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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars with Pecans (vegan)

    Published: Jan 31, 2023 by Abi Cowell · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases · See my privacy policy linked in footer · This blog uses cookies

    Jump to Recipe
    closeup of a square cut banana oat bar with chocolate chips and chopped pecans and the title "vegan chocolate chip banana oatmeal bars"

    Chewy and filling, these healthy banana oatmeal chocolate chip bars with pecans are a delicious way to use up a whole bunch of ripe bananas sitting on your counter. This recipe is vegan, plant-based, egg-free, flour-free, oil-free and the only added sugar comes from the chocolate chips.

    closeup of a square cut banana oat bar with chocolate chips and chopped pecans

    This recipe is a variation on my 5-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars recipe. They are healthy enough to eat for breakfast, but taste like dessert with the chocolate chips.

    Jump to:
    • 🧄 Ingredient notes
    • 📋 Substitutions and variations
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🥡 Make ahead and storage tips
    • 🚦 Calorie density score
    • 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Serving suggestions
    • ☕️ Tea pairing
    • 💜 More recipes you'll love
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    🧄 Ingredient notes

    Ingredients on counter: ripe bananas, rolled oats, baking powder, ground flax, cinnamon, chocolate chips and pecans
    • Ripe, spotty bananas - The best and sweetest bananas to use for this recipe are overripe bananas that are super spotty. The kind you would use to make banana bread. This is a great alternative to use them up! Since this recipe has no added sugar, it's important to use ripe bananas so the bars have some sweetness.
    • Ground flax - Acts as a binder and is also a great source of fiber
    • Chocolate chips - It can be difficult to source vegan chocolate chips that don't cost a fortune. Trader Joe's brand happen to be vegan and are affordable, so snag those if you can. Otherwise, look for dark chocolate chips and check the labels. If you are not opposed to consuming a tiny bit a milk on occasion, then standard chocolate chips will work fine but then the bars will not be completely vegan.

    📋 Substitutions and variations

    Here are some suitable substitutions for the ingredients in this recipe:

    • Rolled oats - instead of rolled oats, you can use quick oats. Do not use steel cut, though.
    • Ground flax - use chia seeds instead of ground flax
    • Chocolate chips - substitute the chocolate chips for chopped dark chocolate, cacao nibs or other small chocolate candy. Or, omit them for a lower calorie bar. Another low-calorie, low-fat topping option would be diced apple, blueberries, sliced strawberries or pitted cherries.
    • Pecans - instead of chopped pecans, use chopped walnuts, sliced almonds, pistachios, peanuts, sunflower seed kernels, pepitas, hemp hearts or sesame seeds. Or, leave them off.
    • Nut-free - make this nut-free omitting the pecans or substituting with seeds.
    • Gluten-free - make this gluten-free by ensuring your oats are certified gluten-free
    • WFPBNO - make this whole food plant based no oil by using cacao nibs instead of chocolate chips or omitting them.
    • SOS-free - make this SOS-free by omitting the chocolate chips and using a sodium-free baking powder

    Switch things up with these variation ideas!

    • Peanut butter banana oat bars - Add peanut butter to the batter for a richer oatmeal bar.
    • Cranberry chocolate pepita banana oat bars - Dried cranberries and pepitas with the chocolate are a delicious combination
    • Pumpkin banana oatmeal bars - Spice it up with pumpkin and warming spices like nutmeg, allspice and cloves

    🔪 Instructions

    Step-by-step photos on how to make these healthy banana chocolate chip oatmeal bars that are vegan, with no egg and no sugar.

    process step 1 add bananas to bowl and mash

    In a large bowl, add the peeled ripe bananas.

    process step 1.1 how the mashed bananas should look

    Mash the banana very well with a potato masher or fork.

    process step 2 add flax, cinnamon and baking powder

    Add ground cinnamon, ground flaxseed and baking powder to the bowl of mashed banana.

    process step 2.1 mix together

    Mix together well with a spoon.

    process step 3 add oats

    Add rolled oats to the bowl and mix together well.

    how the mixed batter should look

    This is what your batter should look like.

    process step 4 spread on lined baking sheet

    Line a baking sheet or 13x9 baking dish with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Spread batter evenly in a rectangle on lined baking sheet. Keep the batter on the parchment/silicone mat, so it doesn't stick. Shape the batter into a wide rectangle about 1-inch deep. This batter does not spread as it bakes. It will stay in place and harden into chewy bars.

    process step 5 sprinkle toppings of chocolate chips and pecans on top and lightly press into batter

    Sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped pecans across surface. Gently press the toppings into the batter with your fingers or the back of a spoon. Bake banana oatmeal bars in oven for 25 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Allow to cool and then slice into bars. Store cut bars in refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    🧯 Food safety

    • Wash hands with soap and water before cooking
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    🥡 Make ahead and storage tips

    Make these banana oat bars ahead of time, cool and then slice and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to serve warm.

    🚦 Calorie density score

    🟡 This recipe gets a yellow light on the calorie density chart. Some of the ingredients (the pecans and chocolate chips) are higher than 600 calories per pound, so eating richer meals like this regularly may prevent you from losing body fat or may even cause you to gain weight. Learn more about calorie density from Jeff Novick, MS, RDN.

    Get your own printable calorie density chart for your refrigerator and free ebook explaining calorie density in simple terms.

    👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Serving suggestions

    Serve these banana oat chocolate bars as a snack or dessert by themselves. To make them more indulgent, top with dairy-free whipped cream or vanilla yogurt.

    Or, for a more complete breakfast meal, serve alongside a big bowl of fresh fruit, such as strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, blueberries, blackberries, sliced apple, mango or pineapple.

    ☕️ Tea pairing

    This recipe would be delicious paired with some Yorkshire biscuit tea, which tastes like black tea that you've dunked a cookie in. So yummy!

    💜 More recipes you'll love

    If you love this healthy banana chocolate chip oatmeal bar recipe, check out these other plant-based breakfast recipes!

    • glass baking dish with baked banana oat bars topped with chocolate chips, dried cranberries and pepitas
      Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cranberry Bars with Chocolate Chips and Pepitas
    • tostada with refried beans, sliced avocado, tofu scramble, crema and cilantro on a wooden board
      Vegan Breakfast Tostadas with Tofu Scramble, Avocado and Beans
    • white plate full of papas a la mexicana (spicy Mexican-style breakfast potatoes) with two corn tortillas on the side
      Papas a la Mexicana (oil-free Mexican-style breakfast potatoes)
    • mason jar with blueberry flavored oats and fresh blueberries on top
      Blueberry Overnight Oats with Jam

    Love this recipe? Please rate it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below in the recipe card. And, if you make it, please tag me on Instagram or Facebook in your posted photos! I would love to see your creations. 😄

    📖 Recipe

    closeup of a square cut banana oat bar with chocolate chips and chopped pecans

    Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars with Pecans (vegan)

    Abi Cowell
    Chewy and filling, these healthy banana oatmeal chocolate chip bars with pecans are a delicious way to use up a whole bunch of ripe bananas sitting on your counter. This recipe is vegan, plant-based, egg-free, flour-free, oil-free and the only added sugar comes from the chocolate chips.
    3.50 from 4 votes
    Estimated Cost: $1.50
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Desserts
    Cuisine Baking
    Servings 18
    Calories 141 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 6 overripe bananas 700g, mashed
    • 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed 28g
    • 1 ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon 11g
    • 3 tablespoon baking powder 40g
    • 3 cups rolled oats 325g, old-fashioned or quick oats
    • ½ cup chocolate chips
    • ½ cup chopped pecans

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • In a large bowl, mash the banana very well with a potato masher or fork.
      6 overripe bananas
    • Add ground cinnamon, ground flaxseed and baking powder and mix together with banana.
      3 tablespoons ground flaxseed, 1 ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon, 3 tablespoon baking powder
    • Add rolled oats to the bowl and mix together well.
      3 cups rolled oats
    • Line a baking sheet or 13x9 baking dish with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Spread batter evenly in a rectangle on lined baking sheet. Keep the batter on the parchment/silicone mat, so it doesn't stick. Shape the batter into a wide rectangle about 1-inch deep. This batter does not spread as it bakes. It will stay in place and harden into chewy bars.
    • Sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped pecans across surface. Gently press the toppings into the batter with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
      ½ cup chocolate chips, ½ cup chopped pecans
    • Bake banana oatmeal bars in oven for 25 minutes, or until firm to the touch.
    • Allow to cool and then slice into bars. Store cut bars in refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    Notes

    Popular mix-in ingredient to make these richer: Peanut Butter! This will increase the calories and fat content of these significantly, so bear that in mind.
    These are gluten-free, if you use gluten-free oats.
    This is a variation on my 3-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1barCalories: 141kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 214mgPotassium: 229mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 29IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 142mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword banana chocolate chip oatmeal bars, healthy banana oatmeal chocolate chip bars, vegan breakfast bars
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Abi Cowell

    Hey y'all! I’m the plant-based food blogger, recipe developer, photographer and cooking class instructor behind Very Veganish. Join me as we explore and taste incredible plant-based food, with cultural influences from around the world. You’ll find healthy comfort food vegan recipes and inspiration here. When I'm not cooking, you'll find me homeschooling my two boys, volunteering and trying to survive the Texas summers with copious glasses of iced tea.

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    1. Dani says

      June 05, 2023 at 12:04 pm

      3 stars
      agree with another comment that overall taste and texture is nice, but too much baking powder leaves a sour/unsavoury taste in your mouth. is there any way too use less? wish I read that comment before making!

      Reply
      • Abi Cowell says

        July 03, 2023 at 2:19 pm

        Hi Dani! I'm sorry you're getting a sour taste with these bars. So, a couple things may help: mixing in the baking powder thoroughly and, if that doesn't help, then reducing the amount. If the baking powder stays in little clumps, then you can get a lot in one bite, whereas another bite will taste fine. One of the challenges with this recipe and that issue is that we're using flour, so the baking powder doesn't have another powder to mix into. We're adding it straight to liquid ingredients. So, try to mix it in really well with a fork or whisk in the pan. If that doesn't do the trick, then reduce the amount. This will make the bars more dense and chewy (since they won't have as much help to rise), but they will still be delicious.

        I hope that helps!
        - Abi

        Reply

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    Abi Cowell smiling in her kitchen

    Hi! I'm Abi, mom of two hungry boys, caregiver, plant-based food blogger and cooking instructor from Houston, Texas. I help busy women create simple & healthy vegan meals in under 30 minutes so they spend less time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning. Join me as we make quick & easy vegan comfort food you and your family will love (no matter how they eat).

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