Looking for a healthy snack that doesn’t come in a cardboard box? These chocolate chip peanut butter oatmeal bars are the perfect option. Made with just 5 simple ingredients, these peanut butter banana oatmeal bars contain no refined sugar, flour, eggs or oil.
Looking for a healthier option over store-bought granola or breakfast bars? These store-bought bars often contain loads of refined sugar, preservatives, oils and other unhealthy processed ingredients.
The better way to go is to make these peanut butter oatmeal bars at home. This recipe needs just 5 ingredients and can be mixed up in just minutes. Made with no refined sugar, flour, oils or eggs, these oatmeal bars are a great healthy snack option!
What do I need to make peanut butter oatmeal bars?
Here’s a quick-reference checklist of the ingredients you’ll need to make these oatmeal bars:
- Oatmeal – I recommend using old fashioned rolled oats. I don’t recommend instant oats or steel-cut oats, as these will result in undesirable textures for these bars.
- Ripe bananas – brown and spotty bananas are ideal for this recipe. They will provide extra sweetness without adding refined sugar.
- Creamy peanut butter -choose a good quality nut butter that has just nuts and salt in the ingredients. Steer clear of peanut butter that includes palm oil, soybean oils, high fructose corn syrup or other highly processed ingredients.
- Vanilla extract – this will add some great flavor to the bars.
- No Sugar Added Chocolate Chips – I love Lily’s NSA chocolate chips as these don’t contain refined sugar.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe. Thanks!
How do I make peanut butter banana oatmeal bars?
Start by mashing the bananas. Then add the peanut butter and vanilla and mix together well. These will act as your wet ingredients.
Next, mix in the oats and the chocolate chips. The batter will be thick.
Press the batter into a 9×9″ pan and top with additional chocolate chips. Bake until the bars are golden brown.
Once baked, let the bars cool for 15-20 minutes before cutting into squares.
Storage and Freezing Options for chocolate chip peanut butter oatmeal bars:
- Storage: for best results, store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Refrigerated, the bars will keep for 7-10 days. The bars can be left out at room temperature, but will only keep for 1-2 days.
- Freezing: cut the bars into squares. They can be wrapped individually (press-and-seal wrap works well). Store the bars in a freezer bag or airtight freezer container. Frozen, the bars will keep for up to three months.
- Defrosting: defrost in the microwave in 30 second increments. Heat until warm. You can also defrost at room temperature overnight, or in the refrigerator for about 24 hours.
FAQ’s about oatmeal and oat bars:
Combining oatmeal and peanut butter can be a healthy breakfast or snack option. Oatmeal is a healthy source of fiber and good quality peanut butter is a good plant-based fat. Choose a peanut butter that contains just nuts and salt. Avoid nut butter that include palm oils, soybean oils or high fructose corn syrup and added sugar.
When made at home, oat bars can be a great healthy snack. Choose good quality ingredients, and limit added sugar when making oat bars.
Granola bars and oatmeal are rather different. Granola bars, while sometimes made with oatmeal, also include other high-calorie ingredients like honey, nuts, and sometime unhealthy oils or high fructose corn syrup. If looking for the healthier option, go with a homemade oatmeal bar.
Oatmeal is the healthier option over granola. Granola, even though it uses oatmeal, also contains other high-calorie ingredients like sugar, oils and sometimes high fructose corn syrup. Before buying, check the ingredients and nutrition labels.
Love chocolate and peanut butter? Check out some of our most popular peanut butter treats:
- Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
- Peanut Butter Protein Balls
- Healthy Banana Brownies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
- Chocolate Covered Banana Bites
- Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread
- Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
- Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- No Bake Granola Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
- Protein Peanut Butter Cups at Randa Nutrition
If you loved this healthy snack recipe, check out some of these other similar posts:
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Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 medium ripe bananas mashed
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup no sugar added chocolate chips like Lily’s
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter creamy
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9×9" square pan with non-stick baking spray. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas well. Add in the peanut butter and vanilla and whisk together to combine.
- Add in the oatmeal and 1/3 cup of the chocolate chips (reserve the remaining chocolate chips for the topping). Mix together with a rubber scraper.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and spread evenly. Top with the remaining chocolate chips.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until bars are golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 15-20 minutes before cutting into 16 squares.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi Erin, these bars look delicious; I’m anxious to make them. But I prefer to have more protein in my snacks. Do you think it would be possible to add protein powder to the recipe? If so, how much would you add? Thank you.