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Made with just 4-ingredients, these Banana Oat Bars are perfect for healthy breakfasts, snacks, and desserts. These delicious oatmeal bars are vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free. High protein recipe available!
There are two things that can never miss in our kitchen: bananas and oats. Together with protein powder and cinnamon, these are the only ingredients I need to make my daily breakfast.
I highlight, I need. But here at home I’m not alone. Last Sunday, my girlfriend was struggling to find a satisfying snack that she could bring to the office on Monday. Confronted with an empty fridge and a tiny package of pistachios, she was about to go out and get herself something from the store. But the idea of going out with the rain did not excite her. At all. Hearing her hopeless voice from my office, I promptly stood up and reached her in our kitchen.
It took me no more than a couple of minutes to save her from the rain (and no, I was not in the mood for walking under the rain either). I grabbed my oats, some ripe bananas, peanut butter, mix it all up and baked a batch of banana oat bars. Healthy and delicious, perfect for my girlfriend’s snacks during the week.
Ingredients in banana oat bars
This vegan oat bar recipe is not just healthy and delicious, but also incredibly simple. It only calls for four main ingredients, to which extras can be added. Ripe bananas, oatmeal, maple syrup and peanut butter. I’m pretty sure you already have everything in your pantry. Be sure to read further for all details, tips, suggestions and replacement options.
- Ripe bananas. To make eggless oat bars that are naturally sweet and delicious, you will need two large ripe bananas. Once again, they must be ripe. This is very important. As ripe bananas are sweeter and softer, they will give your breakfast bars the best taste and texture.
- Rolled oats. For the best banana bars I recommend rolled oats (also known as “old-fashioned” oats). Quick oats can still be used, but they will give your vegan banana bars a softer, quite mushy texture. In case you have any allergy or intolerance, use certified gluten-free oats.
- Peanut butter. This recipe uses creamy peanut butter, made entirely from nuts without added sugar or oil. You can replace with another nut butter of your choice, such as almond butter and cashew butter, or with sunflower seed butter and tahini if you are allergic to nuts.
- Maple syrup. The maple syrup helps sweeten eggless banana bars without refined sugars. You can replace with a liquid sweetener of your choice, such as honey, agave syrup, date syrup or coconut syrup.
Mix-in ideas
What I love about this healthy oat bar recipe is that it can be customized as you wish. Mix in additional ingredients like vanilla extract or chocolate chips, and you’ll come up with a delicious snack you won’t be able to resist. Feel free to experiment, or give some of the ideas down below a try.
- Chocolate chips: Dark chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips or sugar-free chocolate chips.
- Nuts: Crushed walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts.
- Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, poppy seeds.
- Dried fruits: Raisins, cranberries, dried berries, dried apple.
- Fresh fruit: Blueberries, raspberries, a mix of fresh berries, apple chunks, diced pear, pieces of mango.
- Flavors and spices: Ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, cocoa powder.
- Protein powder: Replace part of the oats with your favorite protein powder. Keep on reading for more details.
High protein banana bars
Making high protein banana bars with oats is incredibly simple. The base recipe remains the same, with the difference that you need to replace 50 grams (1/2 cup) of rolled oats with protein powder.
Whey, casein, and vegan protein powder are all suitable. However, you should keep in mind that protein powders absorb moisture in different amounts. If whey mixes in very easily, plant based options and casein require more moisture. This means that you will probably need to adjust the dough with more oats (whey) or with an additional splash of milk (vegan powders and casein). Lastly, choose the protein powder flavor that you like the most. My favorite (and the one I recommend) is vanilla.
How to make banana oat bars?
- Make the oatmeal dough. Start by mashing the ripe bananas in a large bowl. Add to the mixture peanut butter, maple syrup, and optionally vanilla extract plus a pinch salt. Stir well until the mixture gets smooth. Add the rolled oats to the bowl, then mix well until you get a doughy texture.
- Bake vegan oat bars. Transfer the banana oatmeal dough to a prepared baking pan and top with more sliced bananas, if desired. Bake in hot oven for 20 to 25 minutes and let cool at room temperature before slicing into bars.
Storage directions
After baking, let your oatmeal bake cool completely. Once cool, slice the vegan bars to a food container and cover with a lid so that they won’t absorb humidity. At room temperature, they will last for up to 3 days.
Banana oatmeal bars can also be frozen for up to 3 months. For the best storage, let cool and then seal them into a freezer safe container or in zipping bags. Before serving, remove from the freezer and heat them up in hot oven.
When to eat banana oat bars?
These healthy oat bars are a simple recipe that comes in very handy for many occasions. They are perfect as a snack for the office or school, and they’re also great as a dessert. Or try them as a grab-and-go breakfast, if you have little time in the morning. My tip is to pair your banana bars with a bowl of Greek yogurt and some fruit. This will give you a more satisfying meal with plenty of protein and nutrients.
More healthy recipes with ripe bananas
- Chocolate chip granola bars
- Healthy banana cake
- Banana bread cookies
- Protein flapjacks
- 2 ingredient banana oatmeal cookies
- Low calorie banana bread
- Keto banana bread
- Banana oatmeal muffins
Banana Oat Bars
Ingredients
- 2 large bananas, ripe
- 120 grams (½ cup) peanut butter, creamy, or preferred nut butter
- 45 grams (3 tbsp) maple syrup, or honey
- 180 grams (1 ¾ cups) rolled oats
Optional Ingredients
- 1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
- a pinch of salt, optional
Protein Powder Option
- replace 30 grams (⅓ cup) oats with protein powder, see notes*
Instructions
- Heat oven to 180°C (350°F) and fold a 15 cm x 15 cm (7 inch x 7 inch) brownie pan with parchment paper.
- Start by mashing the ripe bananas in a large mixing bowl. Add to the mixture peanut butter, maple syrup, and optionally vanilla extract plus a pinch salt. Stir well until the mixture gets smooth.
- Add rolled oats to the wet dough, then mix well until you get a doughy texture.
- Transfer the banana oatmeal dough to the prepared baking pan and top with more sliced bananas, if desired.
- Bake in hot oven for 20 to 25 minutes and let cool at room temperature before slicing into bars.
Notes
- Vegan protein powders and casein are more absorbent: you may need a pour of milk more, in case the dough is too thick.
- Whey protein powder mixes very well and dissolves easily: you may need to fix the dough with more oats.
You always give ideas of healthy food Matt. Thank you very much.
Hey dear Constantino,
thank you very much. I am really glad to hear that you appreciate my recipes!!
Have a great weekend,
Matteo
Very good option for these banana oat bars and delicious too!
Hey dear Liza,
thank you very much for your feedback! They are definitely delicious 😉
All the best,
Matteo