Banana Baked Oatmeal Bars

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups rolled oats

02 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Wet Ingredients

03 - 1 1/3 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium bananas)

04 - 6 tbsp water

05 - 3 tbsp pure maple syrup, agave, or honey, or stevia equivalent

06 - 3 tbsp oil (such as coconut, vegetable), nut butter, or additional water

07 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

→ Optional Mix-Ins

08 - 1/3 cup chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or seeds

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or grease thoroughly.

02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats and salt. Mix well to distribute evenly.

03 - Add the mashed banana, water, maple syrup (or alternative sweetener), oil (or nut butter or extra water), and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

04 - Gently fold in any optional mix-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, or seeds.

05 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to smooth the top surface evenly. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips or nuts on top if desired.

06 - Bake for 20 minutes. Turn off the oven without opening the door and let the bars sit inside the closed oven for an additional 5 minutes to set.

07 - Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Slice into 6 to 9 bars depending on desired size.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -

These bars come together in literally five minutes with ingredients you probably already have
They freeze beautifully so you can make a batch on Sunday and have breakfast sorted for weeks
The texture is somewhere between cookie and oatmeal but better than both

02 -

The bars might feel slightly underbaked when you first take them out, but that extra time in the cooling oven is crucial for the right texture
Let them cool completely before slicing or they will fall apart, I learned this the hard way three times in a row

03 -