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Banana Oatmeal Bars

Banana oatmeal bars made with mashed ripe bananas and rolled oats for chewy, golden rectangles with a soft center and lightly crisp top. Easy meal prep bars that bake up dense and oat-textured, perfect as healthy breakfast bars or a banana oat snack.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 240
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Banana Oatmeal Bars
  • 3 ripe bananas Mash until completely smooth.
  • 2 cup rolled oats Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best chewy texture.
  • 3 tbsp honey or maple syrup Choose honey or maple syrup.
  • 0.25 cup almond butter or peanut butter Stir until fully incorporated.
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 0.5 cup chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or raisins Use one option; fold in last.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 oven

Method
 

Prep and bake
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
  2. Mash the ripe bananas until completely smooth, then stir in the almond butter, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until glossy and uniform.
  3. Fold in the rolled oats until fully combined, then fold in your chosen mix-ins (chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or raisins).
  4. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan so the bars bake with a dense, cohesive center.
  5. Bake for 22–25 minutes at 350°F until the edges are golden and the center is set (no wet batter sheen).
Cool and slice
  1. Cool the pan completely before slicing into bars for clean, neat rectangles.
  2. Refrigerate after cooling for cleaner cuts and a firmer texture that holds shape when stacked.

Notes

For the cleanest rectangles, cool fully at room temperature, then refrigerate before slicing. Store in the fridge up to 5 days in an airtight container; freeze up to 2 months for longer storage. If you want a naturally dairy-free option, use peanut butter instead of almond butter (or vice versa) with no other changes.