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A naturally sweet, healthy sweet snack for every day! These vegan, gluten-free banana chocolate chip oatmeal bars are packed with flavors and texture. I also sneak in some protein power for a protein boost! They can also be your make-ahead breakfast for busy days.
Rolled oats are one of my favorite ingredients to bake with. They are so versatile and unique in their way, and they work well in lots of snack/breakfast recipes. These banana chocolate oatmeal bars are one of the many delicious examples.
I utilize mashed banana in this oatmeal bars along with chocolate chips to create a natural sweet, healthy, and satisfying snack recipe. They can also be served as breakfasts or desserts with ice cream on top! (Yum.)
What I love about these oatmeal bars
These oatmeal bars are not only delicious and nutritious, but they also come with several benefits that make them a perfect addition to your routine:
- Easy and convenient: They’re simple to whip up with readily available ingredients. Plus, no fancy equipment is needed!
- Perfectly portable: The shape makes them ideal for on-the-go breakfasts, lunch-box snack, after-school snacks, or anytime you need a quick and satisfying bite.
- Freezer-friendly: If you snack every day like I do, this recipe is perfect for meal prepping! Bake a batch on the weekend, and enjoy them throughout the week. They freeze beautifully for up to 2 weeks, allowing you to grab a healthy breakfast on busy mornings.
- Customizable: Feel free to get creative with the add-ins! Swap the chocolate chips for chopped nuts, dried fruit, or even seeds. You can also use different nut butters or spices to personalize the flavor profile.
- Healthy and satisfying: Packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, these bars will keep you feeling full and energized throughout the day.
What you need to make these banana chocolate oatmeal bars
- Ground flaxseed: This acts as an egg replacer in our vegan recipe.
- Ripe banana: Make sure it’s really ripe, with plenty of brown spots, as it’s the main source of sweetness in these oatmeal bars. The riper the banana, the sweeter and more flavorful your bars will be!
- Applesauce: Adds moisture and natural sweetness to the bars.
- Peanut butter: I love peanut butter, and the flavor goes really well with banana. But if, for any reason, you don’t want to use peanut butter, you can also swap it with any nut butter of your choice or tahini.
- Ground cinnamon: Warm and fragrant cinnamon adds a lovely depth of flavor to the oatmeal bars.
- Rolled oats: The base of our bars! Use certified gluten-free rolled oats if you have a gluten intolerance.
- Baking powder: Helps the bars rise slightly and become fluffy.
- Vegan protein powder: This adds a protein boost to our snack bars. I just use plain flavor here, but you can choose another flavor that complements the other ingredients, such as vanilla or chocolate.
- Soy milk: I use unsweetened as it’s one of my staple. Feel free to use any other plant-based milk you prefer, like almond milk or oat milk.
- Dark chocolate chips: Adds a decadent touch of chocolate and antioxidants. You can use chopped dark chocolate instead.
This banana chocolate oatmeal bar recipe is:
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- High in fiber
- Packed with nutrients
- Made with whole ingredients
- A perfect all-time snack
- A great make-in-advance breakfast option
Can I make it gluten-free?
Absolutely! Use certified gluten-free rolled oats, and double-check the ingredients label on your protein powder to ensure it’s gluten-free as well.
Can I make it soy-free?
Yes! Simply replace the soy milk with oat milk or other plant-based milk for the soy-free version.
Can I make it nut-free?
Yes! The only ‘nut’ in this recipe is peanut butter (though peanut is actually not a nut). You can replace with peanut butter with the same amount of tahini to make these oatmeal bars completely nut-free!
These oatmeal bars are really delicious and so easy to make! I hope you will like this recipe as much as I do! — Love, Nora
What else can I make?
Looking for more delicious vegan and gluten-free snack recipes? Here are more for you:
Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars (Gluten-free, Healthy)
Ingredients
- ½ Tbsp ground flaxseed, ground linseed
- 1.5 Tbsp water
- 50 g ripe banana, ~half banana, net weight
- 40 g applesauce, (⅙ cup) Homemade Applesauce
- 2 Tbsp peanut butter, or any nut butter of your choice
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 90 g rolled oats, (1 cup)
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- 3 Tbsp vegan protein powder, (24 g)
- 60 g soy milk, unsweetened, or any plant-based milk
- 40 g dark chocolate chips, (¼ cup) I use 70%
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / 350°F / gas mark 4. Line a 1 LB loaf tin with baking paper.
- In a small bowl, combine the flaxseed and water. Let it sit for 5 minutes, or until thickened.
- In a large bowl, mash the banana with a fork. Then mix in applesauce, peanut butter, and the flaxseed mixture.
- Then stir in cinnamon, rolled oats, baking powder, protein powder, and soy milk, and 30g (3/4) chocolate chips. You can stir in the chocolate chips afterward if you forget (like I did in the video), no biggie!
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin and spread evenly. Top with the rest of the chocolate chips.
- Bake it in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once it’s done, transfer the loaf tin on to a wire rack to cool down for at least 20 minutes. Remove it from the tin and let it cool completely.
- Use a knife to cut it into 8 squares or long slices. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Storage: Let these oatmeal bars completely cool down and store them in airtight containers. They can last at room temperature for about 2 days, or 4 days in the fridge. For longer shelve life, pop them in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
