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
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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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I love how thick and dense these look!
Thank you!
Mmmm pumpkin spice. I’m currently right in the middle of my pumpkin obsession and I can’t get enough. I just ate a pumpkin spice Chobani flip at my desk. I love the pumpkin spice creamers because PSLs have waaaay too much sugar, so I can just get my fix that way.
FINALLY. This girl…eating berries and all things summer until last week.
Literally banana bars and coffee all day every! I know this post was directed towards me because I’m what you would call #basic lol! But these banana bread bars bring out my basic-ness ever more!
Haha, let’s be basic forever and ever.
Oh yeah!! I know pumpkin spice is a little too everywhere right now…but man, I can’t get tired of it! Love the International Delight Pumpkin Spice, and these banana bread bars sound like they need to happen ASAP. In fact, a mid-morning snack could be in order, yes? Rock it, inner basic white boy, rock it. 🙂
Haha, rocking it like a BOSS!
How do you calculate the macros/nutritional values in homemade baked goods? Do you use a food scale?
Hi Zacharie- I usually use an online calorie calculator, like myfitnesspal, to calculate.
Thanks. If i’m making protein bars how would I calculate the values using myfitness pal? Do I divide the number of calories from each ingredient by the amount of bars made?
Hi Zacharie, you would tally up one total amount then divide it by as many bars as you make from it!
Um. Oatmeal is not paleo. Mislabeling isn’t gonna up your readership.
Sure they tasty for the rest of you. Enjoy.
Hi Robin! This recipe never claims to be paleo friendly. 🙂
I am new to baking . I hated baking before, mainly because of all the unhealthy ingredients involved. Until I came across your site (for your no bake options, of course!). Now I’m obssessed with going through every single dessert recipe you’ve ever posted! I found this recipe and knew I just had to try it out.
It came out absolutely perfect! Thank you! Thank you!
Oh, and did I mention, this is the first time I’ve ever baked in my life!
Oh wow thanks so much for the positive feedback 🙂
Hi.I’m new to baking. So new that this is the first time I’ve ever baked in my life! I didn’t like baking andbaked goods before because of all the unhealthy ingredients it usually calls for. I stumbled by your site by accident (I was actually looking for no bake desserts, of course). I came across this recipe and knew I just had to try it. It came out….. absolutely perfect! Thank you! Thank you! I love how healthy all your recipes are! I’ve been going over every single recipe you’ve ever posted for a few hours now….Every. Single. Recipe. Let’s just say I’m obssessed!
Ahh that means so much!
One of the pictures *does* say paleo, but I figure it was a genuine oversight. Just stumbled on this recipe, made it, came out amazing!
Hi! Can I change some of the banana for grated apple?
Also, does nutrition inc choc chips?
Thanks!
You can add grated apple, and yes it does 🙂
Love this!!! So easy, healthy, vegan and delicious 😍😍😍😍 thank you SO much for this recipe xx
You are so welcome, Marie!
woof I’m a dog gimme. acat or else
You can have cat food then.
.
Great!
These are great! Just found your site and this is the first recipe I tried, (it definitely won’t be my last.)
Thanks for offering so many great ideas for healthy eating!!!
You are so welcome, Karen! Thank you for the kind words! 🙂