These Easy Banana Oat Bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, kid-friendly and make the perfect snack. Grab the kids and try this recipe today!
*Originally published in Jan 2017. Updated July 2024*
Hi friends!
These Healthy Banana Oat Bars are a kid favorite around here and they’re so darn easy. We make them frequently because they’re pretty forgiving. They don’t require exact measurements and always taste good. Plus I always have ripe bananas on hand.
Looking for other banana recipes? Find all my banana recipes here including things like Lentil Banana Muffins and Banana Flax Muffins.
Plus they’re the perfect recipe for having the kids help! You guys know I’m a huge proponent of kids in the kitchen! Here’s the Ultimate Guide for Teaching Kids To Cook and I’ve got a whole roundup of Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes if you’re looking for a place to start.
Ingredients for Healthy Banana Oat Bars
So what ingredients do you need for these banana breakfast bars?
- Bananas – The riper the better because we don’t add a ton of added sugar to this recipe.
- Oats – Rolled oats work best. Instant oat will change the texture.
- Peanut Butter – Adds some healthy fats and boosts the protein content.
- Maple syrup – Depending on how ripe your bananas are, you can adjust how much maple syrup you need. You could also sub regular sugar or leave it out completely.
- Egg- adds some structure.
- Baking powder – adds a little lift to the bars.
- Vanilla and cinnamon – for flavor!
- Chocolate chips – optional.
As you can see, there’s nothing fancy and you probably have all these ingredients on hand already!
How To Make Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Making these bars couldn’t be easier!
- Mash the bananas in a large bowl.
- Mix in the peanut butter, maple syrup, egg and vanilla and stir until well combined.
- Stir in the oats, baking powder, cinnamon and chocolate chips.
- Pour into an 8×8 or 9×9 pan and bake.
Grab your kids and head to the kitchen to make these today!
Healthy Banana Oat Bars Recipe
PrintEasy Banana Oat Bars
These Easy Banana Oat Bars are gluten-free, kid-friendly and make the perfect snack.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8x8 or 9x9 pan 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup ripe bananas (approx 3 medium-large)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2–4 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- optional mix-ins: chocolate chips, hemp seeds, ground flax
Instructions
- Mash bananas in a bowl.
- Add peanut butter, maple syrup and egg and mix well.
- Stir in oats, cinnamon, baking powder and chocolate chips and mix until combined.
- Pour into a 8×8 baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 350 for 20-22 minutes.
- Let cool, cut and serve.
Notes
This recipe is very forgiving. A little extra banana or oats won’t hurt. You can leave out the maple syrup or chocolate chips if you want.
Feel free to bake in a 9×9 pan if desired. Bars will just be a bit thinner.
See what I mean by super easy? This recipe is very forgiving. If your measurements aren’t exact, don’t worry!
You can use an 8×8 pan for thicker bars or a 9×9 pan if you like them a bit thinner.
Banana Oat Bars FAQS
Can I make blueberry banana oat bars?
Yes! Feel free to substitute fresh or frozen blueberries for the chocolate chips if you prefer.
How to make chocolate banana oat bars?
Try adding 1/4 cup cocoa powder to give these a chocolate twist. If using cocoa powder, I would use 1/4 cup maple syrup as well.
How to make vegan banana oat bars?
To make these bars vegan, sub 1/4 cup applesauce for the egg.
How to store these bars?
Once the bars are cooled and cut, you can store in a container on the counter for 3-4 days.
Are these gluten-free banana oat bars?
Yes! This recipe is naturally gluten-free. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
How can I make no-bake banana oat bars?
These bars require an oven but if you’re looking for a no-bake recipe, try these No Bake Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars.
Can these be carrot banana oat bars?
Yes! You could easily add 1/2 – 3/4 cup of shredded carrots to these bars!
How can I make 4 ingredient banana oat bars?
