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Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars Recipe

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4.2 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Sara
  • Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
  • Yield: 12 bars
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars are a wholesome and delicious snack or breakfast option. Made with rolled oats, ripe bananas, creamy peanut butter, and a touch of cinnamon, they deliver a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Enhanced with semi-sweet chocolate chips, these bars are baked until golden and slightly chewy, making them a satisfying treat for any time of day.

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 ¾ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
  • ⅔ cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¾ cups milk (any milk of choice)

Add-ins

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini preferred)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
  2. Grind Some Oats: Pulverize 1 cup of the rolled oats until finely ground using a food processor or blender. Transfer this ground oat flour to a mixing bowl and stir in the remaining whole oats, baking powder, kosher salt, and ground cinnamon. Whisk the dry ingredients together evenly.
  3. Mash Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, add the ripe bananas and mash them slightly with a fork, leaving some small chunks for texture.
  4. Combine Wet Ingredients: To the mashed bananas, add peanut butter and light brown sugar. Whisk until the mixture is well combined. Then add the egg and vanilla extract, whisking again until smooth. Finally, pour in the milk and whisk until the batter is smooth and homogenous.
  5. Mix in Dry Ingredients: Add the oat mixture to the wet ingredients and gently fold everything together using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until fully incorporated. Stir in ¾ cup of the chocolate chips, reserving the remaining chocolate for topping.
  6. Transfer and Sprinkle: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan and spread it out smoothly. At around the 20-minute mark of baking, sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips evenly on top of the bars.
  7. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes total, watching closely after adding the chocolate chips on top to avoid overbaking. The bars should be golden and set.
  8. Cool and Chill: Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for one hour. After cooling, transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill for an additional hour to help the bars set firmly.
  9. Slice and Serve: Once chilled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper and slice into 12 servings. Enjoy your Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars as a nutritious breakfast or snack!

Notes

  • You can use either creamy or crunchy peanut butter depending on your texture preference.
  • Mini chocolate chips are preferred as they distribute more evenly throughout the bars.
  • Feel free to substitute the milk with any plant-based milk to keep the bars dairy-free.
  • Make sure the bananas are ripe to enhance sweetness and moisture.
  • Bars will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and can be frozen for longer storage.
  • For a gluten-free version, ensure oats are certified gluten-free.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://sarabaking.com/peanut-butter-banana-oatmeal-bars-recipe/