Oatmeal Bars
Rolled oats, banana, peanut butter and honey baked into soft bars for grab-and-go breakfasts. Makes nine in 35 minutes.
Where This Goes Wrong
Use very ripe bananas for the best sweetness.
Press the mix down firmly so the bars hold together.
Check for peanut allergies before sharing.
Making Oatmeal Bars
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Heat the oven to 180°C / 355°F (160°C / 320°F fan) and line a 20 cm square tin with baking paper.
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Mix the bananas, peanut butter, honey and vanilla until smooth.
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Stir in the oats, cinnamon, salt and raisins. Press firmly into the tin.
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Bake for 25 minutes until golden at the edges. Cool for 15 minutes in the tin, then cut into 9 squares.
Why It Works
Ripe bananas are the secret. The spotted ones at the bottom of the bowl are sweet and soft, and they act as both sugar and binder, so very little else is needed.
Mash them well with a fork until no lumps remain. Then stir in the peanut butter and honey, and finally the oats. The mixture should look like a thick, sticky porridge.
Press it into the tin firmly with the back of a spoon. A loose layer crumbles when cut.
Bake until the top is golden and the edges pull away from the tin. The bars firm up as they cool, so let them cool for 15 minutes before slicing. They are soft, not crisp. Keep them in the fridge in a tin. These bars are not very sweet, so they suit breakfast rather than dessert. Replace the raisins with chopped apple, dried apricot or a handful of seeds if you prefer, keeping the total roughly the same so the mixture still holds.
Storage and Reheating
Keep in an airtight tin in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezes for up to 2 months.
Serving Oatmeal Bars
- Glass of milk
- Yogurt
- Fresh fruit
- Cup of tea
Common Questions About Oatmeal Bars
How long does Oatmeal Bars take to make?
About 35 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 9.
What are the key tips for making Oatmeal Bars?
Use very ripe bananas for the best sweetness. Press the mix down firmly so the bars hold together. Check for peanut allergies before sharing.
What should I serve with Oatmeal Bars?
Glass of milk; Yogurt; Fresh fruit; Cup of tea.
Can Oatmeal Bars be made ahead or frozen?
Keep in an airtight tin in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezes for up to 2 months.
Is Oatmeal Bars suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Oatmeal Bars?
About 234 kcal per serving, with 6 g protein, 39 g carbohydrate and 6 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutrition per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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