A satisfying grab-and-go breakfast or snack, Banana Bread Breakfast Bars are easy to make and allergy friendly.
This basic breakfast bar recipe is made with no refined sugar, wheat flour, or dairy and can be made egg-free. But most importantly, it tastes great.
Since hitting on the ingredient combination in the recipe below, I have made these bars countless times. The recipe is quick to prepare, provides a couple days worth of speedy breakfasts or snacks, and is a great way to use overripe bananas.
I purposely let some of our bananas sit on the counter a little too long so that I can make these at a moment’s notice. Overripe bananas may also be peeled and frozen for future use in this and other banana bread recipes (and smoothies too!).
For a small indulgence and a tried-and-true flavor combination, I do stir in a modest amount of peanut butter and chocolate chips. You may opt to use all of one variety or the other, or substitute raisins, nuts, and/or shredded coconut in their place.
A couple tablespoons of shredded coconut sprinkled on top prior to baking is a nice addition. I use the unsweetened variety, but sweetened may be used if preferred. Alternatively, a sprinkle of oats offers a visually appealing finishing touch as well.
Helpful hints: When preparing a batch, I often add just the dry ingredients to several additional airtight containers and store them for future use. It’s so easy to do while the ingredients are out, and then the wet ingredients can quickly be added for a fresh batch whenever desired.
And when your bananas become too ripe to eat but you don’t have time to bake? Simply peel them and store in the freezer so you have them when needed as well.
Banana Bread Breakfast Bars use oats in place of flour for a healthy, delicious, allergy-friendly breakfast or snack.
I’d love to know if you try this recipe. Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @fountainavenuekitchen on Instagram and Facebook. Your feedback is always appreciated.
Yield: 8-12 servings
- 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) oat flour or 2 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups very ripe bananas (12 ounces, without skins, or about 3 medium-large bananas)
- 1 egg, optional (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup honey (may substitute agave)
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips (if requiring a vegan option, choose accordingly with the chips)
- 1/3 cup peanut butter chips
- Optional topping: 1 tablespoon oats and/or 2 rounded tablespoons shredded coconut
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and grease an 11×7 or 9×9 inch baking pan.
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If using whole oats, place the oats in a blender or food processor and blend for 1-2 minutes or until the oats resemble flour. Stop the blender and stir the oats a couple of times to ensure complete blending.
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Transfer the oat flour to a medium bowl. Stir in the cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
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Place the bananas in a large bowl and completely mash with a fork. Use the fork to whisk in the egg, and then add the vanilla and honey. Mix until creamy and thoroughly blended.
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Stir in the oat flour mixture, and mix until just combined.
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Reserve a tablespoon each of the chocolate and peanut butter chips. Fold in the remaining chips, and then pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly. Top with the optional oats, shredded coconut and the reserved chips.
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Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the center is just cooked through.
- Egg-free? I have made this recipe without the egg and it is still excellent. In fact, it is hard to tell the difference between the egg and the egg-free version of these moist bars. If eggs are not off-limits in your house, feel free to try both ways and see if you have a preference.
- Mix it up: I have made these with 1 cup of mashed banana and 1/2 cup of applesauce and they taste very similar. This is a great option if you are running low on overripe bananas. I haven’t tried the applesauce version without the egg, although I think it would work well.
I make these all the time with my very ripe bananas!
Agreed, Marilyn. It’s the perfect way to use the overripe ones!
Our family loves these!
I’m so glad, Janette!
Made these & they are delicious! Thank you for providing a healthy breakfast treat recipe, plus it uses up my brown bananas.
Awesome, Laura! So glad you like!
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I thought I would let you know, I tried these again and stuck to the recipe! They turned out WONDERFUL!!! They are ohh so good and low in calories too. I even pre-mashed the bananas and froze them for a while before I had a chance to get to this recipe. I took the mashed bananas out of the freezer, popped them in micro for a minute or so and completed the rest of the recipe. I love how naturally sweet and moist these are! Thanks for the recipe, I’ll be using this one for many breakfasts/snacks to come!
Such awesome feedback, Hollie. Thanks for letting me know, and I’m thrilled these will be a keeper!
This is an amazing recipe…just awesome and delicious. Everyone everyone loves it from family to coworkers. At church meetings its a huge hit. It’s a must-have in your recipe box–“promise”
Your comment brought a big smile to my face…thank you!!
First of all, I want to say thank you for the recipe! I unfortunately though, tried these with Coconut Flour and everything didn’t adhere to each other… it just didn’t meld. But it has a GREAT flavor! I am using it sort of as a crumble in yogurt instead. Next time I’ll be using Oat Flour!
Coconut flour is really unique in its properties. Thanks for the comment and I can’t wait until you try it with the oat flour!
I am so glad that I found this! We are new to the vegan world and this was amazing!!!!!! My husband loves sweets so I was concerned that it wasn’t going to be sweet enough for him but I couldn’t get his fingers out of the pan. Thank you!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to share your terrific feedback, Kathleen. I’m thrilled it was a hit!
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I made these for some growing teenage boys who thought they were delicious and ate almost the whole pan for breakfast! It was really convenient; I made them when I got up and they sat on the counter ’til the boys rolled out closer to noon!
PS I did not have peanut butter chips so I substituted butterscotch chips, yummo!
So glad your boys enjoyed waking up to these as much as mine do! Thanks for the wonderful comment, Trudy!
read the article in the Sunday paper and can’t wait to try it!
These look delicious! Pinned 🙂
Thank you, Ann!
This looks terrific! I am always looking for Gluten-free items for a quick pick-me-up! Thanks!
Coincidentally, I just ate a piece. Hope you enjoy as much as we do!
I have a recipe for “Williamsburg Oatmeal” that is made with rolled oats that soak overnight with raisins. I never thought about making it with granola until I read your recipe. I am going to try it with Bob’s Red Mill granola, fruit variety, and chia seeds for a broader flavor and more nutrition power! Thanks!
I bet your Williamsburg Oatmeal is delicious, Polly, and I hope you like the granola version as well! If you are interested in the Bob’s Red Mill granola giveaway that I am running right now, click on the following link and simply leave a quick comment under that recipe to enter. https://fountainavenuekitchen.com/overnight-granola-cups/
Mine is in the oven now! I didn’t have peanut butter chips, just went with all chocolate chips. I had to use about a 1/4 cup of applesauce since I didn’t have enough banana. Smell delicious!
All chocolate is never a bad thing: ) Enjoy!
My picky daughter, who can sense if something is good for you, LOVED this. This recipe is going on the family cookbook!
Great news, Janette! So glad this was a hit!
Tried this with regular flour (I ran out of oats) and it was quite good. I do plan to try the gluten free version since my daughter has a gluten sensitivity.
Thank you for the great feedback, Diane. I’m sure others will appreciate knowing that option was tested and worked well!