The 4 main ingredients in these bars are mashed bananas, peanut butter, oats and an egg so if you really want to keep it simple you can try that. The cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup just add a little more flavor. Mix-ins are extra ingredients but a fun way to customize these bars to your liking.
Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Bars
Let’s chat:
Do your kids help you in the kitchen? What’s your favorite thing to make?
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
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So much yes for dragging our kids in the kitchen with us. I was always shocked that it required absolutely no prodding over here 🙂
I also think it’s a gift for me that I don’t define myself as a baker or a cook. About 50% of all we create is terrible and I can just laugh. Because really 🙂 I wouldn’t do any better on my own.
My lil guy is coming up on 23 months and I haven’t had him in the kitchen yet. I really didn’t know where to start. But these bars look perfect, so I think we will give them a try later this week!
Okay! I wish I could post a pic! My little guy and I went for a .5 mile walk to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients we needed. Then we came home and made these bars! It was messy but fun!
hope you guys enjoy them!
These look like a great snack for kids! I totally agree– so important to get the kids in the kitchen with you. My boys–ages 8 & 10–prefer to help me with baking, but will hopefully get more into savory cooking soon too!
def keeping trying! but baking is an important skill too so that’s awesome 🙂
These look delicious as-is but do you have a suggestion for a peanut butter replacement in order to make them daycare friendly? My toddler attends a nut-free daycare facility and I know that if we make these, he will want to take them for his morning snack.
you could try sunflower seed butter!
Made them tonite…Thank You Lindsay…they were delicious. I used almond butter.
Jackie – I love, love “Sunbutter” brand sunbutter.. I introduced it to my nieces children who go to a NO peanut/nut school. They loved it, thought it was as good as pnutbutter and now they can have their p&j “S&J” sandwiches when they want to take them for lunch or at home. I’ve made cookies with this and they came out great. I tried about 5 brands before coming across “Sunbutter” brand and it beats them all as far as consistency and taste. They make, Creamy, Natural, Natural Crunch, Organic and No Sugar Added. I have only used the Creamy so can’t vouch for other 4. In my area, Krogers carries the Creamy in a container of 6 “snack size” that can be sent with kids to school for crackers or celery stick dipping, they just need to peel off the lid and have a snack size. Of course, it’s cheaper to just put some in a small container for them. But, the little containers are great to have on hand if you are running late and want to grab a quick snack – take a snack container, throw a few crackers in a baggie and put them in your purse, kids lunch for xtra snack, hubbies lunch, etc. I will try these bars with the Sun butter Thanks LINDSAY
Love how easy these are and it’s such fun cooking with kids. My grandkids will love these.
hope you guys enjoy making them!
I have agave…will that work for a sweetener instead of maple syrup (trying to use what’s on hand).
it should!
These look great! My son is only 14 months but I am so excited for when he can start playing around in the kitchen with me! Can’t wait to make these bars though, he loves anything peanut butter and banana
yay! hope they’re a hit!
Your son is so cute, I can’t take it!! I follow you on snapchat too and I love seeing how he helps you in the kitchen!!! My son is just a little bit younger and I’m always like duh, he can do this with me too! It helps seeing your son do things in the kitchen because it reminds me to bring mine in with me too, instead of letting him watch Daniel Tiger while I prep! 🙂 I’m also working on getting him to try new foods and I think involving him more will help. I also need to be open minded- the other day he got upset when I was eating celery and didn’t share with him, it just never even occurred to me that he would want it! He ended up loving it. Also, while I’m here, I just want to let you know you’re doing such a good job at being a mom to two! I don’t have a 2nd baby yet, and can’t imagine how exhausted you must be right now. Yet you still keep going, and I’m always seeing new fun toys and activities in your snaps. It is really motivating to me!
this might be the best comment i’ve ever gotten! thank you so much!
OMG how adorable is he? Bless him these videos are so lovely & fun to see & such a sweet clever talented boy. What’s a beautiful family you have & thankyou for sharing with us xxx
thank you so much!
