Chewy and hearty, these banana flapjacks are a healthier twist on the classic British oat bars. Requiring only 5 ingredients and 30 minutes, this freezer-friendly recipe is great for busy workday mornings.
I liking pairing it with high-protein drinks, including protein coffee, protein hot chocolate, or my tofu smoothie.
These banana flapjacks are the first thing I learned to bake, and almost a decade later, they are still a staple in our household because they are simply THAT GOOD.
And it requires very little added sugar, as bananas act as a natural sweetener. (If you love recipes with bananas, try out my banana applesauce muffins, vegan banana oatmeal muffins, or steel-cut oats cookies!)
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💚Why you will love banana flapjacks
- Soft and subtly sweet with a hearty bite
- Naturally vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free
- One-bowl recipe only requiring 5 staple ingredients
- Perfect grab-and-go breakfast or snack for busy workdays
🍌What you will need
- Bananas - Choose ripe and spotty ones; they are the main sweetener in this recipe.
- Nut butter - Works as a substitute for butter. I chose peanut butter, but any other nut butter works.
- Oats - You can use either instant or rolled oats. Instant oats give a smoother texture, while rolled oats yield a heartier bite.
- Maple syrup - Can be substituted with another liquid sweetener, such as honey or agave syrup.
✨Ingredient variations and mix-ins
- Add some milk - This recipe yields chewier flapjacks. If you prefer them super moist and fudgy, add ½ cup of milk of your choice.
- Using frozen bananas - Allow them to thaw completely, then drain off excess liquid before using.
- Chopped nuts - Almonds, walnuts, and pecans are some great additions.
- Dried fruits - For extra sweetness, add a handful of raisins, chopped dates, or any other dried fruits of choice!
- Chocolate chips - Or chop up your favorite chocolate bar.
- Chocolate banana flapjacks - Add 3-4 tablespoons cocoa powder and ¼ cup milk (so the mixture is not too dry).
🔪How to make
Step 1: In a large bowl, mash bananas until smooth, then add the nut butter and maple syrup. Combine to mix.
Step 2: Stir in oats and ground cinnamon. Mix until everything is well incorporated.
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Step 3: Transfer batter to an 8x8 baking pan lined with parchment paper and smooth it out. Optionally, top with banana slices.
Step 4: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until firm and golden. Transfer banana flapjacks to a cooling rack to cool completely before slicing.
✔️Helpful tips
- Allow to cool completely before slicing - Banana flapjacks are softer and more fragile when warm, but will firm up after cooling, making them easier to slice.
- Overhang parchment paper - This way, it will be easier to lift banana flapjacks off the pan. Check out this short video on how to line your baking pan.
❄️Storing suggestions
Storing - These healthy flapjacks can be refrigerated for 5 days. To freeze, transfer them to zip-top bags or freezer containers, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating - Allow to thaw overnight, then heat it in an oven or toaster oven for 5-8 minutes. Or microwave in 15-second bursts from frozen until warm.
❔Commonly asked questions
It is normal for a freshly baked flapjack to be crumbly and more delicate. It will firm up as it cools. However, if your flapjack is still dry and crumbly after cooling, you might have added too many oats or overbaked it.
To salvage dry flapjacks, serve them with a splash of milk, or crumble them up and use them as a granola to top your yogurt or smoothie bowls.
Bananas are a fantastic addition to flapjacks. They naturally sweeten the oat bars, add moisture, and act as a binder, thereby reducing the need for golden syrup and butter. As a result, you will make healthier flapjacks that are lower in sugar, fat, and calories!
The term "flapjack" refers to different foods depending on the region you are in. In the US and Canada, "flapjacks" is just another name for pancakes - a flat, round cake made from cooking batter in a pan.
However, in the UK, flapjacks are something else entirely. It refers to a square, baked oat bar made with oats, golden syrup, and melted butter.
📖 Recipe
Healthy Banana Flapjacks (5 ingredients)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats or instant oats*
- 4 medium banana (about 14oz/400g)**
- ½ cup peanut butter or another nut butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup or another liquid sweetener
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- In a bowl, mash bananas until smooth using a fork or potato masher.
- Add nut butter and maple syrup to the bowl and mix well.
- Then, add oats and ground cinnamon. Mix until everything is well incorporated
- Pour the batter into an 8x8 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Top it with banana slices, if desired.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are golden. Allow flapjacks to set in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Let flapjacks cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Allow to cool completely before slicing - Banana flapjacks are softer and more fragile when warm, but will firm up after cooling, making them easier to slice.
- Overhang parchment paper - This way, it will be easier to lift banana flapjacks off the pan. Check out this short video on how to line your baking pan.
Save this recipe!
Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.
Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
Suse says
So easy! Perfect for my little boy with an egg allergy! And tasty for mum and dad too!