Banana Oatmeal Bars

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Made with pantry staples, this banana oatmeal bars recipe is perfect for breakfast or as a snack! Full of wholesome ingredients, these oatmeal banana bars will keep you feeling full and satisfied.

I’m a snackish person. So naturally, I love having these banana oatmeal bars in my fridge for me to pick at throughout the day. They’re always a hit in my house, and I love that they’re made with simple ingredients that I almost always have on hand.

Close view of a piece of banana oatmeal bar on a parchment sheet.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You can whip these oatmeal bars up in no time. Mix everything in a bowl, transfer it to a lined baking dish, and bake!
You can easily customize this oatmeal bar recipe with whatever you have on hand.
These oatmeal bars use simple, wholesome ingredients that you might already have on hand. I love making my own because some of the store-bought ones have a lot of sugar in them. While store-bought ones are convenient, I like to have homemade ones on hand when possible.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make banana oatmeal bars.

mashed bananas — you’ll need super ripe bananas, so they mash up easily. Plus, they’ll be sweeter!
nut butter — I’m using almond butter, but feel free to use what you have on hand. If you’re using a natural nut butter, make sure to give it a thorough mix so it’s not separated.
rolled oats — old fashioned rolled oats add a delicious oaty flavor and texture to the bars. While you might be able to use instant oats, they may not hold up as well compared to the flaky rolled oats. Do not use steel-cut oats.
cinnamon — ground cinnamon adds a nice warmth to the rolled oats.
vanilla — I recommend using real vanilla extract for the best flavor.
maple syrup — use real maple syrup, and not pancake syrup. They are not the same. Pancake syrup is made with corn syrup and artificial maple extract.
chocolate chips — use your favorite type of chocolate chip or chips. Mini chocolate chips are great in these oatmeal bars as well.
salt — just a pinch of salt to bring out the flavors and to balance them out.

How to Make Banana Oatmeal Bars

Set of two photos showing ingredients all added into a bowl and mixed.

Heat the oven to 350F and line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper.
Add the mashed bananas, nut butter, rolled oats, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and salt to a large mixing bowl.
Mix until well combined.

Set of two photos showing before and after the oatmeal bars are baked.

Transfer the mixture to the lined baking pan and flatten it into a flat, even layer. Feel free to add more chocolate chips on top!
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the edges of the bars are golden and the bars appear to be set.
Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting.

Overhead view of a banana oatmeal bar on a plate with a spoon.

Recipe Tips and Notes

I love adding in extra mix-ins such as nuts (walnuts are great!), seeds (pumpkin and sunflower seeds are my go-tos), or dried fruit (raisins are my fav). You can replace the chocolate chips with them or add them in addition to them!
Avoid cutting the bars immediately, as they need time to firm up. These bars firm up as they cool.
If you have trouble keeping the parchment paper in place while you add the mixture to the pan, blinder clips are great to have on hand. I use them to clip the parchment in place. Make sure to remove them before baking.
The more ripe your bananas, the better. It’s best when your banans are super brown and spotty. They will be the easiest to mash and the sweetest.

Make Ahead Tips

Meal prep: once cooled and sliced, store the banana oatmeal bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. If you keep them on the countertop, they’ll last for around 2 days.
Freezer: wrap each serving in plastic wrap, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

What nut butter can I use?

Peanut butter banana oatmeal bars is one of my go-to variations for this oatmeal bar recipe! I almost always have a giant jar of peanut butter in my pantry. Cashew butter is great as well! Again, just make sure whatever nut butter you use is well mixed so it’s not separated.

How do I quickly ripen a banana?

If your bananas aren’t ripe, you can help speed up the process by placing your bananas in a paper bag. As they release ethylene gas, they speed up the ripening process in 1-2 days. You can also add an apple in there if you have one, as it’ll speed up the process even more!