Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars
Author:Sweet, soft, and hearty Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars. Easy to make with wholesome ingredients, and perfect for breakfast, dessert, or snacks.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1½ cups (345 grams) mashed banana , (about 3 large bananas).
- ¾ cup (192 grams) natural peanut butter , or any other nut/seed butter (be sure it's soft & creamy)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60 mls) maple syrup , (not pancake syrup).
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups (200 grams) rolled or old-fashioned oats , use certified gluten-free oats if necessary
- ½ cup (63 grams) wholewheat flour , (or all-purpose, spelt, or GF all-purpose baking flour containing xanthan gum)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (70 grams) chopped nuts , or pumpkin/sunflower seeds
- ½ packed cup (90 grams) finely chopped pitted dates , (about 12 to 13 dates)
For Topping (optional)
- ½ cup (90 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175 °C) and line an 8 x 8 inch pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl mix the mashed banana, peanut butter, vanilla, and maple syrup until smooth and well combined. You can do this part in a blender or food processor if you prefer.
- Stir in the oats, flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add the chopped dates and the nuts and fold them through. The dates tend to get a bit clumpy so break them apart with your spoon/spatula as you go.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan, pack it down well and even out the top then sprinkle over the chocolate chips. Press them down a little with your hands to embed them. (The chocolate can safely be omitted if you prefer).
- Bake for 30 minutes then allow to cool in the pan before cutting into bars.
NOTES
Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days if it's not too warm, or in the fridge where they should keep well for up to 7 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
NUTRITION
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 137mg | Potassium: 555mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 28IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 3mg
