Banana Peanut Butter Oat Bars are made with just 7 ingredients for a healthy, simple snack. Rich in fiber and protein, these oat bars will keep you full and fueled.

Why You’ll Love These Banana Peanut Butter Bars:

Wholesome, nutritious and easily adaptable using your favorite mix-ins. These bars my go-to for healthy, homemade snacks.

Here are all the times these bars come in clutch:

• When that 3 o’clock crash hits and you just need a little something to tide you over.
• For breakfast-on-the-go when you need something fueling (see also my Banana Bread Bars.
• For dessert when you’re craving something sweet but trying to avoid a sugar crash.

Basically, any time the snack craving strikes, these bars will have your back.

They’re chewy, nutty and subtly sweet. (Think baked oatmeal mixed with a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie.)

And for my healthy snack bar recipes, check out my Healthy Pumpkin Bars and Coconut Cashew Bars.

Recipe Ingredients:

Many of the ingredients in these bars can be modified based on your preferences/allergies. Here’s what you need:

• Bananas: Two ripe bananas add natural sweetness and moisture to these bars. If you’re not a fan of banana, use 2/3 cup of pumpkin puree instead.
• Rolled oats: Use a certified gluten-free brand, such as Bob’s Red Mill, if you need to make these bars 100% gluten free.
• Peanut butter: Look for a natural, drippy peanut butter that only includes peanuts and salt on the ingredient list. Alternatively, you can almond butter or cashew butter instead.
• Maple syrup: Any kind of liquid sweetener will do the job, such as honey, agave, or brown rice syrup. However I love the richness of maple syrup, especially paired with nut butter.
• Chocolate chips: Totally optional, however a little bit of chocolate makes these bars feel indulgent. Alternatively, feel free to use dried fruit or chopped nuts.
• Coconut oil: Coconut oil adds moisture and chewy goodness to these oat bars.

I also like adding a couple scoops of collagen for a protein boost. You can choose to leave this out, or add ~20g of your go-to protein powder.

See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions/Additions:

• Add nuts: Either in addition to or in place of the chocolate chips, walnuts are a wonderful addition that slip in extra heart-healthy fats.
• Make Vegan: These banana peanut butter bars are naturally vegan as long as you don’t add collagen powder. You can, however, add a scoop of your favorite plant-based protein powder.
• Make Nut-Free: If you have a nut allergy, sunflower seed butter will work in place of the peanut butter.
• Add Fruit: I love adding dried cherries to these bars! Their sweet-tart flavor complements the chocolate beautifully.

The Directions:

These homemade granola bars only take 10 minutes to make, and ~20 minutes to bake. Here’s how to make them:

Step 1: Mash the banana in a large bowl until pureed.

Step 2: Add wet ingredients, including peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Mix the ingredients until well-combined.

Step 3: Stir in dry ingredients, including oats, protein powder/collagen (if using), and salt. Lastly, Next, fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts (if using) and stir to combine.

Step 4: Pour mixture into an 8×8 baking pan and top with some additional chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees F for 27-32 minutes, until set.

Let cool completely before slicing into 12 bars and enjoying!

Recipe FAQs

More Healthy Snack Bars to Try:

If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a pic and tag #dishingouthealth on Instagram so I can see your beautiful creations. Lastly, follow along on Facebook and Pinterest for the latest recipe updates!