These 3-ingredient banana bread bars are a quick and easy recipe made with oatmeal, banana and peanut butter! Made without eggs, without butter, and without flour, these thick and chewy bars take 12 minutes to make!
Healthy Banana Peanut Butter Bars
We love our quick and easy breakfast and snack recipes on here. We’ve had flourless breakfast bars, blueberry breakfast cookies, and even strawberry oatmeal cookies.
When I found myself with a few extra overripe bananas on hand, I KNEW I had to either make banana bread or….breakfast bars.
Thick, soft and chewy banana bread bars loaded with banana flavor and sprinkled with chocolate chips, these bars are perfect for a wholesome breakfast!
Made with 3 simple ingredients, these naturally gluten-free and vegan bars take minutes to prepare and make. It also comes with a tested oat-free and paleo option!
Ingredients to make Banana Bread Bars (and substitutions!)
You only need THREE (or 4!) basic ingredients to make these banana bread bars!
Rolled Oats
Use certified gluten-free rolled oats to ensure the recipe is gluten-free. I prefer using rolled oats as opposed to quick or instant oats, as it yields a thicker, chewier texture.
To keep it oat-free, you can use quinoa flakes.
Banana
The riper your banana is, the sweeter your breakfast bars will be. Definitely try to use super ripe bananas, as you will have no need for any added sugar!
Peanut Butter
Adding peanut butter gives these flourless bars a rich and decadent flavor, along with the pairing with banana.
To keep it peanut free, you can substitute it for almond butter or cashew butter.
To keep it nut-free, use sunflower seed butter, wow butter or smooth tahini.
Chocolate Chips
Optional, but highly recommended! I use a mix of both mini chocolate chips and chocolate chunks, to take it up a notch!
How to make Banana Bread Bars
- Combine all your ingredients, except for chocolate chips, in a large mixing bowl. Mix together, until the banana, oats and peanut butter are fully incorporated.
- Using a rubber spatula, fold through your chocolate chips, reserving a few to top the bars with.
- Transfer the banana bread bar batter into a square pan. Top with chocolate chips and bake for 12-15 minutes (depending on what texture you prefer- see below), or until the edges have gone slightly golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool in the pan completely, before slicing.
How to enjoy banana bread bars
For those who enjoy thick, chewy and firm banana bread bars…
Follow the instructions as below and cook for the full duration. The edges become slightly more golden brown than in the center, but once cooled, they firm up beautifully. I prefer this way when I want a heartier snack or breakfast- It’s fantastic topped with some cashew butter, peanut butter or a drizzle of coconut butter.
For those who prefer gooey, moist and softer banana bread bars…
Follow the instructions as below, but feel free to add an extra medium-sized banana and/or cut back on the gluten free rolled oats. Double check the bars halfway through the cooking time and remove once lightly cooked in the center. Once cooled, they will firm up, but continue to be incredibly gooey in the center! It’s delicious when warmed slightly, and the optional chocolate melts into the bars.
How to store banana bread bars
Banana bread bars should be stored at room temperature, as they will keep well that way. Keep the bars in a sealed container or on a plate covered in plastic wrap.
Banana bars are also freezer friendly and can be stored in the freezer. Wrap bars in parchment paper and place in a ziplock bag or shallow container.
To enjoy banana bars from the freezer, allow thawing at room temperature.
How to make banana bread bars paleo-friendly
Naturally vegan and gluten-free, you can make this banana bread bars recipe paleo friendly by subbing the oats for almond meal.
The bars will be much softer, but still, taste great!
More Healthy Breakfast Recipes
- Sticky Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal
- Vegan Breakfast Bake
- Strawberry Crumble Breakfast Cookies
- Keto Overnight Oatmeal
Healthy 3 Ingredient Flourless Banana Bread Bars
Ingredients
- 4 cups gluten free rolled oats
- 6-7 bananas approximately 2 cups
- 1 cup peanut butter can sub for any nut or seed butter of choice
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips of choice Optional
For the paleo option
- 2 1/2 cups almond meal
- 4 bananas mashed
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips of choice Optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all your ingredients and mix well. Fold through half your chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into the greased baking tray and press down evenly. Top with extra chocolate chips and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden on the outside and firm in the center.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before slicing into bars.
Notes
Nutrition
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Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?
You sure can 🙂
What is the sugar in grams? Thank you!
Hi Kat! I’m not sure, but you can easily calculate it using an online calculator like myfitnesspal or similar 🙂
I made the paleo version of these for the weekend, LOVE! So easy and so quick to make! Next time I may top it with blueberry for an extra somethin’ somethin’
😀 Love it!
Hi, loved these, thanks for the recipe. I made them with the instant oats my daughter has at home. I have to keep my blood sugar in check and wondered if steel cut oats would also work in this recipe. Thank you!
Hi Maggie! I haven’t tried with steel cut oats but I’d stick rolled or quick 🙂
Can I use steel cut oats?
Thanks
Nope!
I was searching for a healthy snack for myself and my preschooler, and this recipe is a winner! The only thing I would change is I won’t put any chocolate chips on top as they didn’t melt and some fell off (I use enjoy life). Will definitely make it again and again!
Can i use powder peanut butter. Thanks
Not that I’ve tried
Amazing! Super thick and yummy—I only used 3 cup of oats and it was perfect!
Perfect for every occasion, and without sugaaaar ! Yeyy. Thanks a lot.
They are delish ! No sugar but it is very sweet actually !
So easy and so hearty and delicious!
These are incredible!!! I tweaked the recipe based on the amount of cashew butter I had on hand and they turned out great. They tasted just like banana bread! Thank you for this recipe!!
I used 6 bananas (551 g), ~1/2 cup cashew butter (166 g), 3 cups of rolled oats (240 g), ~1/4 chia seeds (46 g), and 1/4 cup plus more for sprinkling (67 g) of ChocZero milk chocolate baking chips.