Description
Peanut Butter Banana Bars: a 4-ingredient, vegan and gluten-free snack perfect for rushed mornings. Ripe bananas, oats, peanut butter and vanilla create soft, chewy bars with natural sweetness and fiber. Optional chocolate chips or chopped nuts add texture. Baked until lightly golden, these bars are breakfast-friendly, meal-prep ready, and freezer-friendly, dairy-free and satisfying for kids and adults alike. They deliver plant-based protein and healthy fats for sustained energy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: ¼ cup chocolate chips or chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mash bananas until smooth.
- Stir in peanut butter and vanilla extract until combined.
- Add oats and mix well.
- Fold in chocolate chips or nuts if using.
- Press mixture evenly into prepared pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until set and lightly golden.
- Let cool completely before slicing into bars.
Notes
- To make gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Freeze for up to 3 months for long-term storage.
- Chips or nuts are optional; use dairy-free chips if vegan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Peanut Butter Banana Bars, 4-ingredient recipe, vegan bars, gluten-free snack, oats, banana bars, peanut butter bars, easy dessert, meal prep snack