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 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.
Recipe 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 homemade pumpkin purée or homemade 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.
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.
89 Comments on “Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars”
This is my second time making these. So easy and my husband and grandson love them. They are great to put in lunchbox for school lunch treat.
I’m so glad that you love the bars!
Very good! I added cinnamon, vanilla, blueberries and some ground flaxseed. My oven baked it in 15 minutes.
Thanks for sharing your modifications and your review Eve! 🙂
Only had instant oatmeal flakes. Made them for coffee and treats after Church. Comments were that they were very “heavy” in taste. Will not make again.
They are definitely packed with peanut butter and banana flavor which in my opinion is a good thing! 🙂
Delicious! Wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the bars and thanks for the review! 🙂
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.
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!
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!
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 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. 🙂
Could I use Irish oats instead?
I don’t recommend that as they will have a very chewy texture.
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! 🙂
Can one use natural peanut butter in this recipe?
Yes! That’s what I always use. 😀