4-Ingredient Banana Oat Bars

Bananas are an amazing fruit. All by themselves they can turn into creamy, delicious ice cream, and eaten alone they are a satisfying snack. But they also do wonders in baked goods: bananas take the place of sugar, eggs, and fat in these wondrously chewy, yummy snack bars.

These bars have no added sugar and you can whip them up in just a few minutes. In this recipe, you can make gluten-free banana oat bars sweetened with dates, studded with walnuts, and finished with a honey yoghurt glaze. These bars are great for breakfast, after-school snacks, and desserts.

There are a few optional ingredients here, like vanilla and nutmeg, that add a little extra dimension, but the essential recipe is really just four ingredients: bananas, oats, dates, and chopped nuts. (I mean, you could argue that it’s just three: I think you could leave the nuts out without a problem.) The bananas hold everything together, and the dates give a little chewy sweetness. The sweetness is understated in these bars; there is just enough to satisfy a mid-afternoon craving.

As you can see these are vegan, and if you use gluten-free oats, they’re totally gluten-free, too. They’re quite adaptable; if you want a little more sweetness you could add a handful of chocolate chips or cinnamon chips. You could add shredded coconut, too, or raisins.

They last beautifully and hold together in chewy, satisfying bars. Just right for munching on the go in the mornings, or as a high-energy snack before a run.

Bananas, for the win, once again!

A wholesome 4-ingredient snack bar may seem too good to be true, but it’s indeed possible. While assembling these bars, I had my doubts — the oat mixture seemed too thick to actually hold together and I couldn’t imagine how so few ingredients would result in something tasty — but I was definitely proven wrong. These are simple, humble bars that make for a feel-good breakfast or midday snack.

Many of you noted in the comment section that these bars aren’t very sweet. They are intended to be a healthy breakfast or snack, so actually aren’t supposed to be too sweet. Using the most overly ripe bananas you can find will help bring more natural sweetness to them.

If you’re still hankering for more, I’ve added an optional honey yogurt glaze that’s drizzled on top of the bars before enjoying — although I suppose that would make these four-ingredient bars not simply four ingredients, but I think it’s worth it. Beyond lending sweetness, it adds a little protein to things, which is never a bad thing. If you’ve glazed the bars, they’re best stored in the refrigerator, and if left unglazed, they can be kept at room temperature.

– Sheela, May 2018