4-Ingredient Banana Oat Bars
Discover the joy of simplicity with these delightful 4-Ingredient Banana Oat Bars. Perfectly wholesome and incredibly easy to make, these bars are a fantastic option for a quick breakfast, a satisfying snack, or a healthier dessert. Bursting with natural sweetness from ripe bananas and chewy oats, they offer a comforting texture and are endlessly customizable to suit your taste. This recipe celebrates minimal effort with maximum flavor, proving that healthy eating can also be incredibly delicious and convenient.
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes (plus cooling time)
Servings
9 bars
Keywords
Why This Recipe Delivers
- Requires only a handful of pantry staples, making it incredibly budget-friendly and accessible.
- Offers a naturally sweet and satisfying treat, perfect for guilt-free indulgence at any time of day.
- Provides sustained energy from whole grains, ideal for breakfast or a pre-workout boost.
- Highly versatile and customizable with various add-ins like chocolate chips, seeds, or different spices.
- A fantastic way to use up overripe bananas, preventing food waste and creating something delicious.
Ingredients
- 15 mL (1 tablespoon) olive oil or unsalted butter, for greasing
- 2 large (approximately 300-350 g) very ripe bananas
- 5 mL (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract (optional)
- 180 g (2 cups) old-fashioned rolled oats
- 40 g (1/4 cup) pitted, finely chopped dried dates
- 2.5 mL (1/2 teaspoon) fine sea salt (optional)
- 30 g (1/4 cup) chopped nuts, such as walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, or almonds (optional)
- 1 g (1/4 teaspoon) grated nutmeg or ground cinnamon (optional, for sprinkling)
- For the optional honey yogurt glaze:
- 60 g (1/4 cup) whole or 2% plain Greek yogurt
- 15 mL (1 tablespoon) honey
- 10 g (1 tablespoon) powdered sugar
- 10 mL (2 teaspoons) whole or 2% milk
Instructions
- Prepare your oven and baking dish. Arrange an oven rack in the middle position and preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Lightly coat a 23×23 cm (9×9-inch) square baking dish with olive oil or melted butter, ensuring all surfaces are covered to prevent sticking.
- Mash the bananas. Peel the very ripe bananas and place their flesh in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Using a fork or a potato masher, mash the bananas very thoroughly until they are essentially liquid with no large chunks remaining. This thorough mashing is key to the bars' texture and natural sweetness. You should have between 240 mL and 300 mL (1 to 1 1/4 cups) of mashed banana.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients. If using, stir the 5 mL (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract into the mashed bananas. Add the 180 g (2 cups) old-fashioned rolled oats, 40 g (1/4 cup) pitted, chopped dried dates, 30 g (1/4 cup) chopped nuts (if using), and 2.5 mL (1/2 teaspoon) fine sea salt (if using) to the banana mixture. Stir vigorously until all the ingredients are well combined and the oats are evenly coated.
- Transfer to the baking dish and bake. Spoon the mixture into the prepared 23×23 cm (9×9-inch) baking dish. Use the back of a spoon or your hands to pat the mixture down firmly and evenly into a single layer across the bottom of the pan. If desired, lightly sprinkle the top with grated nutmeg or ground cinnamon for an extra aromatic touch. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the edges just begin to crisp up and the bars are set and golden brown.
- Cool and prepare the optional glaze. Remove the baking pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. While the bars are cooling, if you're making the optional glaze, whisk together the 60 g (1/4 cup) whole or 2% plain Greek yogurt, 15 mL (1 tablespoon) honey, 10 g (1 tablespoon) powdered sugar, and 10 mL (2 teaspoons) whole or 2% milk in a small bowl until smooth and well combined.
- Cut and serve. Once the bars are completely cool, cut them into 9 equal squares. Drizzle each square generously with the prepared honey yogurt glaze, if using. Serve immediately or store for later enjoyment.
Tools You’ll Need
- Medium mixing bowl
- Fork or potato masher
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 23×23 cm (9×9-inch) square baking dish
- Wire cooling rack
- Small whisk (for glaze, optional)
Essential Success Tips
- Use very ripe bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more moist your bars will be. Look for bananas with plenty of brown spots on the peel.
- Mash thoroughly: Ensure your bananas are mashed to a smooth, almost liquid consistency. Any large chunks can make the bars less cohesive.
- Press firmly into the pan: Compacting the mixture well ensures the bars hold together nicely after baking and cooling.
- Cool completely: Resist the urge to cut the bars while warm. Cooling them fully allows them to set and firm up, making them easier to slice cleanly.
- Adjust sweetness: If your bananas aren't extremely ripe, or if you prefer a sweeter bar, consider adding a tablespoon of maple syrup or brown sugar to the mixture.
Professional Cooking Secrets
- Enhance flavor depth: Toast your rolled oats lightly in a dry pan for 5-7 minutes before mixing. This simple step adds a nutty, deeper flavor profile to the bars without altering the main recipe structure.
- Texture contrast: For an extra layer of texture, consider pressing a thin layer of finely chopped nuts or shredded coconut onto the top of the bars before baking. This creates a delightful crunchy crust.
- Pre-soak dates: If your dried dates are particularly firm, soak them in a small amount of warm water for 10-15 minutes, then drain and chop. This will make them softer and easier to integrate, contributing to a more tender bar.
Notes
- Storage: Store the cooled banana oat bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
- Variations: Feel free to customize your bars! Add 60 g (1/2 cup) chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips to the mixture. Incorporate 30 g (1/4 cup) shredded coconut, pumpkin seeds, or chia seeds for added texture and nutrition. A pinch of ground ginger or cardamom can also be a delightful addition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these bars gluten-free?
Absolutely! Simply ensure you use certified gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats. The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
My bananas aren't very ripe, can I still use them?
While very ripe bananas are recommended for sweetness and moisture, you can still use less ripe ones. You might want to add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey to the mixture to compensate for the reduced natural sweetness. The bars might also be slightly less moist.
How can I make these bars vegan?
The base recipe is already vegan, assuming you use olive oil for greasing. For the optional glaze, substitute the Greek yogurt with a plant-based plain yogurt (like almond or soy), and ensure your milk is a non-dairy alternative. The honey can be replaced with maple syrup or agave nectar.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Per bar (estimated, without glaze): Calories: 180, Protein: 4g, Fat: 6g, Carbs: 30g, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 12g
Allergy Information
Contains oats (gluten, unless certified gluten-free) and tree nuts (if added). For a nut-free version, omit the chopped nuts. If making the glaze, it contains dairy (yogurt and milk).
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