Description
These 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Bars are a quick and healthy treat made with ripe bananas, natural peanut butter, oats, and chocolate chips. Perfect as a snack or breakfast on the go, these bars are easy to prepare and require minimal ingredients.
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 the oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a loaf pan by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mash the bananas: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas until almost smooth to create the base of your bars.
- Add peanut butter and vanilla: Stir in the smooth natural peanut butter and vanilla extract thoroughly until evenly combined with the mashed bananas.
- Combine dry ingredients: Mix in the instant oats, salt, and baking powder into the wet mixture until everything is well incorporated.
- Add chocolate chips: Fold in one-third of the chocolate chips to the batter carefully, reserving the remaining chips for topping.
- Fill the pan: Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and use a spoon or spatula to smooth the surface evenly.
- Top with chocolate chips: Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top of the batter for added chocolatey goodness.
- Bake the bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating they are fully cooked.
- Cool and cut: Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into 6 to 8 pieces for serving.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas for maximum sweetness and moisture.
- Natural peanut butter adds a wholesome flavor without added sugars.
- The oats can be instant or quick cooking for a softer texture; rolled oats may make the bars denser.
- Chocolate chips are optional and can be substituted with nuts or dried fruit if preferred.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 8 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
