Banana Baked Oatmeal Bars

Soft, chewy oatmeal bars sweetened naturally with ripe banana. Customizable, freezer-friendly, and ready in under 30 minutes.

# Components:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups rolled oats

02 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Wet Ingredients

03 - 1 1/3 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium bananas)

04 - 6 tbsp water

05 - 3 tbsp pure maple syrup, agave, or honey, or stevia equivalent

06 - 3 tbsp oil (such as coconut, vegetable), nut butter, or additional water

07 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

→ Optional Mix-Ins

08 - 1/3 cup chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or seeds

# Method:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper or grease well.

02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats and salt.

03 - Add the mashed banana, water, maple syrup (or other sweetener), oil (or nut butter or extra water), and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir until evenly combined.

04 - Fold in any optional mix-ins such as chocolate chips or nuts.

05 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and use a spatula to smooth the top. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips or nuts on top if desired.

06 - Bake for 20 minutes. Turn off the oven (do not open the door) and let the bars sit inside the closed oven for an additional 5 minutes to set.

07 - Remove from the oven, allow to cool completely, then slice into 6–9 bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

They come together in one bowl with zero fancy equipment required
You can freeze them individually and grab one on your way out the door
The texture is somehow both chewy and tender, like a cross between a cookie and a cozy bowl of oatmeal

02 -

The bars might look slightly underbaked when you first pull them out, but that resting time in the cooling oven is what transforms them from mushy to perfectly set
Letting them cool completely before slicing is non-negotiable, otherwise they will fall apart

03 -