Description
Homemade banana peanut butter oatmeal bars combine classic comfort flavors for a delightful snack. Nutritious ingredients and simple preparation make these bars a quick, satisfying treat you’ll enjoy anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ripe bananas (mashed)
- 250 g (2 ½ cups) rolled oats
- 120 g (½ cup) creamy peanut butter
- 60 ml (¼ cup) honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 50 g (⅓ cup) dark chocolate chips (optional)
- 30 g (¼ cup) chopped nuts (optional, walnuts or almonds)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal and non-stick surface.
- Banana Transformation: Crush ripe bananas into a velvety puree, breaking down all fruit fibers to create a smooth base for the bars.
- Wet Ingredient Fusion: Whisk peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup), and vanilla extract into the mashed bananas until thoroughly combined and homogeneous.
- Dry Ingredient Integration: Gently fold in rolled oats, baking powder, and salt, stirring carefully to distribute ingredients evenly and prevent clumping.
- Optional Texture Enhancement: Delicately incorporate chocolate chips or chopped nuts to add dimensional complexity and satisfying crunch to the mixture.
- Pan Loading: Spread the mixture evenly across the prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula to guarantee uniform baking and consistent texture.
- Baking Process: Bake for 20-25 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges and a set center, which indicates the bars have reached perfect doneness.
- Cooling and Cutting: Allow bars to cool completely in the pan, then slice into precise, uniform portions ready for serving and enjoying.
Notes
- Choose Ripe Bananas: Select overripe bananas with dark brown spots for maximum natural sweetness and easier mashing, ensuring a more flavorful base.
- Prevent Dry Texture: Mix wet ingredients thoroughly before adding dry components to maintain moisture and create a soft, chewy bar consistency.
- Customize Mix-Ins: Experiment with alternative add-ins like chia seeds, dried fruit, or coconut flakes to adapt the recipe for different dietary preferences or flavor profiles.
- Control Sweetness Levels: Adjust honey or maple syrup quantity based on banana ripeness and personal taste, allowing flexibility in sugar content without compromising texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg