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3-ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars are perfectly soft, nutty and sweet, yet they have no added sugar! They’re such a quick, easy, and healthy snack or breakfast for all ages. Baby-led weaning and toddler-friendly!
Soft-Baked Banana Oatmeal Bars – Only 3 Ingredients!
Feeding kids is a never-ending task, especially when it seems like they’re constantly hungry! It helps to have super simple, easy-to-prepare recipes in your arsenal. These soft-baked 3-ingredient banana oatmeal bars fit these criteria perfectly.
Made with 3 simple ingredients, including overripe bananas, rolled oats, and natural peanut butter, you can feel good about serving this nutritious snack to kids of all ages.
The key with these healthy banana oatmeal bars is to use overripe bananas for maximum flavour and sweetness. Don’t worry if you don’t have overripe bananas on hand; below, I’ve outlined 3 methods to ripen bananas quickly.
As a bonus, these soft, chewy, and perfectly sweetened banana oats bars are perfect for baby led weaning. Just cut into thin strips for babies around six months and small chunks for babies who have mastered the pincer grasp. It’s a deliciously versatile snack for all ages!
Why We Love These Banana Oat Bars
- Baby-led weaning friendly: These soft granola bars are soft and chewy, which makes them great even for babies to handle.
- Super easy: This recipe requires only one bowl and 3 ingredients for a nutritious kid-approved snack. You can even make a double batch and freeze the extra for later!
- No added sugar: Using overripe bananas, we get a natural boost of sweetness in these breakfast bars without the need to add in any extra sugar.
- Filling: Thanks to the high fibre in the oats and the fat and protein in the peanut butter, this is the perfect healthy snack to keep your little one full!
Ingredient Notes
- Banana: Use an overripe, brown spotty banana in these 3 ingredient banana oatmeal bars for maximum sweetness and easy mashing.
- Rolled oats: We prefer to use rolled oats because they hold their texture when baking, whereas quick oats or instant oats tend to break down. However, either one can be used in this recipe.
- Peanut butter: To cut down on extra sugar and salt, we use natural peanut butter. You could also use any type of natural nut or seed butter, like sunflower seed butter.
- Sea salt: A pinch of salt is optional and not recommended for really small children, but it does bring out all the flavours and helps to balance the sweetness.
How to Quickly Ripen Bananas
Paper bag method: Place bananas in a brown paper bag with another ripe fruit like an apple or avocado. Loosely fold over the top of the bag, and within 24-36 hours, the ethylene gas will ripen up those bananas.
Oven method: Place unpeeled bananas 1 inch apart on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes in a 350-degree F oven or until evenly browned on the outside.
Microwave method: Using a fork, poke the unpeeled banana all over with a fork, place it on a plate, and microwave on high in 30-second increments until soft.
How to Make 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Next, in a large bowl, mash bananas, then add in the oats, peanut butter, and salt if using. Stir to mix well.
- Pour the banana oat bar batter in prepared square baking pan, pressing down to make an even layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes. The bars are done when the top is golden brown and slightly firm to the touch.
- Remove bars from oven and let cool. Once cool, remove from pan and slice into 16 bars. If desired drizzle with peanut butter and garnish with sliced bananas.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
TIPS FOR THE BEST OATMEAL BARS
- For optimal taste and flavour, opt for overripe bananas (the ones with the brown spots). The bananas naturally sweeten the bars, so it’s best to use the sweetest bananas possible.
- To make these bars easier to cut, it’s best to wait until they have fully cooled down before slicing them, as they become firmer once they’ve cooled.
- To speed up the process, you can use your electric mixer for mashing the bananas. Cut your peeled spotted bananas into big chunks and put them in the mixing bowl of your stand mixer. Alternatively, you can use a hand mixer and a regular mixing bowl. Start by beating on low-speed, then gradually raise it to medium-high until the bananas transform into mashed consistency. You can also utilize this same bowl for blending in the other ingredients too.
