wanted to tell you how delicious these turned out! Once I cut them I threw them in the freezer and they are such a delicious any time snack, I don’t feel bad about eating one before bed! I’m going to experiment with adding a little ground flax to help with milk supply once our baby is born. Thank you!
Hi Monica! I’m so glad you enjoyed the bars, and thank you so much for taking the time to give me your feedback! Best wishes with the birth of your baby too — congrats!
OMG I love ❤️ the breakfast bars! They are sooo delicious ? and I can’t stop thinking about them!!!
Yay — I’m so glad you enjoyed them Lindsay! Thank you so much for the feedback! ?
Hello! I just made these and they smell amazing right out of the oven! I was just curious, how long do they last? Will the fridge make them fresher longer? And can I freeze them? Thank you!
Hi, Kaiti! I’ve kept them at room temperature in tupperware for up to 3-4 days — they’ve never lasted longer that! They would definitely keep about a week in the fridge. I’ve never frozen them so I can’t say for sure…I will have to try that! I hope you enjoy them!
Ok that’s perfect! Thanks Marcie! 🙂 I just had a bite and they are delicious!!
You’re so welcome and I’m glad you like them! 🙂
These turned out great!! I actually forgot to add the oil somehow and they’re still moist and delicious! I added half a tablespoon of cinnamon too 🙂
I’m so glad you liked these Megan and I’m glad to know that they still worked without the oil! Thank you so much for your feedback! 🙂
Do you think you could make cookies using the same recipe?
That’s a good question Lacey! I think since the batter is on the thick side that you definitely can try that. I would suggest checking them for doneness after about 7-8 minute. When they’re golden they should be done!
Good. Boyfriend wanted a snack and I wanted something sweet. Needed it to be easy to put together, I didn’t want to bring out the mixer.
I had everything on hand. Easy to put together as Marcie stated.
Bars are a bit dry, but I knew the recipe started as breakfast bars. I look forward to their consistency and how they taste tomorrow.
Thank you Marcie!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment Sandy! I hope you enjoy the bars!
These bars are THE BEST THINGS EVER! Perfect healthy snack for my immense pregnant appetite; perfect filling snack for hubby at work; and perfect future lunchkit snack for this baby boy in a few years! (p.s. I didn’t find the bars dry at all — quite the opposite! Chewy and moist and amazing!)
I’m so glad that you enjoyed the bars Caroline, and I appreciate your taking the time to leave your feedback. Thank you and congrats on your baby boy! 🙂
Can one use natural peanut butter in this recipe?
Yes! That’s what I always use. 😀
I have made these a couple times now. First time I added super sweet bicep cherries and they were the biggest hit at the party. This time I added chopped up strawberries and instead of chocolate chips I added cocoa powder. I also used sugar-free maple syrup so that they could be sugar free. They were not super sweet and it gave it more of a breakfast bar flavoring rather than a sweet treat. If you do Weight Watchers the cocoa powder instead of chocolate chips make them Four Points a bar
Thank you so much for your feedback Guinevere! I’m glad you’re enjoying the bars and I love your customizations! 🙂
I made these two days ago and they’re still very moist and delicious! I added chopped walnuts and used honey in place of maple syrup. They’re not too sweet and make a perfect no-guilt snack….once and a while they call for some guilt with white bean vanilla ice cream:Yum!
Your substitutions sound great and I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the bars! I’ve found that they keep well for up to 5 days (if they last that long)! Thanks for your feedback and I’ll have to try them a la mode in the future. 🙂
These are excellent!! Do you store them in the fridge or the counter?
I’m glad you like them Brittney! I store mine on the counter as they never last more than 5 days.
Good to know, I dont think mine will last that long even! Love this recipe!!
Thank you for your feedback Brittney — I appreciate it! 🙂
I have mazola corn oil or extra virgin olive oil in my cabinet right now. Would either of these work instead of the coconut oil?
Yes, any type of oil would work great!
Hi,
Trying to figure out if I can use extra virgin olive oil or corn Oil instead?
Oops sorry! Just noticed you did already reply!! Ha ha don’t mind me!!!
Any type of oil will work great!
Can we use extra peanut butter instead of oil?
That will affect the texture of the bars. I would suggest subbing the oil with your favorite milk.
Delicious! Wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the bars and thanks for the review! 🙂