Looking for a simple and delicious recipe for a whole bunch of ripe bananas? Make these banana oatmeal bars! No flour, no egg and no sugar needed. Perfect fuel for breakfast, snack, workout or to take on the go.
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THIS is the simple recipe I make when I have a whole bunch of spotty bananas and don't have the mental capacity and energy to make a loaf of banana bread.
The texture for these banana oatmeal bars is like a soft and chewy breakfast granola bar.
🧄 Very useful ingredient notes
- Ripe (or overripe), spotty bananas - You look away for a second and that whole bunch of bananas got spotty! They're perfect for this recipe. The overripe bananas give the bars moisture and sweetness. If you'd like them to be a little sweeter, you can drizzle them with brown rice syrup, maple syrup, agave nectar or honey before baking.
- Rolled oats - old fashioned or quick cook oats will both work here.
- Ground flaxseed - acts as a binder to help the bars to stay together
🔪 Instructions
- Step 1: Mash with potato masher or fork. Make sure they are mashed very well, with only very small chunks remaining.
- Step 2: Mix in ground flax, cinnamon, baking powder and then oats. Stir everything together. This is what the completed batter should look like.
- Step 3: These bars will not spread out or rise too much, so make them into the shape, width and height you want from the beginning. Definitely use a silicone mat or parchment paper to line your baking sheet, because these will stick without it. You could also make these in a 13x9 glass baking pan.
- Step 4: It's helpful to gently press any toppings down into the batter so they don't fall off after baking and cutting.
- Step 5: Bake until firm.
- Step 6: Allow to cool slightly, then cut into bars! Store in the refrigerator.
Expert tips
- Use parchment paper or a silicone mat on your baking sheet, otherwise they will stick.
- Lightly press toppings down before drizzling any liquid sweetener and before baking.
- Mash your bananas very well.
- The more ripe your bananas are, the sweeter these bars will be naturally, without adding any sweetener to them. So, choose those spotty bananas for this! The same kind of bananas you would use to make banana bread.
Topping ideas
Top your banana oatmeal bars with any toppings of your choice!
For the photos, I used coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds and a drizzle of brown rice syrup, because, honestly that's what I had on hand that needed to be used up.
What can I say - I love to finish off ingredients. Gives me a weird sense of satisfaction. I'm not the only one, right? Right?
A favorite topping we make a lot is mini dark chocolate chips and chopped pecans or walnuts. Peanut butter or prepared PB2 is also amazing on these!
You could also top them with diced dates, raisins, chopped dried apricot, chopped dried peach or even fresh fruit.
Love this recipe?
Please rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment below, so I know which recipes you like the best. This helps me know what to make more of!
📖 Recipe
Banana Oatmeal Bars (no flour, no egg, sugar free)
Ingredients
Basic Banana Oatmeal Bars
- 6 overripe bananas 700g, mashed
- 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed 28g
- 1 ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon 11g
- 1 tablespoon baking powder 13g
- 3 cups rolled oats 325g, old-fashioned or quick oats
Optional Toppings
- ¼ cup raw pepitas or pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup coconut flakes
- 2 tablespoons brown rice syrup drizzled on top before baking
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, 1 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.
- Add dry toppings, if using (like coconut flakes, pepitas) across surface. Gently press the toppings into the batter with your fingers or a spoon.¼ cup raw pepitas or pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup coconut flakes
- Drizzle wet topping, if using (like brown rice syrup) across surface.2 tablespoons brown rice syrup
- 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.
Judy says
I wish you had a search bar. Sometimes I want to back to a recipe but can't find it.
Abi Cowell says
Hi Judy, thanks for visiting my site! I do have a search bar in the top right hand corner of your screen. When you tap the little magnifying glass, the menu will pop up and then you can type in the box for whatever you're looking for. I hope that helps!
Caroline Meredith says
I think there is too much baking powder in this recipe. The texture and overall flavour was nice but the baking powder leaves a real nasty taste in your mouth afterwards. I’ve never known any recipe use so much baking powder.
Janice says
Can I omit the baking powder and any adjustment? Thank you.
Abi Cowell says
Hi Janice! Yes, you can omit the baking powder in these bars. They will be more dense, since the baking powder helps them rise just a touch.
Cindy Pickett says
however nutritional states a 13 inch bar is one serving, is this true or an error
Abi Cowell says
Hi Cindy! That should read 1 3-inch bar, but it removed the space. Sorry about that!