My son is 2 years old as well and has never helped me in the kitchen. I always let him “pretend” cook while I’m cooking. I think I’m usually in a rush for actual meals and I like to bake while he’s napping so it’s ready when he wakes up. BUT watching your little guy help you has inspired me to try with my kiddo! He cant have peanut butter, but maybe I’ll try a different kind of nut-free butter because this recipe looks easy and delicious! Thanks!
i’m so happy to hear that! hope you both enjoy it! they should work with sunflower seed butter!
OMG he’s so cute…and he’s gotten so big! What an adorable family you have!
thanks girl!
Love the videos! I cannot wait till my little man is big enough to help! Thanks for the ideas to start them early. There are so many ways they can help. He LOVES helping you. How fun.
yay! have so much fun when you start!!
Yum – will have to try these!
I saw this video on instagram and it was so cute!! Such an easy and simple recipe!
I added 2 tablespoons of coconut flour and 2 tablespoons of organic ground flaxseed to up the fiber content. Delicious!
awesome! good to know, thanks!
My daughter is only 16 months but was more than happy to stand on her stool and help me make these. Iv been struggling to get her to eat fruit so started experimenting with some easy recipes. She loved mixing (prodding) and she even ate most of 1! 1-0 to mummy!! I think I will need to half the recipe next time otherwise I will eat them all. I don’t suppose you know how long these will keep?
they should be fine for 4 days or so!
Will they keep longer if you put them in the fridge?
yep they should!
Hello,
Will they get hard either in the fridge or on the counter?
i keep mine in a container on the counter for a couple days
What are the nutrition values for these?
i’m not sure. you could try plugging the recipe into My Fitness Pal
Made these and put the recipe into MyFitnessPal. I made them with local honey in place of syrup, natural peanut butter, and no chocolate chips (not really by choice, no chocolate chips in the house, will make with them next time!) and if you cut the pan into 9 bars, there are roughly 213 calories per bar, 26 carbs, 9 grams of fat, and 7 grams of protein. (Bonus is the 204.5mg of potassium, for those of us with muscle cramps.)
Thank you for the recipe!
These look amazing!! Could I use honey as a substitute??
yep! should be fine!
We just made these and they are so yummy! We did make a few adjustments. We added in 2 tbsp of ground flaxseed, did 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips and 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, used almond butter (as one of my kiddos dislikes peanut butter) and our bananas were quite large, so we used two of them. Thank you for the great recipe!
Just curious how you know when they are done. I left mine in for the full 20 + another 10 minutes because they looked gooey and they are still gooey/underdone.
my guess is your “small” bananas were bigger than mine. I’m going to retest the recipe and update it to include a more concrete measurement for the bananas (ie 3/4 cup) or whatever to help make it a more consistent recipe.
Would there be an appropriate egg replacement for these?
you could try with flax eggs!
These are my absolute favorite to make with the kids. I just usually let them make them, the mess and their smiles are equally as big.
I just leave it 350 for 15 minuets.
yes! the best!
Awesome . I added 1/4th cup dark chocolate (extra) and these were so heavenly
glad they were a hit!
Hello there! Do u think these are freezer friendly?
definitely worth a shot! i haven’t tried it myself!
How long can I keep these for? Can I put these in the freezer?
i’ve never tried freezing them. i usually eat them within 3-4 days
Hi there
Do you leave them out or in the fridge?
Thanks
i usually keep them in the fridge!
Great recipe! Easy, healthy & teenager-approved. Will probably double next time if I have enough ripe bananas. Might even buy extra bananas in anticipation. Used honey instead of syrup (about 2 Tbsp.), which worked fine.
glad to hear it!
I made this… and when it came out of the oven and I tried it, I made another batch right away!! Lol! this recipe is spot on! The flavors are perfectly combined to excellence! I’m 32 weeks pregnant with my second child, and I know this is going to be made often in my home from now on. They say that Intaking oats are a great way to promote healthy milk production during lactation. So this is perfect. Also I will be using these for a post workout snack. The banana, oats and peanut butter are the perfect replenish combo! Thanks so much!!
so glad you liked them!
