4 Ingredient Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars (Flourless, Eggless, Butterless)
These oatmeal breakfast bars are just 4 ingredients. They are flourless, eggless, butterless, and ready in about 30 minutes. The oatmeal bars come out thick, soft, and chewy and make an easy and delicious breakfast.
We eat a lot of oatmeal so I am always trying to come up with new oatmeal recipes. I love how easy these oatmeal bars are to make. It took me about 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to bake.
Ingredients
- Bananas
- Nut Butter (Almond or Peanut Butter)
- Rolled Oats
- Chocolate Chips (or dried fruit to make them even healthier)
Bananas: Use overripe bananas for best results. They are much easier to mash. You want to mash the bananas until they have a puree consistency. You don’t want chunks of bananas in your mash.
Nut butter: Make sure you use natural creamy nut butter (the drippy kind you need to stir). For the version in the photos, I used almond butter. I’ve also made them with peanut butter. I think the peanut butter version has more flavor. Almond butter has a more mild flavor profile so I like to add plenty of chocolate chips and/or dried fruit if I’m using almond butter.
Oats: This recipe uses old fashioned rolled oats. I have not tested it with quick oats or quick cooking steel oats.
Chocolate Chips: Either semisweet or milk chocolate chips will work. Milk chocolate chips are sweeter so if you prefer a sweeter oatmeal bar then you should add milk chocolate chips. I would avoid using dark chocolate chips as they are not that sweet and the oatmeal bars depend on the chips for sweetness.
Other mix-ins: Sometimes, I swap the chocolate chips for other mix-ins like chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds, or cashews. Raisins and dried cranberries also work really well. You can add up to half a cup of mix-ins.
How to Make Them
Mix the mashed banana and nut butter first, and then mix in the oatmeal and some chocolate chips.
Press the mixture into the baking pan and then sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips over the top.
Bake the bars for about 15 minutes and then cool them to room temperature before slicing them.
Recipe Tips
You will need approximately three small bananas for the recipe. Mash the bananas first and then measure the amount you need.
Since these are breakfast bars, I didn’t want to make them too sweet. The sweetness of the bars comes from the bananas and the chocolate chips. If you prefer sweeter, you can add a little maple syrup or honey to the recipe or use a nut butter that has sugar added.
Breakfast bars will keep for a day or two at room temperature. Be sure to store them in an airtight container or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap. If they are exposed to the air, they will dry out faster and not be soft and chewy.
You can also store them in the refrigerator, but you might want to let them sit out at room temperature for a few minutes because they won’t be as soft if they are cold.
More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Oatmeal Bars
- 4 Ingredient Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
- 3 Ingredient Healthy No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
- 2 Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies
- Breakfast Brownies
4 Ingredient Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas, approximately 3 small bananas
- 1/2 cup natural creamy almond butter or peanut butter, unsweetened
- 2 1/4 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8 inch by 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl add bananas and nut butter. Stir until evenly mixed. Add in oats and stir until evenly combined. Reserve 3 tbsp of chocolate chips and stir remaining into the oats. Stir until evenly combined.
- Add oats to prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to spread the oats evenly across and smooth out the surface. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips across surface. Press them gently into the oat mixture so they are not loose on top.
- Bake bars about 13-15 minutes or until set. Let bars cool completely before cutting and serving.
Notes
- Measure your 1 cup of bananas after they have been mashed. Make sure your mash is a puree consistency with no visible chunks of banana.
- The bars are not very sweet, getting most of their sweetness from the chocolate chips. If you like sweeter, you can add 2-4 tbsp of maple syrup or add more chocolate.
Great recipe! Easy and delicious! And they freeze well!
Thank you! We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
They seem super sweet to me, but maybe that’s because my bananas were super sweet. And I felt like putting in a quarter teaspoon of salt and a little vanilla because I wasn’t using chocolate chips. I will make this frequently.
Yes, it could have been your bananas but we’re glad you enjoyed them!
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Brownies Yet?
Hello! We do have a recipe for 3 Ingredient Oatmeal Brownies (No wheat flour, eggs, dairy, butter or oil) which you can find here: https://kirbiecravings.com/3-ingredient-oatmeal-brownies/
These are delicious!!! I also tossed in some craisons and walnuts too. These were enjoyed by all.
Love those add-ins!
