Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars (with Blueberries)
Soft, chewy oatmeal bars packed with mashed banana, creamy peanut butter, and juicy blueberries. This one-bowl freezer-friendly snack is perfect for kids, babies, and busy mornings!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup mashed ripe banana, about 2 small bananas
- ⅓ cup + 1 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp maple syrup, optional
- 1¾ cups rolled oats, finely chopped in a food processor
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon, optional
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds or ground flaxseed, optional
- ⅔ cup fresh blueberries
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
- Pulse the rolled oats in a food processor several times until finely chopped but still with some texture.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas thoroughly with a fork until mostly smooth. Add the peanut butter, egg, milk, vanilla, and maple syrup if using, and whisk until completely smooth and combined.
- Stir in the chopped oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and chia seeds if using, mixing until everything is evenly incorporated. Let the batter sit for 5 minutes to allow the oats to absorb moisture.
- Gently fold in the blueberries, taking care not to crush them. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, spreading evenly and smoothing the top.
- Bake for 26-30 minutes, until the center is set and the edges are lightly golden. A toothpick inserted near the center should come out mostly clean. Cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes before lifting out and slicing into 16 bars.
Notes
Sandy’s tips:
- Choose the ripest bananas: Look for bananas that are heavily speckled with brown spots. The sweeter the bananas, the less added sweetener you'll need.
- Use creamy peanut butter: Natural peanut butter works great, but make sure to stir it well before measuring. Any nut or seed butter can be substituted.
- Make ahead: You can prep the dry ingredients ahead of time. Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer-friendly: These bars freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container or bag, separating layers with parchment paper.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm briefly in the microwave.
- Process the oats: Processing the oats helps the bars hold together better while still giving them that satisfying chewy texture. TIP: I've tried NOT processing the oats, and they are not as good (not a good texture).
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 88kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.003g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 48mg, Potassium: 105mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 26IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 1mg