Easy Overnight Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars
These bars are a quick, easy, and wholesome breakfast option that combines peanut butter, bananas, and oats for a satisfying grab-and-go meal prep solution.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 bars 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats (135g)
- 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
- ½ cup natural creamy peanut butter (125g)
- ¼ cup honey (85g) (or maple syrup)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- ¼ tsp salt
- Optional mix-ins: ½ cup chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit (85g)
Instructions
- Mash 2 ripe bananas in a mixing bowl with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth with a few small lumps remain (about 2 minutes).
- Stir in ½ cup creamy peanut butter and ¼ cup honey until fully combined (1-2 minutes).
- Add 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt; stir well to evenly distribute.
- Fold in 1 ½ cups rolled oats and 2 tbsp chia seeds until mixture is uniform. Add optional mix-ins now if using.
- Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy lifting. Spread mixture evenly and press down firmly but gently with a spatula (2-3 minutes).
- Cover the pan with plastic wrap or lid and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
- Lift the block out using parchment paper and slice into 8-10 bars. Serve cold or warm for 15-20 seconds in the microwave.
Notes
Use ripe bananas with brown spots for best sweetness and binding. Press mixture firmly in pan to avoid crumbly bars. Let bars sit 5-10 minutes before cutting to prevent cracking. Natural peanut butter with oil separation works best if stirred well. For vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (if 8 bars per
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 6
Keywords: overnight oats, peanut butter bars, banana oat bars, breakfast bars, meal prep breakfast, healthy breakfast, no bake bars