TRying it with shredded coconut instead of chocolate chips! It’s in the oven now. Looks good!
So crazy tasty! I used a mix of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and peanut butter chips, and they are heavenly. Also added a bit of salt into the mix, and used 4 tbsp honey instead of maple syrup (as didn’t have any handy). I had 4 old bananas to use up (instead of the 3 called for) so I expanded the rest of the ingredients by 1/3 and baked in a 9×13 dish. I love that these bars are basically just baked porridge but they’re even better than cookies 🙂 Very delicious and very highly recommended!
so glad you liked them!
This recipe has been an absolute life-saver and I make a batch every Sunday night so my teenagers can take one on their way to school. They are always in a rush and would often skip breakfast or just take some toast. They love these and they’re much better than the sugary breakfast bars you can get at the supermarket. Thank you!
Made the bars last night. Love the taste even tho I forgot the cinnamon (good grief) Next time I will add the cinnamon and take out one banana… it ended up being too soft so I think my small bananas were not small enough. That being said… they were delicious. Such a fabulous treat to be able to make at any time. Thanks for the recipe!
I just made these and they turned out amazing. Would you happen to have the nutrition breakdown for it? I want to add it in my food log. Thank you!
i don’t, sorry!
Made these for myself and my husband….(kids are adults) Super easy, and tasty. So many ways to adjust it. And best of all gluten free (I used GF oats)
These bars are delicious! Just found the recipe and I’ve made them twice. It’s a great snack without all that sugar. Plus I can use my ripened bananas. Haven’t tried yet, but I can see so many ways these bars can be changed slightly according to your tastes. Yum!
These are very quick and easy to make. A family friendly recipe. I added the dates in the place of peanut butter
Super happy how these came out! However I was wondering what the best way is to store them. Should they be refrigerated? Thanks in advance 🙂
yep! i keep them in the fridge
I have made these for the past two years. They are great! I have tried them following the recipe with using an egg, and I have also substituted 1 egg for 1 Tbsp flax meal and 3 Tbsp warm water. Let sit for 5 mins and you have a “flax egg”. This is a great way to make it vegan. They come out great every time!
WOW SUPER EASY TO MAKE AND VERY YUMMY
These are delicious! I used an 8×8 baking dish and had to leave in the oven for about 10 extra minutes because they were pretty thick. I’m excited to share these with my kiddos!
is it supposed to be soft texture? it felt like im eating banana cakes….
yep!
These look amazing! I will give them a try tomorrow for my kids to have for an after school snack. Will this work with natural peanut butter?
They both love to help in the kitchen. My eldest usually likes more cooking meals and my youngest likes baking more. I’m happy to have them especially when they ask if they can help. It makes me so happy. We usually put on some music and be goofy while we’re making something.
Thanks for the recipe!
Had some ripe bananas and wanted to try something a little different. These were easy and delicious! Also, they are made with ingredients I already have in the house. I cut them up and froze them individually to have in the mornings with my smoothie. They freeze and defrost beautifully. Thanks for the recipe.
Mine turned green! I used organic quick oats (rolled oats) and 4 small to medium sized over ripe bananas; cooked for 20 min and let cool for at least 10 minutes. I cut into it and it was wet/crumbly – the mixture was sticking to my knife. What a mess! Fortunately, they’re still edible, but not a good look.
Hi! If you used sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter, it will react with the baking soda and make them turn green. As far as being crumbly, you can try letting them cool completely before cutting or adding 1/2 cup flour next time.
This recipe has been an absolute life-saver and I make a batch every Sunday night so my teenagers can take one on their way to school. They are always in a rush and would often skip breakfast or just take some toast. They love these and they’re much better than the sugary breakfast bars you can get at the supermarket. Thank you!