Published 01 Sept 2026
Banana Bread Oat Bars
Naturally sweetened with ripe bananas and containing no added sugar, these Banana Bread Oat Bars are a great source of wholegrain fibre to help keep little tummies (and bigger ones, too!) feeling fuller for longer. Better still, they're easy to customise with ingredients like dark chocolate chips or sultanas, making them a favourite for the whole family.
This recipe is also perfect for making with little helpers. Kids can mash the bananas, stir the mixture and sprinkle over their favourite add-ins, making it a fun way to build confidence in the kitchen. Bake a batch on the weekend and you'll have a wholesome snack ready for lunchboxes, afternoon tea or busy mornings throughout the week.
Serves: 12 bars
Ingredients:
- 2 large ripe bananas, mashed (around 250g peeled)
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup milk (dairy or calcium-fortified soy milk)
- 2 tbsp olive oil or melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseeds
- ⅓ cup sultanas or chopped dates (optional)
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line a 20cm square cake tin with baking paper.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas until mostly smooth.
- Whisk in the eggs, milk, olive oil and vanilla.
- Stir through the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and ground flaxseeds until just combined.
- Fold through the sultanas, dates, chocolate chips or add-ins of your choice.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until lightly golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely in the tin before slicing into 12 bars.
Storage:
Keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
This recipe is thanks to nutritionist Mel Bald.
Find more delicious recipes and healthy eating advice from Healthier Together.
