These Easy Banana Oat Bars are easy to make, kid-friendly and make the perfect snack. Grab the kids and try this recipe today!
*Originally published in Jan 2017. Updated September 2026*
Hi friends!
These Healthy Banana Oat Bars are a kid favorite around here and they’re so darn easy. We make them frequently because they’re perfect for baking with kids and they always taste good. Plus I always have ripe bananas on hand!
Looking for other banana recipes? Find all my banana recipes here including things like Lentil Banana Muffins and Banana Flax Muffins.
Plus they’re the perfect recipe for having the kids help! You guys know I’m a huge proponent of kids in the kitchen! Here’s the Ultimate Guide for Teaching Kids To Cook and I’ve got a whole roundup of Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes if you’re looking for a place to start.
Ingredients for Healthy Banana Oat Bars
So what ingredients do you need for these banana breakfast bars?
- Bananas – The riper the better because we don’t add a ton of added sugar to this recipe.
- Butter- Melted so it they are easy to mix together and helps add some flavor.
- Oats – My kids prefer instant oats because they are less noticeable. You can use rolled oats if you prefer.
- Peanut Butter – Adds some healthy fats and boosts the protein content.
- Sugar – You can also sub maple syrup if you prefer
- Egg- adds some structure.
- Greek yogurt – Helps make them nice and fluffy
- Vanilla and cinnamon – for flavor!
- Hemp and flax – helps add a boost of nutrients without altering the flavor. Learn more about seeds here.
- Chocolate chips – optional.
As you can see, there’s nothing fancy and you probably have all these ingredients on hand already!
How To Make Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Making these bars couldn’t be easier!
- Mash the bananas in a large bowl.
- Mix in the melted butter, peanut butter, yogurt, egg, sugar and vanilla.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Spoon into an 9×9 pan and bake.
Grab your kids and head to the kitchen to make these today!
Healthy Banana Oat Bars Recipe
Easy Banana Oat Bars
These Easy Banana Oat Bars are gluten-free, kid-friendly and make the perfect snack.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8x8 or 9x9 pan 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup ripe bananas (approx 3 medium-large)
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (can omit to make nut-free)
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup sugar (can sub maple syrup)
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup flour (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1/2 cup quick oats**
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup ground flax
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds
- chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Mash bananas in a bowl.
- Add peanut butter, yogurt, egg, sugar and vanilla and mix well
- Add remaining ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Spoon into a 9×9 baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes.
- Let cool, cut and serve.
Notes
**as my kids have gotten older, they’ve started to prefer quick oats over rolled oats because they are chopped into smaller pieces and are less noticeable. You can use rolled oats if you prefer and can even increase to 1 cup if you want.
This recipe was recently updated. Here’s the original recipe for your reference if you prefer it: 1 cup mashed ripe bananas, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 2-4 Tbsp maple syrup, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 cups rolled oats, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon – Combine all ingredints in a bowl, bake in an 8×8 pan at 350 for 20-22 minutes
Banana Oat Bars FAQS
Can I make blueberry banana oat bars?
Yes! Feel free to substitute fresh or frozen blueberries for the chocolate chips if you prefer.
How to make chocolate banana oat bars?
Try adding 1/4 cup cocoa powder to give these a chocolate twist. You may need to add another tablespoon or two of sugar to balance the bitterness of the cocoa powder.
How to make vegan banana oat bars
If you need to make this recipe vegan, I would use the original recipe- it’s in the notes section of the recipe card and substitute a flax egg or 1/4 cup applesauce for the egg.
How to store these bars?
Once the bars are cooled and cut, you can store in a container on the counter for 3-4 days.
Are these gluten-free banana oat bars?
To make this recipe gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. I like King Arthur Measure for Measure. Also make sure your oats are certified gluten-free.
How can I make no-bake banana oat bars?
These bars require an oven but if you’re looking for a no-bake recipe, try these No Bake Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars.
Can these be carrot banana oat bars?
Yes! You could easily add 1/2 – 3/4 cup of shredded carrots to these bars!
How can I make 4 ingredient banana oat bars?
The 4 main ingredients in these bars are mashed bananas, peanut butter, oats and an egg so if you really want to keep it simple you can try that. The cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup just add a little more flavor. Mix-ins are extra ingredients but a fun way to customize these bars to your liking.
Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Bars
Let’s chat:
Do your kids help you in the kitchen? What’s your favorite thing to make?
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
