Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars with Chocolate Chips

Prepared in simply Half-hour, these peanut butter banana oat bars studded with chocolate chips are smooth, chewy, and stuffed with taste. Child-friendly, gluten-free, and simple to make, they’re the proper wholesome grab-n-go or bedtime snack!

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This recipe is a household fav. Right here’s Why!

I don’t find out about you however in my family with two wild little boys, we’d like grab-n-go nourishing snacks which are fast and simple to make.

I’m positively not opposed to purchasing bars from the grocery retailer however IMO they style so significantly better once we make them at residence (like my gingerbread granola bars!). And my 4 yr outdated is more likely to strive a brand new meals if he helps make it!

This wholesome snack recipe may be made in simply Half-hour and solely 5 minutes of hands-on prep time. It’s full of kid-friendly flavor (who doesn’t love a peanut butter, banana and chocolate combo?!) and is straightforward to pack to carry with you for a automotive journey / journey to the playground, and so forth (kinda like my almond butter protein balls).

The registered dietitian in me loves that this snack is filled with plant-based protein, wholesome fats, fiber, and carbs. When mixed collectively, all of those vitamins assist with satiety, blood sugar management, and long-lasting vitality.

These scrumptious do-it-yourself bars at all times assist maintain me over till my subsequent meal, and if eaten earlier than bedtime, assist me get evening sleep (maintain studying for extra on the science behind that)!

I hope you and your loved ones take pleasure in these bars (that double as breakfast or dessert!) as a lot as we do!

Components You’ll Want

Notes on Components

rolled oats: oats are naturally gluten-free however may be processed in a facility that manufactures gluten. In case you have Celiac illness (gluten allergy, not sensitivity), you’ll want to search for licensed gluten-free oats in order for you these bars to be gluten-free!

bananas: use ripe / browned bananas – this can assist add sweetness and softness to the bars!

peanut butter: I take advantage of creamy, unsalted peanut butter however in case you’re a crunchy PB girlie, go for it!

maple syrup: provides sweetness; can substitute along with your sweetener of alternative!

Greek yogurt: helps add moisture and protein to the bars

vanilla: provides heat, candy taste

baking powder: provides bars a lighter, much less dense texture

chia seeds: provides dietary punch of omega 3s, fiber, protein and fats

salt: enhances taste

chocolate chips: provides sweetness (and enjoyable!); straightforward to omit in case you want, however WHY would you :). Select darkish chocolate chips for further antioxidants!

The proper vitamin for a bedtime snack

I’m obsessive about these bars as a night snack – I swear they assist me go to sleep. And this isn’t only a random anecdote. Let this registered dietitian geek out on some dietary science with ya’ll.

I’m positive you’re acquainted with melatonin, the hormone your physique produces at nighttime to assist regulate your circadian rhythm (or sleep cycle), serving to you go to sleep and keep asleep.

However DYK that there are sure meals that naturally include melatonin and much more meals that include the precursors to melatonin?!

Ever heard of tryptophan? You understand, that phrase you solely hear on Thanksgiving when folks clarify why you’re handed out on the sofa after consuming a bunch of turkey. What about serotonin? The neurotransmitter that helps maintain you content.

Nicely, each of those are precursors to melatonin. Tryptophan, an amino acid discovered within the weight loss plan, helps make serotonin within the physique, and serotonin helps make melatonin.

And also you guessed it, these bars include substances that present tryptophan, serotonin, in addition to minerals that assist leisure like potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Let’s break it down!

• Bananas: include tryptophan and potassium
• Yogurt: incorporates tryptophan and calcium
• Rolled oats: include tryptophan, calcium and magnesium
• Chocolate: incorporates serotonin (and darkish chocolate incorporates even greater quantities of it!)
• Chia: include calcium and magnesium

So in case you’re on the lookout for a candy bedtime snack that incorporates the vitamin to assist assist evening sleep, these are it!

And once I want a little bit further assist within the sleep division (having two little ones will certainly do a quantity in your sleep!), I like taking a melatonin complement, like Terry Naturally’s Melatonin EP120™ to assist assist deep, sound sleep.*

And whereas melatonin is greatest recognized for its position in sleep, it additionally has been studied for a number of well being advantages like immune operate and wholesome ageing.*

*These statements haven’t been evaluated by the Meals and Drug Administration. This product isn’t meant to diagnose, deal with, remedy, or forestall any illness.

Make Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars

1. Mash! Mash bananas in a medium to giant mixing bowl.
2. Add moist substances. Whisk in maple syrup, yogurt and vanilla till mixed.
3. Add dry substances. Stir in rolled oats, baking powder, chia and salt till mixed.
4. You simply fold it in! Fold within the chocolate chips.
5. Bake, child! Switch combination to a sq. pan and bake till set, about 25-Half-hour. Let cool fully and reduce into squares.

Gear You’ll Want

Mixing bowl

Sq. baking pan

Skilled Suggestions

1. To make this a child led weaning pleasant bar recipe, omit the maple syrup, salt and chocolate. Add cinnamon for further taste and sweetness.
2. These bars are freezer-friendly in case you occur to have any leftovers!
3. These bars are simply adaptable – dairy free? Omit the yogurt. Peanut allergy? Use almond butter as a substitute.

Preparation and Storage

These bars may be saved within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as one week.

For freezer storage, individually wrap squares in plastic wrap and retailer collectively in an hermetic container or bag for as much as three months.

Recipes That Pair Nicely

Air Fryer Eggs

Veggie Egg Bites

Lavender Latte

For extra banana inspiration, take a look at my different recipes under!

Banana Bread Oatmeal

Entire Wheat Butternut Squash Banana Bread

Tahini Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Peanut Butter Banana Kefir Pancakes

In the event you like this recipe, please you’ll want to remark and provides it a 5 star score under. In the event you make it, share it on Instagram and tag me @karalydonrd and I’ll re-share it with my followers! If you wish to save this recipe for later, you’ll want to pin it on Pinterest!

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