Description
Delightful 4 ingredient peanut butter banana bars combine creamy peanut butter with ripe bananas for a quick, wholesome treat. Minimal effort delivers maximum flavor, satisfying sweet cravings with simple, nutritious ingredients you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 super ripe bananas
- ¼ cup (60 ml) smooth natural peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups (150 g) instant or quick-cooking oats
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (85 g) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly grease with cooking spray.
- Banana Base: Thoroughly mash ripe bananas in a large mixing bowl until achieving a smooth, creamy texture, then blend in peanut butter and vanilla extract until fully integrated.
- Dry Ingredient Incorporation: Gently fold rolled oats, kosher salt, and baking powder into the banana mixture, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients throughout the batter.
- Chocolate Enhancement: Fold two-thirds of chocolate chips into the batter, reserving the remaining chips for final topping.
- Pan and Bake: Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan, smoothing the surface with a silicone spatula, then sprinkle remaining chocolate chips on top for a decorative finish.
- Baking and Cooling: Bake for 25-30 minutes until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, then allow bars to rest in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Serving: Once fully cooled, slice into 6-8 uniform bars ready for enjoyment.
Notes
- Ripe Banana Selection: Choose bananas with brown spots for maximum sweetness and easier mashing, which enhances the bar’s natural flavor and moisture.
- Peanut Butter Consistency: Use smooth, room temperature peanut butter to ensure seamless mixing and prevent lumpy texture in the batter.
- Precise Baking Time: Watch closely during the 25-30 minute baking window; ovens vary, so check doneness with a toothpick test to avoid dry or undercooked bars.
- Storage Strategy: Store cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or refrigerate for up to a week to maintain freshness and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg