Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper and lightly grease. (Lining the pan will make the bars very easy to remove and cut once cooked.)
In a mixing bowl, mash together the banana, honey, vanilla and salt. Stir in the dried fruit, nuts and shredded coconut, if using. (If you prefer to add the chips whole as opposed to melting and drizzling over top, stir them in now, too.) Lastly, add the oats and stir to evenly distribute.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, and gently press down over the entire surface. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the edges are very lightly golden. Remove the baking dish from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
*Topping option 1:* Immediately upon removing the bars from the oven, sprinkle the chips evenly over the surface, place the baking dish back in the warm oven for a minute, and then remove the pan and spread the melted chips in an even layer with a knife or spatula. *Option 2:* If using the chocolate chips for a drizzle topping, once the bars are cool, heat the chips in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Transfer to a small zip-top bag and snip a very small piece from one of the bottom corners. Drizzle the chocolate over top and allow to harden before cutting…or enjoy while still gooey and a little messy!
The bars may be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for several days. To preserve freshness, I prefer storing in the refrigerator where they will keep for at least a week. The bars may also be tightly wrapped and frozen.
