Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars (Printer-Friendly)

Chewy bars made from peanut butter, ripe banana, and oats, perfect for a quick, wholesome snack anytime.

# What You'll 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 the bananas until smooth.
03 - Add peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas; stir until well combined.
04 - Add oats, salt, cinnamon, and optional nuts or chocolate chips; mix until evenly incorporated.
05 - Transfer mixture to the prepared pan and press firmly and evenly with the back of a spoon or spatula.
06 - Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm enough to slice.
07 - Lift bars from pan using parchment overhang, slice into 12 bars, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They come together in the time it takes to brew coffee—no mixer, no oven, just you and a bowl.
  • The texture is genuinely addictive, that perfect chew that makes you reach for one more.
  • They stay fresh in the fridge for a week, which means your future self will thank you.
02 -
  • Don't skip the salt—it makes everything taste more like itself and prevents that one-dimensional sweetness that catches people off-guard.
  • Cold peanut butter straight from the fridge won't blend smoothly; let it sit for a few minutes or use warm peanut butter if you're in a hurry.
  • These need to be cold and firm to slice nicely, so don't try to rush the chilling time or you'll end up with crumbly chaos.
03 -
  • Softening your peanut butter in the microwave for 15 seconds makes it blend with the bananas without creating clumps that refuse to cooperate.
  • Slightly overpressing the mixture into the pan creates better bars that hold their edges when you cut them, even if the center stays fudgy.
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