Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars with Chocolate Chips

Ready in just 30 minutes, these peanut butter banana oat bars filled with chocolate chips are soft, chewy, and full of flavor. Kid-friendly, gluten-free and easy to make, they’re the perfect healthy bedtime snack!

This blog post is sponsored by Terry Naturally®. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible. As always, opinions are my own.

This recipe is a family favorite. Here’s why!

I don’t know about you, but in my house with two wild little boys, we need Grab-n-go nutritious snacks that are quick and easy to make.

I’m certainly not against buying bars at the grocery store, but IMO they taste so much better when we make them at home (like gingerbread granola bars!). And my four-year-old is much more likely to try a new food if he helps make it!

This healthy snack recipe can be made in just 30 minutes and only 5 minutes of hands-on prep. It is full of child friendly taster (who doesn’t love a combination of peanut butter, banana and chocolate?!) and is easy to pack to take with you for a car ride / trip to the playground, etc. (sort of like my almond protein balls).

The registered dietitian in me loves this this snack is full of plant-based protein, healthy fats, fiber and carbohydrates. When combined together, all of these nutrients help saturation, blood sugar control and long-lasting energy.

These delicious homemade bars always last me until my next meal and if I eat them before bed they help me sleep well (keep reading for more on the science behind it)!

I hope you and your family enjoy these bars (that double as breakfast or dessert!) as much as we do!

Materials you will need

Notes on ingredients

rolled oats: oats are naturally gluten-free, but may be processed in a facility that produces gluten. If you have celiac disease (gluten allergy, not sensitivity), be sure to look for certified gluten-free oats if you want these bars to be gluten-free!

bananas: use ripe / browned bananas – this will help add sweetness and smoothness to the bars!

peanut butter: I use creamy, unsalted peanut butter, but if you’re a crunchy PB girlie, go for it!

maple syrup: adds sweetness. can be replaced with a sweetener of your choice!

Greek yogurt: helps add moisture and protein to the bars

vanilla: adds warm, sweet flavor

baking powder: gives bars a lighter, less dense texture

chia seeds: adds nutritious omega 3, fiber, protein and fat

salt: enhances the taste

chocolate chips: adds sweetness (and fun!); easy to skip if you prefer, but WHY would you :). Opt for dark chocolate chips for extra antioxidants!

The perfect nutrition for a bedtime snack

I am i’m obsessed with these bars as an evening snack – i swear they help me sleep. And this is not just a random anecdote. Let this registered dietitian learn some nutritional science with you.

I’m sure you’re familiar with melatonin, the hormone your body produces at night to help regulate your circadian rhythm (or sleep cycle), helping you fall asleep and stay asleep.

But DYK that exist certain foods that naturally contain melatonin and even more foods that contain melatonin precursors?!

Have you ever heard of tryptophan? You know, that word you only hear at Thanksgiving when people are explaining why you pass out on the couch after eating a bunch of turkey. What about serotonin? The neurotransmitter that helps you be happy.

Well, both are melatonin precursors. Tryptophan, an amino acid found in the diet, helps create serotonin in the body, and serotonin helps create melatonin.

And you guessed it, These bars contain ingredients that provide tryptophan, serotonin, as well as minerals that support relaxation, such as potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Let’s break it down!

• Bananas: contain tryptophan and potassium
• Yoghurt: contains tryptophan and calcium
• Rolled oats: they contain tryptophan, calcium and magnesium
• Chocolate: contains serotonin (and dark chocolate contains even higher amounts!)
• Chia: contain calcium and magnesium

So if you’re looking for a sweet bedtime snack that contains the nutrient to help support a good night’s sleep, these are it!

And when I need a little extra support in the sleep department (having two little ones will definitely do a number on your sleep!), I like to take a melatonin supplement like Melatonin EP120™ by Terry Naturally to support deep, healthy sleep.*

And while melatonin is best known for its role in sleep, it has also been studied for multiple health benefits, including immune function and healthy aging.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

How to make Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars

1. Pulp! Mash the bananas in a medium to large mixing bowl.
2. Add wet ingredients. Beat in the maple syrup, yogurt and vanilla until combined.
3. Add dry ingredients. Mix rolled oats, baking powder, chia and salt until combined.
4. You just fold it! Fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Bake, baby! Transfer the mixture to a square pan and bake until set, about 25-30 minutes. Let cool completely and cut into squares.

Equipment you will need

Mixing bowl

Square pan

Expert advice

1. To make this a baby weaning friendly bar recipeomit the maple syrup, salt and chocolate. Add cinnamon for extra flavor and sweetness.
2. These bars are freezer friendly if it happens to spare you!
3. These bars are easy to adjust – dairy free? Skip the yogurt. Allergic to peanuts? Use almond butter instead.

Preparation and storage

These bars can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a week.

For freezer storage, wrap the squares individually in plastic wrap and store them together in an airtight container or bag for up to three months.

Recipes that pair well

Fryer eggs

Egg Vegetable Bites

Lavender Latte

For more banana inspiration, check out my other recipes below!

Oatmeal with banana

Whole Grain Zucchini Banana Bread

Chocolate Tahini Banana Bread

Banana Kefir Pancakes with Peanut Butter

If you like this recipe, be sure to comment and give it a 5 star rating below. If you make it, share it on Instagram and tag me @karalydonrd and I will share it again with my followers! If you want to save this recipe for later, be sure to do so pin it on Pinterest!

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