These 3 ingredients peanut butter banana breakfast oatmeal bars makes the perfect grab-and-go breakfast or snack. Vegan, healthy yet really delicious !
If you are looking for breakfasts that can be made ahead of time, this is the perfect recipe for you ! Like my chocolate banana baked oatmeal and apple pie baked oatmeal, it is really easy to make, hearty and filling.
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🍌What you will need:
📓Notes / substitutions
- Make sure that you are using bananas that are ripe and spotty. As they are the main sweetener in this recipe, you will want them to be super ripe and sweet.
- Frozen bananas can be used in this recipe, but do defrost them first.
- To make it gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats.
- Both quick oats and rolled oats can be used. Quick oats will yield bars that have less texture.
- Feel free to substitute the peanut butter with other nut butters like almond butter or cashew butter. To make it nut-free, use sunflower seed butter or pumpkin seed butter instead.
- If you like more texture and crunch, add in ½ cup of your favorite nuts ! Be sure to chop them up into smaller pieces.
🍫Optional add-ins
- If you like your oat bars to be extra sweet, add 2 - 4 tablespoons sweetener of choice. Some of my favorite includes maple syrup, coconut sugar and raw sugar.
- Add in ¼ - ½ cups of your favorite chocolate chips to jazz things up.
- Vanilla extract will go really well in this recipe to. I recommend adding about 1 teaspoon.
🔪How to make
Start by preheating oven to 180c / 360f . Line or grease a 8x8 square baking pan.
In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth, using a fork or potato masher. It is ok to have a few small chunks here and there.
Next, add in the peanut butter and mix well. Then, stir in the oats and mix again until the oats are well incorporated.
Transfer the mixture to the baking pan. Using the back of a spoon or a spatula, smooth out the mixture so that it is evenly distributed.
Bake it in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and the sides are golden brown.
Remove it from the oven and let it cool down completely before slicing. Optionally, drizzle on more peanut butter before serving !
❔Commonly asked questions
They are dense and chewy, yet super moist on the inside, somewhere between the texture of a baked oatmeal and granola bar. They also hold their shape pretty well, making them the perfect portable snack to have with you on the go.
As the texture is not at all similar to normal cooked oats, I urge anyone who hate oatmeal to give this recipe a try. Who knows, you might like them !
Depending on the climate, you do have to refrigerate them if they are not consumed within 3-4 days. Simply transfer them to a sealed container and pop them into the fridge. They can be kept there for a week.
Yes, these bars are freezable ! To do so, let them cool down completely first. Then, arrange them on a large plate / tray in a single layer. Pop them into the freezer for 1-2 hours, or until they are frozen.
You can now transfer them to any storage containers or zip-top bags without worrying that they will be stuck together ! They can be freeze for up to 3 months.
To heat, let them defrost in the fridge overnight, then heat them in the oven at 180c for 8-10 minutes, or until they are thoroughly warmed. Alternatively, heat frozen bars in the microwave oven for 45-60 seconds.
🍽More recipes using ripe bananas
- Gluten-free Vegan Sweet Potato Banana Pancakes
- High Protein Vegan Waffles
- Vegan Banana Date Oatmeal Muffins
- Banana Protein Pancakes
If you did make this recipe, do leave a rating and comment down below, we love hearing from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled / quick oats use gluten-free if needed
- ½ cup natural smooth peanut butter
- 4 medium ripe bananas about 400g / 14 oz
- pinch of salt ( if using unsalted peanut butter )
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180c / 360f . Grease / line a 8x8 square baking pan.
- Using a fork or potato masher, mash the bananas until smooth. A few small chunks here and there is ok.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed bananas and peanut butter. Mix well.
- Add in the oats and salt. Mix until everything is well incorporated. Then, transfer the mixture to the baking pan. Using the back of a spoon or spatula, gently press down the mixture so that it is evenly distributed throughout the pan.
- Bake it in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and the sides are golden brown.
- Remove it from the oven and let it cool down completely before slicing. Optionally, drizzle it with extra peanut butter before serving !
Padmini Krishnan
Tried out this recipe today. Easy to make and nutritious. Added some cinnamon and maple syrup to it.Taste was good But found it a bit dry. Can i add some oil to the batter?
Meesha
I would recommend adding about 3/4 cup of plant milk of choice. 😊
Rhonda
What can I used instead of peanut butter thankyou kindly
meesha
Cashew butter and almond butter will work !
Melanie Zaros
These were amazing! So quick and super easy - was looking for a healthy bar for breakfast and this was the best especially since I didn’t have to go to the store to get a ton of ingredients. Will be making from here on out!
meesha
I am really glad you like it !
Deborah
I made these today. I added dark chocolate chips (a half cup) for a little sweetness. I also used unsweetened, sodium free peanut butter My husband loved them too.
I tend to have a bad habit of skipping breakfast, but with these I will have no excuses. They’re perfect.
Kim
I just made this! Delicious! I sprinkled a few vegan chocolate chips on top before baking. Thank you for the great recipe!
meesha
Glad to hear that ! Yum I love topping them with chocolate chips 😋
Mark
Did you mean 350c? Not 150c?
meesha
It is 150 Celcius ! But if you are using farenheit, it should be about 300 degrees.
Jerry Koch
Is it 180 c or 150 c?
meesha
It is 180c ! 🙂
Shannon
Look wonderful! Could you substitute maple syrup or date syrup for the granulated sugar?
meesha
Yes of course ! It works well too.
Lisa
I don’t see sugar in the recipe? Is it
Called for?
meesha
It is an optional ingredient, hence I did not include it in the recipe ingredients itself. But if you prefer it to be extra sweet, you probably want to add some kind of sweetener. Do check out the notes at the very bottom of the recipe card 😊
Christine
Love a healthy grab-n-go breakfast now that school is back in! Thanks for sharing!
meesha
Its my pleasure !
Joey Tureau
Bland as all get-out. About as tasty as tofu and peat moss.
Needs a sweetner like maple syrup or honey - and a big glass of milk.
meesha
Hi Joey, I am really sorry that you did not like it ! I had written in the notes in the recipe card that any sweetener can be added, but it is optional. 🙂
Georgia
What brand peanut butter. In my pantry I have Jif creamy peanut butter. I'm watching my cholesterol and careful with calories. Thanks.
meesha
Yes, I think this brand of peanut butter will work 🙂
Debra
YUM....and I love the healthy ingredient list too. Didn't even need the sugar.
meesha
Glad you like it !
Amanda Marie Boyle
I love these! I needed a quick, easy, make ahead meal and these are perfect!
meesha
They are also one of my fav !
Judi Jacobs
coder49@yahoo.com
Sara
Can you use old fashioned oats for this?
meesha
Yes, you definitely can 😊
Amy
I'm always looking for a more healthy snack for the kids to have at home, especially at the moment as we're spending so much time at home. These look absolutely fantastic and my daughter has already made the bee line for the kitchen! Going to try it out today!
Andréa Janssen
Such an easy recipe and yet so delicious. I love I just can grab one for breakfast.
Estelle Forrest
These are perfect for back to school! I will be making several batches of these to help us through the first few weeks.
Alexandra
These are delicious, and so great to have on hand for a breakfast on the go!
Jinan Banna
In addition to the health benefits you mentioned, I also love this for the fiber content, important for healthy digestion and maintaining a healthy weight! As a dietitian, I enjoy recipes like this!
meesha
Thanks Jinan !