Description
The ultimate hybrid of soft banana bread and chewy oatmeal cookies. These bars are packed with sweet ripened bananas and gooey chocolate chips, offering a comforting flavor that’s perfect for a quick breakfast or a satisfying afternoon snack. A great way to use up overripe fruit!
Ingredients
The Wet Base
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 heaping cup mashed ripe banana (approx. 2 small/medium)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed + 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
The Dry Goods
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt
The Mix-ins
- 1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (divided)
Instructions
Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
Cream: Beat egg, bananas, sugars, butter, and vanilla on medium-high for 4 minutes until combined but slightly chunky.
Combine: Add oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Beat on low for 1 minute until just combined.
Fold: Mix in 1 cup of chocolate chips for 30 seconds.
Bake: Spread into pan, top with remaining chips, and bake for 25 minutes. Do not overbake.
Set: Cool in the pan for 30 minutes to achieve a fudgy consistency.
Notes
Oat Selection: Use old-fashioned rolled oats; quick/instant oats absorb too much moisture and make the bars dry.
Banana Ripeness: Use brown-spotted bananas for maximum sugar concentration. You can oven-ripen firm bananas at 300°F for 15 mins.
Measurement Tip: Use the spoon-and-level method for flour to avoid adding too much bulk, which prevents crumbly bars.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack / Breakfast
- Method: Stand Mixer / Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Bar
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 95
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 20
Keywords: banana oatmeal bars, chocolate chip banana bars, healthy banana snacks, overripe banana recipes, chewy oatmeal bars, banana bread bars, easy kids snacks