Healthy Banana Oatmeal Bars are made with ripe bananas, oats, dates, and all the delicious add-ins you like in your morning bowl of oats! A portable quick and easy breakfast or healthy snacks idea.
Don’t miss these other healthy snack ideas – healthy oatmeal muffins, healthy apple oatmeal bars, or sugar free oatmeal cookies!
Table of Contents
These healthy banana oatmeal bars are insane! Whether you’re a banana lover, an oatmeal lover, or just love healthy breakfast options, these bars are for you!
They’re similar to banana protein muffins but they don’t contain any protein powder. They do however have flax seeds or hemp hearts instead.
They’re a baked alternative to traditional oatmeal, much like my healthy carrot cake baked oatmeal, and naturally sweetened with ripe bananas and Medjool dates.
When I don’t have any healthy banana oatmeal cookies or chocolate banana chia pudding, these banana oat bars are just as good for a treat!
Looking for more baked oatmeal goodies? Try my baked oatmeal bars with carrots, carrot oatmeal muffins, or healthy apple crisp.
Ingredients for Healthy Banana Oatmeal Bars
Super simple ingredients and most you’ve probably already got.
- Mashed ripe bananas, measure after mashing: The riper the better for optimal sweetness. Give us all the potassium! If you have over ripen bananas, here’s how to freeze bananas to use them later. If you have under ripe bananas, here is how to ripen bananas faster.
- Applesauce: I use unsweetened applesauce to avoid any added sugar. It provides moisture and a subtle apple flavor which is a great pairing with oats and cinnamon.
- Milk: Any milk will do. To keep it dairy free I use unsweetened almond milk. You could try oat milk, cashew milk, or even coconut milk too.
- Oats: Quick or old fashioned rolled oats will both work in this recipe as well as in quinoa granola bars. The texture may be different in the end, but the taste will be the same. Use certified gluten free oats to ensure this recipe remains gluten-free.
- Ground flaxseed: Flax has a ton of fiber and Omega 3s. You could also use hemp hearts for increased protein. When mixed with a liquid it also acts as a binder, since we’re not using any eggs!
- Baking powder and baking soda: We need these to ensure our bars don’t fall flat. We want them nice and decadent! Look for aluminum free baking powder.
- Cinnamon: A delicious warm spice that adds incredible flavor.
- Salt: A little bit of seasoning is needed to enhance the flavor of all of the other ingredients.
- Medjool dates: High in fiber, iron, and magnesium, they also are just delicious. They’re sweet and when chopped they can replace all kinds of dried fruit. Feel free to swap them for raisins or another dried fruit.
- Walnuts: Or any chopped nut like almond, cashews, pecans or even hazelnuts! It’s almost like eating healthy banana bread studded with nuts.
- Cooking spray: I use Misto to create a nonstick surface.
- Chocolate chips: Optional but recommended!
Optional Additions
Coconut flakes, peanut butter, pumpkin seed butter, or almond butter can be added to the batter for a little something extra.
You could also sprinkle one half with chocolate chips for children and leave the other half plain for the adults. Just like with a bowl of Instant Pot steel cut oats, make it your own!
How to Make Healthy Banana Oatmeal Bars
This whole recipe is done in one bowl. First, we combine the mashed bananas, applesauce, and milk. Then we add the oats and salt. It’ll become thicker at this point and then the dates and walnuts will add even more texture.
Once you’ve preheated the oven and prepared a baking dish, pour the batter into it and level it out with a spatula. It’ll be thick so it will need a bit of help reaching the walls of the dish. If you are going to be using chocolate chips add them in just before baking.
Bake for 40 minutes and test with a toothpick inserted into the center. If it comes out clean it’s done. Take the bars out and let them cool before slicing.
These bars can be enjoyed hot, warm, or cold. On their own or with a side of yogurt, drizzled with maple syrup or honey, or slathered with peanut butter. However you like your oatmeal, eat the bars the same way!
FAQs
Yes, you can! It’s a powder, so you’ll need to adjust the recipe with extra liquid. Slowly add some milk to keep it at the consistency of the original recipe. You may also love these protein pancakes.
Technically you don’t. They do help the bars rise to a chewier and heartier texture. If you skip them, which you can, they will be flatter as a result.
Yogurt or any other fruit puree should work. Greek yogurt may work for fructose sensitivities but has not been tested.
They’re thick, and slightly chewy without being too soft. The bananas and the oats balance each other in terms of moisture and dryness, which is nice. It is like a baked bowl of oats!
You may also like these healthy overnight oats for another way to enjoy oats!
Can I Make a Gluten Free Version?
Based on the ingredients listed, these bars are naturally gluten free. Since we do not have anyone with gluten intolerance in the family, I’ve never needed to be extremely careful.
In a case where you need to be, just make sure all of your ingredients are certified gluten free. This means they’re free from gluten but with the added assurance that there’s no cross contamination either.
FYI, these banana oat bars are also vegan. You do not need any eggs here.
Are These Bars Healthy?
Oh boy, are they ever! Tons of protein, fiber, iron, potassium, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and the list goes on! No refined sugars, vegan, dairy free, gluten free, and sweetened naturally with nutrient dense ingredients.
