Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars (Printable Version)

Chewy bars blending peanut butter, ripe bananas, and hearty oats, perfect for quick energy and easy prep.

# What You Need:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
03 - 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Dry Ingredients

05 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
06 - 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
07 - 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

# How to Make It:

01 - Line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, mash bananas until smooth.
03 - Add peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas; stir until fully blended.
04 - Add oats, salt, cinnamon, and optional nuts or chocolate chips; mix until evenly combined.
05 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press firmly and evenly using the back of a spoon or spatula.
06 - Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until the mixture is firm enough to cut.
07 - Lift bars out using parchment overhang, slice into 12 bars, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're genuinely energizing without any pretense or protein powder—just whole foods that actually taste good.
  • No oven means you can make them while someone else is cooking dinner, or sneak a batch together with a friend on a lazy Sunday.
  • They hold up beautifully in your bag or lunchbox, wrapped in foil like little treasures.
02 -
  • Don't skip the chilling time or you'll end up with a pile of crumbs instead of bars—the cold is what transforms the mixture into something sliceable.
  • If your peanut butter is very thick, slightly warm it first so it incorporates smoothly without creating little pockets of resistance in the mixture.
03 -
  • Press the mixture firmly when it goes into the pan—loose pressing means crumbly bars, and firm pressing means they hold together beautifully.
  • A damp knife makes cleaner cuts than a dry one, so keep a small bowl of water nearby and wipe between slices.
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