Could I add chia seeds and how much. Would I need to make changes to the recipe.
Maybe a few teaspoons? It shouldn’t change the results if you add some.
I added an extra banana and a scoop of protein powder. excellent. did cook a bit longer
Thanks for sharing your adjustments – we’re glad it worked for you!
Turned out great! Soft and the perfect amount of sweetness from the bananas and peanut butter. Yum!
Glad you enjoyed them!
Can you substitute the banana for anything?
We’ve only tried it with bananas. Pumpkin puree might work, but the bars won’t be as sweet so you may need to adjust the sweetener.
I like the recipe but wish the texture was more cookie like than chewy. Anyone know if it needs to bake longer?
You might like our 2 Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies instead.
Leaving them in longer will make them harder and less chewy. Things continue to cook after you take them out. You may have cooked too long to begin with or your oven may be too hot (ours is lately).
I’ve made the recipe several times. I can’t have sugar, so used 100% organic unsweetened cacao chips. They taste plenty sweet with the bananas. We freeze them. Everything I used was organic. Easy, delicious and thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your adjustments!
Both my husband and I really enjoy these! Delicious as written. I’ve also added raisins, dried cranberries and walnuts instead of the chocolate chips. Very satisfying and they freeze beautifully!
We love all the subs you used!
I added chia seeds, ground flax seed, coconut and melted dark chocolate with a sprinkle of cinnamon! TASTY!!
Love those additions!
Wonderful! I did add a bit of honey to sweeten it up (3-4 T).
Did make one substitution: I don’t like bananas so I used a cup of unsweetened apple sauce.
Love chocolate chips but will experiment also with dried fruit and blueberries.
Ingenious recipe–very simple, assembles quickly, holds together very well, bakes quickly–and tastes great.. My go-to energy bar from now on. Thank you for posting this!
I’m so glad it worked out for you!
My husband loves these. I used crunchy almond butter from Trader Joe’s and used a little less than a third cup of 100% cacao chips. I can’t have sugar. I also added a little ground flaxseed. They were plenty sweet. We like them in the freezer. Thanks.
I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed!
What is your recommended storage for these? And how long are they good for?
They should keep well at room temperature for a few days in an airtight container.
Just whipped up a batch and am so excited to taste it. I added dried cherries to mine. A client of mine shared her batch with me and it was sooo good. Will keep you posted ?.
We’re happy to hear you love the recipe!
I have a question: how long are they good for and how would you recommend to store them?
They will keep for a few days at room temperature in an airtight container.
This is so simple and delicious. I added half Kind vanilla blueberry granola to the half oats along with dried cranberries. It is delicious and definitely curbs your cravings for sweets. It’s sweet enough and healthy.
Thanks for sharing your adjustments – glad you enjoyed them!
I just made these and love them! Do I store them on the countertop or fridge?
You can store them at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Just keep them in an airtight container.
Can you freeze these? If yes, any thoughts on methods and storage?
We haven’t tried freezing them, but they should freeze fine. Wrap the bars and keep them in a freezer-safe container. They should keep well for up to a month. You can thaw them at room temperature when you are ready to serve them.
About how long will this recipe last in the fridge?
They should last for two to three days in the refrigerator.
I’m so addicted to these. I’ve switched up ingredients by using raisins or coconut. The possibilities are endless!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying these!
allergic to banana what can be used instead?
We have only tested it with bananas but you could try another puree like applesauce.
Excellent Recipe! Second time making them! I was wondering how long these would last properly stored in the freezer?
They will probably freeze well for up to a month as long as they are stored properly.
Came out well. I left out chocolate chips and added dried fruit and almonds. I found them perfectly sweet with just the bananas. I stored mine in the fridge and they are the consistency of Clif bars.
Next time I think I will add crunchy peanut butter, dried coconut, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds for a nuttier bar.
So happy you enjoy them! Thanks for sharing your adjustments, too.
I made these with raisins and they’re delicious and addictive. I definitely need to get some chocolate chips though. Maybe add some flax seeds.
So happy you enjoyed them – thanks for sharing your adjustments!
Made the recipe without Chocolate Chips, but added English Walnuts and Raisins. Very tasty with coffee after they cooled! Will try a tip from America’s Test Kitchen to make them crunchier. Will add a little butter to oats and place on flat cookie sheet. Bake in 350 degree oven, stirring every 10 minutes, until pale gold, 20-25 minutes. Then continue with the original recipe.
