One Bowl Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars

These one bowl Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars are made with fresh bananas, creamy peanut butter, hearty oats, and a good dose of melty chocolate. Not only are they delicious and easy to make, but these banana oatmeal bars are also perfect for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or dessert! 

Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars with Banana

I love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate! I mean, is there anything better? Anything PB and chocolate is my jam like these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and Homemade Healthy Peanut Butter Cups! 

Made with a handful of staple ingredients, the banana oatmeal bars are also full of fiber from whole grain oats in addition to having that classic peanut butter and chocolate flavor. I think the addition of bananas makes the classic flavor combination even tastier than before. Plus, they’re a good option for both a sweeter breakfast or afternoon snack! Seriously, this are so good, you probably want to go ahead and make a double batch (they freeze well just FYI!), because they never last long. 

More Reader Favorite Peanut Butter Recipes

• Peanut Butter Banana Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
• Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats
• Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
• Peanut Butter Energy Balls
• Peanut Butter Banana Bread
• Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups
• Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Ingredients

Banana: pick ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for the best flavor.

Peanut Butter: the combination of peanut butter, chocolate, and banana is a match made in heaven! Be sure to use a natural store-bought or homemade peanut butter without any added sweetener or oils.

Eggs: this helps hold the bars together while adding protein and healthy fats. I haven’t tested this recipe with egg-free alternatives but would love to hear how it goes if you do! 

Maple Syrup: this adds just the right amount of sweetness. 

Vanilla: everything tastes better with vanilla! A small amount helps enhance the rest of the ingredients and adds a subtle vanilla flavor. 

Cinnamon: this warm spice pairs really well with the bananas and oats. 

Oats: you can’t have oatmeal bars without oats! Old-fashioned oats work best for this recipe. Use certified gluten free oats if you need to ensure that these bars are completely gluten free. 

Chocolate Chips: feel free to use regular-sized or mini chocolate chips. 

Ways to Customize

Oatmeal bars are a great recipe to experiment with different flavor combinations and mix-ins! Here are some of my favorite ways to customize my peanut butter banana oatmeal bars to make them even more hearty and nutritious: 

• Add chopped nuts – Amp up the nutty flavor and add extra texture to these bars by folding in chopped nuts like peanuts, almonds, pecans, or walnuts. 
• Leave out the chocolate – Not a fan of chocolate and banana? Feel free to leave the chocolate chips out of these bars.
• Add dried fruit – skipping the chocolate? You could try adding in some dried fruit instead!

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• 8×8 Baking Dish
• Mixing Bowl
• Parchment Paper
• silicone spatula
• MEASURING CUPS
• MEASURING SPOONS

How to Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Step One: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper. 

Step Two: Stir the wet ingredients including the banana, peanut butter, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla in a large bowl until combined. 

Step Three: Next, stir in the cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and oats until well combined. Then, fold in the chocolate chips distributing them evenly. 

Step Four: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle more chocolate chips on top, and use your fingers to gently press them down into the top of the batter. 

Step Five: Bake your banana oatmeal bars for 25 to 30 minutes or until the batter is set and a skewer or toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center. Top the bars with a bit of flaky sea salt as soon as they come out of the oven. 

Step Six: Set the bars aside to cool completely. Then, slice them into 9 squares, and enjoy!

My Favorite Tips and Tricks

• Use a fork or potato masher. To get your bananas mashed quickly, use a fork or potato masher to create a smooth banana puree. This prevents tons clumps of banana in the batter and helps keep the bars moist! 
• Use parchment paper. Grease the pan a bit before adding the parchment paper to help the paper stick to the bottom of the pan. This prevents it from slipping around while you are pressing down the batter. 
• Let the bars come to a complete cool before slicing. It will be super tempting to cut these bars before they come to a complete cool. However, to get the best results you will need to let them come to a complete cool before slicing. To help speed up the process you can stick the bars in the fridge while they cool.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the bars. A sharp knife will help you make clean cuts and get through the thick bottom smoothly.

Serving Suggestions

These banana oatmeal bars are delicious on their own! However, if you want to make them even more decadent you can add a few toppings. Some of my favorite options include: 

• Whipped Cream
• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Chocolate Syrup
• Peanut Butter Drizzle

How to Store

Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 to 7 days. 

Freeze your bars for up to 3 months. To do so, let the bars cool completely, slice, and place them on a sheet pan in the freezer. Once the bars are solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe storage bag. When you’re ready to eat, thaw individual bars in the refrigerator before serving. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use other kinds of oats? 

I don’t recommend it! Quick oats are likely to become mushy, and steel-cut oats won’t soften and become thick like old-fashioned oats. 

How do I know when my peanut butter banana oatmeal bars are done? 

You’ll know your bars are done when the batter looks set and no longer wet and a skewer or toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center. 

Can I make these bars into cookies? 

I haven’t tested it and can’t guarantee the results. I recommend making these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies or my Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies instead! 

More Delicious Bar Recipes

• Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
• Healthy Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
• Blueberry Pie Bars
• Cranberry Crumble Bars
• Healthy Apple Pie Crumble Bars
• Healthy Pecan Pie Bars

I hope you give these Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars a try! They’re sweet, nutritious, and easy to make, and delicious! If you do give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below.

You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews and ratings help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you trust and love.

Print

Photography by: Cambrea Gordon