- If you’d prefer to make this recipe in a muffin tin, check out these 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Muffins instead!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, quick oats can be used instead of rolled oats. However, keep in mind that quick oats will not maintain a more chewy texture when baked like rolled oats and will therefore have a softer texture.
Since these bars are baked and contain no raw ingredients, they can be kept on the counter for a couple of days. However, I find they tend to hold their shape better when stored in the fridge.
These oatmeal bars are very soft and great for babies and toddlers. They’re like oatmeal baked into healthy banana oatmeal bars. Since they’re baked, the oatmeal becomes very soft and tender for young eaters.
Storage Guidelines
- Room temperature: Store soft baked banana oatmeal bars in an airtight container. Try to let as little air as possible reach the bars; the air can cause them to dry out and go bad sooner. The bars are good for 1-2 days at room temperature.
- Refrigerator: Either chill the entire baking tray of oatmeal bars or wrap the slices individually with parchment paper or plastic wrap. Store them in a sealed container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- Freezer: To freeze bars, place them between wax paper and store them in a freezer-safe zip lock bag or air-tight container. The banana bars are good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Optional Add-Ins or Toppings
This is one of my favourite recipes because it’s so versatile! Serve these 3-ingredient banana oatmeal bars as is or toss in some extra add-ins to make them even more tasty and fun!
Try adding any of the following:
- Dark, semi-sweet, or white chocolate chips
- Raisins
- Dried fruit
- Chopped dates
- Cinnamon
- Hemp seeds
- Ground flax seeds
- Chia seeds
- Banana slices
- Coconut flakes
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
- Dark chocolate drizzle
- Maple syrup
- Honey
Serving Suggestions
Peanut butter banana oatmeal bars pair well with a fruit smoothie (try this strawberry banana smoothie without yogurt or Tropical Smoothie peanut butter cup recipe), fluffy scrambled eggs, fresh berries, or a glass of milk or milk alternative.
They’re also a great snack on-the-go with a cheese stick and some fresh fruit!
Recipe Variations
- Switch up the nut butter: Try almond butter, cashew butter, or hazelnut butter instead of peanut butter.
- Chocolate chip banana oatmeal bars: Add some mini chocolate chips for a little crunch and sweetness!
- To make nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter or try these nut free breakfast bars instead!
- For extra protein: To incorporate extra protein, add 1 beaten egg to the batter while mixing or add in a sprinkle of hemp hearts.
- For additional flavour: Add a little cinnamon and a splash of vanilla extract.
- Add extra fruit: Add in some berries or try out these strawberry banana oat bars!
More Tasty Oatmeal Recipes
- Single Serve Baked Oatmeal
- Banana Pumpkin Bars
- 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
- 3-Ingredient Cookies {No Egg}
- 3-Ingredient Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
- BLW Overnight Oats
- Baked Chocolate Chip Oatmeal
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3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups mashed overripe bananas (about 5 large bananas), plus extra slices for topping
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup natural peanut butter, plus more for drizzling on top
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas, then add the oats, peanut butter and salt (if using). Mix well.
- Transfer the batter into the lined pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and slightly firm to the touch.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Once cool, carefully remove from pan and slice into 16 bars. Top with a drizzle of natural peanut butter and extra banana slices, if desired.
Notes
- For optimal taste and flavour, opt for overripe bananas (the ones with the brown spots). The bananas naturally sweeten the bars, so it’s best to use the sweetest bananas possible.
- To make these bars easier to cut, it’s best to wait until they have fully cooled down before slicing them, as they become firmer once they’ve cooled.
- To speed up the process, you can use your electric mixer for mashing the bananas. Cut your peeled spotted bananas into big chunks and put them in the mixing bowl of your stand mixer. Alternatively, you can use a hand mixer and a regular mixing bowl. Start by beating on low-speed, then gradually raise it to medium-high until the bananas transform into mashed consistency. You can also utilize this same bowl for blending in the other ingredients too.
