Give it up, my sweet friend! You cannot resist the temptation of this recipe. I am literally OBSESSED with these Soft Banana Oatmeal Bars. They are my kitchen superhero, swooping in to save the day every single time. If you’re a fan of banana-based treats, you might also love these bakery-style banana chocolate chip muffins for another easy, crowd-pleasing option.
Got bananas going spotty on the counter? We’ve got you. Need a crazy-easy snack that everyone will love? Done. Desperate for a healthy treat that feels like a hug? Come to Mama! This is the one recipe you’ll make on repeat.
It’s the perfect mash-up of a soft breakfast bar, a wholesome snack, and a toddler-approved treat. No fancy skills needed, just one bowl and a whole lot of banana love.
Recipe Overview
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Snack, Breakfast
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 12 bars
Do You Love This Recipe Too?
Let me tell you why this recipe is my soulmate. My little one went through a phase of refusing everything but yogurt melts. I was losing my mind!
Then I mashed these together in a panic one morning. The smell alone brought her running. She devoured an entire bar. I cried happy tears with a mouth full of warm, banana-y goodness. Now we make them every Sunday for the week ahead. It’s our thing.
My Shopping List for This Recipe
This is the beautiful part. You probably have 90% of this list in your pantry right now. We’re keeping it simple, wholesome, and totally flexible. The star is those overripe bananas!
Soft Banana Oatmeal Bars Recipe
Let’s Get Your Ingredients Ready
Bringing This Recipe to Life (Step-by-Step)
Notes
Enjoy your homemade Soft Banana Oatmeal Bars Recipe!
Nutrition Information
Let’s Get Your Ingredients Ready
Grab your favorite mixing bowl and let’s line everything up. This is the calm before the delicious, easy storm. Here’s what you need:
- 3 medium overripe bananas (the spottier, the sweeter!)
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup mix-ins: chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or raisins
Bringing This Recipe to Life (Step-by-Step)
Are you ready? This is where the magic happens. It’s so simple, you’ll be dancing around your kitchen. Preheat that oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mash those bananas with a fork until mostly smooth. A few lumps are totally fine!
- Add the peanut butter, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla to the bananas. Stir it all together until it’s one glorious, gooey mixture.
- Dump in the oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Fold everything together until the oats are fully coated. This is your base!
- Now for the fun part! Gently fold in your chosen mix-ins. I’m a classic chocolate chip person, myself.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Use a spatula to press it down into a smooth, even layer. This is key for perfect bars!
- Bake for 23-27 minutes. You want the edges to be golden brown and the top to feel set. Your kitchen will smell incredible.
- This is the hardest step: let the pan cool completely on a wire rack before you slice. It lets the bars firm up perfectly.
- Slice into squares, rectangles, or fun shapes for the kids. Then, try not to eat them all in one go!
Fun Variations to Try Next Time
Once you master the basic bar, the world is your oyster! Here are a few of my favorite twists to keep things exciting.
Sunshine Bars: Swap the chocolate chips for 1/3 cup dried cranberries and a handful of sunflower seeds. So good!
Double Chocolate: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the dry ingredients and use dark chocolate chips. A chocolate lover’s dream.
Apple Pie Bars: Replace one banana with 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce and add a pinch of nutmeg. Taste like fall!
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
These bars are meal prep royalty. They make your future self so, so happy.
Store cooled bars in an airtight container at room temp for 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. They are fantastic cold!
To freeze, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. They’ll keep for 3 months. Thaw at room temp or pop one straight into the lunchbox—it’ll be thawed by snack time!
NUTRITION INFORMATION
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: ~180
- Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 9g
- Protein: 5g
(Note: This is an estimate. Values will change with your specific ingredients and mix-ins.)
A Quick Q&A on This Recipe
Can I make these without peanut butter?
Absolutely! You can use any nut or seed butter you love. Sunflower seed butter is a perfect school-safe swap. The bars might be a tiny bit more crumbly, but just as yummy.
My bananas aren’t ripe! Help!
Been there! You can speed-ripen them. Place whole bananas on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 15-20 minutes, until the skins are black. Let them cool, then scoop out the soft insides. It’s a total game-changer in a pinch! This trick also works perfectly for making a batch of healthy banana oat muffins when you’re short on time.
Are these bars good for school lunches?
They are THE BEST school snack. They don’t get soggy, they pack easily, and they give kids real energy. Just check your school’s nut policy and use sunflower butter if needed. My kid gets so excited to find one in her lunchbox.
See? I told you this recipe was a game-changer. It solves so many problems with one simple bowl of goodness. Whether you need a quick breakfast, a lunchbox star, or a 3 PM snack that won’t cause a crash, these bars have your back.
They are soft, they are satisfying, and they are made with so much love. I get a little thrill every time I see those spotty bananas now, knowing what deliciousness they’re about to become. For another nutritious way to use them up, try these soft and nutritious whole wheat banana muffins.
I am dying to hear how your batch turns out! Did your kids go crazy for them? What mix-ins did you try? Please leave a comment and a rating below to let me know what you think! You’ve got this!
