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These banana oatmeal bars are soft-baked, naturally sweetened with ripe bananas, and perfect for breakfast or snack. Made with simple pantry staples and no added sugar, they’re a wholesome option you can bake ahead and enjoy all week.
Why You’ll Love these Banana Oatmeal Bars
- Soft and easy to chew – Baked until just set for a tender texture that’s easy for babies and toddlers to bite and chew.
- Naturally sweetened – Ripe bananas add all the sweetness needed, with no added refined sugar.
- Made with wholesome ingredients – Rolled oats and nut or seed butter provide fiber, healthy fats, and steady energy, nutrients often highlighted in my guide best weight gain foods for babies and toddlers.
- Perfect for make-ahead breakfasts and snacks – These bars store and freeze well, making them great for busy mornings and snack time. See this collection of healthy toddler snacks for more inspiration.
- Easy to customize – Simple swaps make it easy to adjust for allergies or preferences.
“I just made these for my 12 month old, and they were loved by the whole household! Very easy to make, and I love how versatile the recipe is. I didn’t have quite enough mashed banana, so added enough applesauce to make a cup. I also did a mix of almond butter and peanut butter. Added in some unsweetened coconut and topped half of the pan with frozen raspberries. Everyone went back to seconds!” – Sasha
One of the most popular recipes on my blog is this 3 ingredient baby cookie. It’s absolutely amazing just how much yumminess can result from this simple yet powerful trio – peanut butter, mashed bananas, and oats.
So these healthy oatmeal bars were bound to happen! You’re going to love this one-bowl recipe made with simple ingredients and no added sugar.
And if you are looking for a no bake version, try these oatmeal balls! You’ll also love these 3 ingredient banana oat pancakes.
Related: Easy Oatmeal Recipes for Babies and Kids
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
- Rolled oats (old-fashioned oats) – while quick oats will work, the texture will be much softer.
- Overripe bananas – The more ripe they are, the sweeter and more moist the bars will be. So grab ones with lots of brown spots. And if you often have more ripe bananas than you know what to do with, here’s a collection of healthy banana recipes to try out.
- Creamy peanut butter – Helps bind the bars together and adds protein, healthy fats, and a delicious nutty flavor. Smooth, natural style works best. You can also use any nut butter, like almond butter or cashew butter, or seed butter, like this homemade sunflower seed butter.
- Carrots – this is optional but highly recommended. It’s such an easy and delicious way to slide in more veggies and boost nutrition.
- Ground flax seeds – I recommend purchasing whole flaxseeds and grinding them yourself (I love to use my coffee grinder for this). That’s because once ground, they go rancid quickly due to their high oil content. And you just don’t know how long those bags of ground/milled flaxseeds have been sitting at the store.
Variations
This is optional but here are some suggestions if you’d like to invite more fun, variety, and nutrition. Try stirring in:
- Dried fruit – like raisins, blueberries, apricots, dates (be sure to finely chop any large fruits) – you also need to try these apricot balls.
- Unsweetened coconut
- Finely chopped nuts or seeds – see the ultimate guide to nuts for babies to learn how to safely introduce
- Finely grated carrots (or even zucchini) – it might sound strange but my kids love it and such an easy way to get more veggies into their bellies
- Chocolate chips
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – you’ll need some to make this creamy chocolate avocado pudding also! Another one of my kids’ favorite snack!
How to Make Banana Oatmeal Bars
You’ll find the full recipe card with all the exact measurements at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mash bananas in a large bowl using the back of a fork or a potato masher. Try to get it as smooth as possible but small lumps are fine. Measure out 1 cup. Freeze any leftover bananas. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla extract.
Step 2: Combine until well-incorporated.
Step 3: Add in the oats and the rest of the remaining ingredients
Step 4: Stir to combine.
Step 5: Pour the batter into a lined 8 inch square baking pan.
Step 6: Bake for 20-22 minutes. Remove, cool completely, cut into bars.
Expert Tips
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and clean up.
- Since there’s no additional sweetener, use over ripe bananas. If you desire a sweeter banana oat bar, feel free to add some maple syrup or honey.
- Be sure to measure out the bananas as every banana is different in size . Too much and you can end up with mushy oatmeal bars or if too little, the bars will be dry.