Go ahead, enjoy a bar and then have another!
How to Store
I usually make a double batch so I can refrigerate half and freeze the other half.
Baking it in a 9″ x 13″ baking dish means I can place the whole thing in the fridge. Sliced up and ready to go for the taking!
More Banana Sweetened Recipes
- Healthy banana muffins
- Healthy banana oatmeal muffins
- Healthy banana chocolate chips muffins
- Healthy banana zucchini muffins
- Healthy banana pancakes
- Oat flour banana bread
- Protein granola bars
- Breakfast cookies
Check out these 10 healthy banana snacks or all of my favorite healthy snacks for more ideas.
Healthy Banana Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas 2 large bananas
- 1 cup applesauce unsweetened
- 1/2 cup any milk I used unsweetened almond milk
- 2 cups quick or old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed or hemp hearts
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 5 Medjool dates pitted & chopped (or 1/3 cup any dried fruit)
- 1/2 cup walnuts or any nuts chopped
- Cooking spray I use Misto
- Chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, line 8 x 8 square baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, add bananas, applesauce, milk and stir to combine. Add oats through salt and mix well to combine. Add dates and walnuts, stir enough to incorporate.
- Pour into prepared baking dish, level with spatula and top with chocolate chips if desired (I usually sprinkle half for the kids). Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven, let cool for 10 minutes and cut into 8 bars. Serve hot, warm or cold with yogurt, peanut butter or whatever you like for breakfast.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Freeze: In resealable container for up 3-4 months.
- You could also use a non-stick muffin tin or BPA-free silicone baking cups.
- I also like to double the recipe, bake in 9″ x 13″ baking dish and freeze for later.
- Please note, baking time could increase by about 15 minutes, depending on your oven.
- I used unsweetened homemade Instant Pot applesauce.
Hi
I’ve been looking for a quick and easy on the go breakfast option and I really like the sound of your Banana Nut Oatmeal Bars but I’m sensitive to fructose so was wondering if you have any suggestions to substitute for the apple sauce?
Thanks
Hi Alice. I think Greek yogurt might work. Have you seen my post about 25 breakfasts on the go?
Great, thanks Olena, I’ll give Greek yoghurt a go.
No I hadn’t seen that post, I’ll have a look now. Thanks so much!
Here is that post https://ifoodreal.com/breakfast-meal-prep/. I replied from my phone earlier so couldn’t include the link. Hope you had found it.
I made these for my 15 month old babies. Instead of nuts I substituted Cheerios and instead of dates used raisins. This is a baby approved recipe too!
Awesome!Not sure if you used regular Cheerios but next time try Nature’s Path Whole O’s that are organic and naturally sweetened, I think. Way better for babies. 2 babies sound so cute right now! Enjoy them while you can although some days it is tough.:)
I have Steel Cut Oats. May I use those in recipe or will I need more liquid and longer baking time?
Hi Mags. Yeah, you are correct.
I have steel oats. How much more liquid do I need and what is the adjustment cooking time or temperature for the banana oat bars? Thanks
Hi Maggie. Technically you could but what are the adjustments I don’t know. I haven’t tested.
What can u use instead of bananas as it just makes them too sweet for me and I reduced the apple sauce too , but I realise it needs something to bind it, but what ? Any ideas/ suggestions? Thanks!!
Bananas need to be there and applesauce doesn’t make them too sweet. It is the dates you taste sweetness from. So just use less dates.:)
I didn’t put any dates in anyway ! So still too sweet !
Made this today for breakfast and everyone loved it! I didn’t have flax seeds or dried fruit so I left that out. Used coconut milk and added fresh blueberries. Couldn’t believe how quickly it disappeared. Going in our list of family favorites for sure. Loved that there were no eggs or added sugar.
Hi Olena, I just made these, they’re baking as I write. You say to cut them in 8 but the nutrition facts say serving size is 9. I’m thinking its 8 but can you clarify. Thanks so much! 🙂
It is 9 rectangular bars.
Doesn’t need eggs huh!?
These were really good! Thanks for the recipe!
You are welcome!
Hi Olena. Thanks a lot, I’m a huge fan and I have successfully tried several of your recipes. I made my test of this one yesterday, but I think I’m missing some flavor, because I don’t feel any other flavor other than walnuts.. and I don’t know if it might be that I used himalayan salt (pink sea salt) instead of regular salt?. In this case should I use less salt?. Or do you think it might be something else? The rest of ingredients were the same as your indications and even the bananas were quite ripe, so I assume they were sweet enough… Thanks again
Hi Amy. Thank you so much! I do not think salt was an issue. These bars are more like an oatmeal baked and cut into bars rather than snack or protein bars. I think you just had different expectations for the bars.:) To add more flavour you can skip or add less walnuts, and add frozen berries or other fruit.
I am not a fan of bananas. Can substitute sweet potato or butternut sqush?
I never baked any sweets with either but probably it would work considering they are as sweet as bananas. Otherwise you might have to add a bit more liquid sweetener. Maybe a bit more almond milk too.