Really liked the idea with the mashed bananas because I’m always having to freeze some when they over ripen. Also, gave the bars just the right sweetness! This is so easy to make. Thank you!
thank you for sharing your experience!
These are fantastic. Easy to make and everyone loves them. I substituted Lily’s dark chocolate baking chips (less sugar, made with Stevia).
thank you for sharing! So glad everyone loved them!
I’ve made this 3 times in 2 weeks. left out the chocolate chips and only used dried fruit and frozen blueberries. Also added 2 teaspoons of vanilla. It is so sweet that you don’t need additional sugar.
I love that you’ve made them so many times! Thanks for sharing!
Have made this several times. I prefer dried cranberries instead of the chocolate chips.
I’m glad you like them!
My first time making these today. I used quick oats because I didn’t have rolled. I think they came out great. Next time. I will just add all the chips in the mix and skip adding some to the top. Surprisingly, my 7 and 9 year old didn’t love. I wonder if because they were bars. Can this recipe be scooped like a cookie and baked in a sheet?
Here is my cookie version: https://kirbiecravings.com/healthy-oatmeal-cookies/
Great recipe! I add a few raisins. My elementary age boys gobble these up! I make a batch every Sun! Today I’m going to attempt to double recipe and use larger pan. *fingers crossed
I’m so glad your boys liked the bars!
What size do you cut the bars for the calories shown?
If you look at the servings, it states 12 bars. And the nutrition is for 1 bar
I really like it and so does my husband. I used dried mixed fruit. I think the Chocolate chips would be good also. Watching my cholesterol intake!
I’m so glad you both enjoyed!
Absolutely delicious! I used cashew butter instead and also added 1/4 of raisins.
I’m so glad you enjoyed!
So delicious
Mu family loves!
Thank you so very much!!
I’m so glad your family liked these!
Can these be made with dates? If so, how many? I absolutely hate bananas but have been looking for a new breakdast recipe.
I have not tested this recipe using dates. I would try subbing bananas with applesauce (and then adding some sugar or syrup because applesauce isn’t as sweet). Dates would likely work better in a no-bake version.
Hi, how many bars should this mixture make from an 8×8 tray?
depends on how small or big you want to cut your bars. I made 12 as stated in the recipe
Looks super. I’ve actually had that ingredient mixture except without the chocolate chips and baking them but adding all those ingredients on my Oats. Nice to hear and see a Bar version of same ingredients. Would love to try out accept I don’t see mulyself baking them. Perhaps in future 🙂
I hope you give them a try
Going to make these foor sure,they look awsome,they we keeper
Hope you enjoy!
Yum, Yum 10 out of 5
I’m so glad you liked them!
How should these leftovers be stored? Room temp? Thx!
You can leave them at room temp for 1-2 days, any longer and they need to be stored in the fridge because of the large amount of bananas
I mean recipes
thank you!
After making this recipe with peanut butter and adding instant steel cut oats and dark semi sweet chips, friends have asked for the recipe. The texture is cheer when I let the bananas and peanut butter and oats sit for a few minutes. I bake at 350 for 25 minutes.A healthy Perfect pick-me-up any time.
I’m glad you enjoyed!
Wonderful resapes
Please could you add the measurements In grans or ounces?
Sorry I don’t have the measurements in grams or ounces
1/2 of vanilla extract made these great tasting bar become fantastic, and invisible! I’m glad they’re quick and easy! Maybe this batch will have some of Coconut instead dried fruit.
I’m glad you enjoyed!
Very dense. Sadly my toddler wanted nothing to do with these after she helped to make them. I used 1 cup of raisins instead of chocolate chips and ground up half the oats. I enjoyed them with my morning coffee.
Oatmeal bars are supposed to be dense since they are just oats. I’m sorry your toddler didn’t like them
Dont have a website but lovr the rrciepts send it Email thank you
You are welcome
I’ve made these bars 5 times since I tried the recipe 3 weeks ago. I add dried cherries. My daughter loves these bars! Thank you for the recipe.
I’m so glad you and your daughter enjoy these bars so much!
Is there an ingredient I can use to sub out banana’s?
You can try applesauce but you will need to add some sugar or syrup since applesauce is not as sweet as bananas