- For babies and younger toddlers, cut the bars into strips and check that they’re soft enough to mash easily between your fingers.
- Let the bars cool completely before slicing so they hold their shape.
- Avoid overbaking — these bars should stay soft and tender, not crisp.
Serving Suggestions
These peanut butter oatmeal bars are great as a quick breakfast or easy snack.
You can enjoy straight from the refrigerator or warmed with extra banana, a drizzle of peanut butter, or whatever toppings you fancy. Totally optional though.
Pair with plain Greek yogurt or a yogurt pouch for extra protein and healthy fats.
Offer alongside fresh fruit like berries or soft pear slices for a balanced snack.
For babies, cut into soft strips or small squares and always check texture before serving.
A lot of times we just grab one as we head out the door for school or wherever life takes us.
Banana Oatmeal Bars FAQs
Yes! These bars are soft-baked and naturally sweetened, making them suitable for babies who are ready for finger foods. Always cut into age-appropriate pieces and check the texture before serving.
Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To freeze, cool completely. Then flash freeze to prevent them from sticking together. Learn how to safely store leftovers here. Once frozen solid, transfer to a freezer safe container or bag. Will be good for up to 3 months.
Yes, just be sure to use certified gluten-free rolled oats.
More Snack Bar Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
Banana Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed overripe bananas (240g), about 2 medium bananas
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (125g)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups rolled oats (175g)
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Optional add-ins: 1/2 cup
- grated carrots, chocolate chips, fruit, coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mash bananas in a large bowl using the back of a fork or a potato masher. Try to get it as smooth as possible but small lumps are fine. Measure out 1 cup. Freeze any leftovers.
- Stir in peanut butter and vanilla extract. Add in the oats and the rest of the remaining ingredients, including chocolate chips, carrots, or any of the optional add-ins. Stir to combine.
- Pour the batter into a lined 8 inch square baking pan. Bake for 20-22 minutes. Remove, cool completely, cut into bars.
Notes
- Since there’s no additional sweetener, use over ripe bananas. If you desire a sweeter banana oat bar, feel free to add some maple syrup.
- Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months.
Hi, I would like to bake these but I don’t have ground flax seeds. Is it ok to use an egg instead?
Thank you
Yes it should work!
I just made these for my 12 month old, and they were loved by the whole household! Very easy to make, and I love how versatile the recipe is. I didn’t have quite enough mashed banana, so added enough applesauce to make a cup. I also did a mix of almond butter and peanut butter. Added in some unsweetened coconut and topped half of the pan with frozen raspberries. Everyone went back to seconds!
Yup!! Love your version!!
Wow these were great! Approved by my 16 month old and my husband, who is usually critical of my “healthy baking.” I added shredded zucchini and doubled the flax. Thanks for the recipe:)
Oh I love hearing that! Thank you for sharing!
I just fell in love with this recipe! This is the first time that the adults find a baby snack so so delicious 😋
This makes me SO happy to hear! Thank you so much for sharing!
This is now a staple in our house, but with almond butter. And chocolate chips, always. I try to make two batches at a time to have enough to freeze, but between my toddler and me, these don’t last long. I’ve also added shredded carrots, shredded zucchini, hemp seeds, chia seeds, extra flax, shredded coconut, raisins, sour cherries, pepitas, and even brewer’s yeast to turn these into lactation bars. I’ve really pushed the upper limits of how many add-ins I can do. I do decrease the oats a bit if I’m adding lots of dry. Thank you, Min, for the nutritious recipe!
Ooh LOVE LOVE all these ideas! I’m so glad you’ve loved all the variations and thank you for sharing!
Hi,
Would my 11 month be able to eat this? Thank you!
Hi! Yes!
Hi! Any chance I can substitute applesauce for the bananas? Bananas make my kids so constipated unfortunately😥
You may be able to substitute with applesauce although I haven’t tried it. Also, while underripe bananas can cause constipation, overripe bananas can actually help!
Is there anything to substitute flax seeds?
You can just leave it out or add chia seeds if you have it!
Will using sun butter make these turn green?
It will definitely be a different color but won’t be green
So easy to make and delicious!