Description
These 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Bars are a simple, wholesome treat made with ripe bananas, natural peanut butter, oats, and a touch of chocolate. Perfect for a healthy snack or breakfast, they are easy to prepare and naturally sweetened without any refined sugars.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas
- 1/4 cup smooth natural peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup instant or quick cooking oats
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mash Bananas and Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mash the very ripe bananas until almost smooth. Add the smooth natural peanut butter and vanilla extract, then mix well until combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Mix: Add the instant or quick cooking oats, salt, and baking powder to the banana mixture. Stir to combine evenly. Fold in one-third of the chocolate chips, reserving the rest for the topping.
- Pour and Top: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and use a spoon or spatula to smooth the top. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips evenly over the surface.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool in the pan before slicing into 6 to 8 pieces for serving.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas for the best natural sweetness and moisture.
- You can substitute the smooth peanut butter with almond butter or any other nut butter.
- For a gluten-free option, ensure the oats are certified gluten-free.
- Chocolate chips add sweetness and texture but can be omitted or replaced with nuts or dried fruit.
- Bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
