Banana Baked Oatmeal Bars (Printable)

Soft and wholesome banana oatmeal bars, perfect for breakfast or snacking

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups rolled oats
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

03 - 1 1/3 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium bananas)
04 - 6 tablespoons water
05 - 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup, agave, or honey, or stevia equivalent
06 - 3 tablespoons oil (such as coconut, vegetable), nut butter, or additional water
07 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Optional Mix-Ins

08 - 1/3 cup chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or seeds

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or grease well.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats and salt.
03 - Add the mashed banana, water, maple syrup or other sweetener, oil or nut butter, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir until evenly combined.
04 - Fold in any optional mix-ins such as chocolate chips or nuts.
05 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and use a spatula to smooth the top. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips or nuts on top if desired.
06 - Bake for 20 minutes. Turn off the oven without opening the door and let the bars sit inside the closed oven for an additional 5 minutes to set.
07 - Remove from the oven, allow to cool completely, then slice into 6–9 bars.
08 - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The texture walks this perfect line between chewy and soft, like a cross between a cookie and your favorite comforting bowl of oatmeal
  • They freeze beautifully so you can batch cook on Sunday and have breakfast handled for weeks
  • The ripe banana does all the sweetening work, making them feel indulgent while staying completely wholesome
02 -
  • Letting them cool completely is non-negotiable, warm bars will fall apart when you try to slice them and nobody wants crumbled disappointment
  • The extra 5 minutes in the turned-off oven is what transforms them from mushy to perfectly firm, dont skip this step
  • Riper bananas equals sweeter bars with better moisture, so wait for those brown spots before baking
03 -
  • Press the mixture firmly into the pan using the back of a measuring cup, tightly packed bars hold together better when sliced
  • Use overripe bananas youve frozen, just thaw and mash, they actually yield more moisture than fresh ones
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