Published June 13, 2026
These cozy banana oatmeal bars are soft, naturally sweetened, and made with ripe bananas, hearty oats, and warm cinnamon. They’re a simple one-bowl bake perfect for breakfast meal prep or a healthy grab-and-go snack.
0 of 7 checked
Step 1
Prep the pan
Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Step 2
Mash bananas
In a large bowl, mash ripe bananas until mostly smooth but slightly chunky for texture.
Step 3
Mix ingredients
Add oats, honey or maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until fully combined.
Step 4
Add extras
Fold in nuts or chocolate chips if using.
Step 5
Bake
Spread mixture evenly in the pan and bake for 25–30 minutes until golden and set.
Step 6
Cool & slice
Let cool completely before lifting out and cutting into bars.
Use very ripe bananas
The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more moist your bars will be.
Don’t overbake
Remove when edges are golden to keep bars soft and chewy.
Chocolate banana bars
Add chocolate chips or cocoa powder for a richer flavor.
Nutty protein boost
Add peanut butter or almond butter for extra protein and richness.
Room temperature
2 days
Store in an airtight container.
Refrigerator
up to 5 days
Keeps bars firm and fresh.
Freezer
up to 2 months
Wrap individually for easy grab-and-go snacks.
Q: Can I make these gluten-free?
A: Yes, use certified gluten-free oats.
Q: Can I skip sweetener?
A: Yes, if your bananas are very ripe, you can reduce or omit the honey/maple syrup.
Q: Do these bars hold together well?
A: Yes, the mashed bananas act as a natural binder for the oats.
Enjoyed this recipe?
Get new recipes from Adelaide every week — free, no spam.
