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banana oatmeal bars served

Banana Oatmeal Bars

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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 medium  ripe bananas, mashed
  • 2 cups  old-fashioned rolled oats
  • ¼ cup  honey or maple syrup
  • 1 large  egg
  • ¼ cup  melted coconut oil or butter
  • 1 teaspoon  vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon  cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon  baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon  salt
  • ½ cup  chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit

Method
 

  1. Start by mashing your ripe bananas in a large bowl. You want them soft and smooth — this is what gives the bars natural sweetness and moisture.
  2. To the mashed bananas, add the egg, honey (or maple syrup), melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together until well combined.
  3. In the same bowl, add the oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Stir until everything is evenly coated and no dry oats remain
  4. If you want to add extras like chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, or dried cranberries, fold them in now.
  5. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides so it’s easy to lift the bars out later.
  6. Pour the mixture into the pan and press it down firmly with the back of a spoon or spatula.
  7. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and slightly firm to the touch. The edges should be lightly crisp while the center stays soft and chewy.
  8. Let the pan cool completely before slicing 

Notes

  1. Use very ripe bananas. The riper they are, the sweeter and softer your bars will be.
  2. Don’t overbake. They’ll firm up as they cool, so remove them once the edges are golden.
  3. Add texture. Mix in nuts, seeds, or coconut flakes for a little crunch.
  4. Make it dairy-free. Just use coconut oil instead of butter.
  5. For a dessert twist. Add dark chocolate chips — it makes them taste like banana bread brownies.