Oatmeal Breakfast Bars are chewy, filling, and delicious. Packed with simple, healthy ingredients like oats, peanut butter, and bananas, these bars are nutritious enough to start your day. They are great when you need a quick, healthy breakfast on-the-go or a snack that the whole family will love — kids too!. Think warm, comforting bowls of oatmeal, but in bar form.
Oats are one of the cheapest, healthiest, and most versatile ingredients in our pantries. They can be used for everything from traditional oat porridge to chewy oatmeal raisin cookies and so much more! These homemade bars have the texture of a soft granola bar, so you can eat them right out of your hand instead of needing a plate and fork. Plus, you can change out the spices, nut butter, dried fruit, and more for a totally different flavor profile. We like to serve them with an apple and Greek yogurt or a slice of egg casserole for a super simple breakfast on those busy days!
Why You'll Love These Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Feeds the whole family. With 9 servings in each batch, these bars are ideal for feeding a crowd or keeping yourself stocked all week. Plus, they're popular with both kids and adults!
- Made with wholesome ingredients. Packed with whole grains like oats, natural sweeteners like bananas, and healthy fats from peanut butter and coconut oil, these bars have plenty of fats, fiber, and protein to start your day. They're also much healthier and cheaper than prepackaged bars from the store!
- Great for meal prepping. Take a little time on the weekend to set yourself up for success. These healthy oatmeal bars only take 40 minutes to prepare and are a lifesaver when you need breakfast ready quickly. Make a double batch and freeze the extras for up to 3 months!
Ingredient Notes
To make these delicious Oatmeal Breakfast Bars, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- rolled oats - also known as old-fashioned oats. Avoid quick oats, which soften too quickly.
- all-purpose flour - this adds structure to the oat mixture.
- cinnamon
- baking powder - for a lighter texture.
- sugar - we use granulated sugar, but feel free to use brown sugar instead.
- salt
- raisins - for extra texture and natural sweetness.
- creamy peanut butter - for healthy fats. Feel free to use almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or your favorite nut butter. Save a little extra for drizzling on top as a garnish.
- coconut oil - for moisture and a tender texture. Melted butter works great, too.
- mashed ripe bananas - the browner, the better.
- egg
- vanilla extract
- melted chocolate - optional, for serving.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a medium and large bowl, a whisk, a 9 inch square baking dish, a rubber spatula, and a wire cooling rack.
How to Make the Best Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients including rolled oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, sugar, and salt until evenly combined. Stir in the raisins.
- Combine wet ingredients. In another mixing bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients including peanut butter, coconut oil, mashed bananas, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add dry to wet. Add the dry mixture into the wet mixture and fold together until just combined.
- Spread. Transfer the mixture into a 9-inch square baking pan and press gently to create an even layer.
- Bake. Bake in a 350F preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until lightly browned.
- Slice. Place on a wire rack to cool down completely. Then, cut into 9 even squares.
- Serve. Serve with a drizzle of melted chocolate and a drizzle of peanut butter.
Recipe Variations
- Swap out the all-purpose flour. Feel free to use whole wheat flour for extra fiber or use a 1:1 gluten-free flour replacement.
- Play with the fruit. Create blueberry oatmeal breakfast bars by adding fresh blueberries, or replace the raisins with other types of dried fruit like cranberries, apricots, or chopped dates.
- Add seeds for crunch. If you like a little bit of crunch in your oat bars, sprinkle in pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or your favorite chopped nuts.
How to Serve
These Oatmeal Breakfast Bars are delicious served on-the-go on their own or paired with milk, coffee or tea. Some of my favorite drinks to pair with this are:
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use parchment paper for easy removal. Line your baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make it easier to lift the bars out once they're baked. This also helps keep the edges from overbaking.
- Avoid overmixing the ingredients. When combining the wet and dry ingredients, fold them together until they are just combined. Overmixing can cause the oats to break down, resulting in a denser, less chewy texture.
- Cool completely before cutting. It’s tempting to slice into your bars immediately, but letting the bars sit and cool will make them easier to cut and hold together better.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
To keep your leftover bars fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For best results, wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper. For longer storage, place the bars in the fridge where they’ll keep for up to a week.
How to Reheat
For a warm breakfast, microwave one bar for 10-15 seconds until just heated through.
How to Freeze
Tightly wrap each bar individually, then place them in a freezer-safe container or airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, just take one out and let it thaw at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
FAQ
Yes, of course. Use a 1:1 ratio of gluten-free flour in place of the all purpose flour, and make sure to use certified gluten-free oats. They're much cheaper than buying gluten-free breakfast bars at the store!
If you want to reduce the sugar, I recommend starting by using less sugar than the recipe calls and letting the natural sweetness of the mashed bananas stand out. For a sweeter flavor, use a natural granulated sweetener, like coconut sugar or maple sugar, instead of regular white sugar.
Rolled oats are ideal for these bars because they maintain a chewier texture. Quick oats or instant oats are steamed during processing, which causes them to soften much faster. This can make them soggy or overly dense after baking. Old fashioned oats are the best choice.
More Recipes with Oats
- Homemade Granola
- Cinnamon Apple Baked Oatmeal
- Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins
- Almond Butter Granola Bars
- Blueberry Oat Squares
- Oat Porridge
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Recipe
Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 9 squares
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Oatmeal Breakfast Bars are chewy, filling, and delicious. Packed with simple, healthy ingredients like oats, peanut butter, and bananas, these bars are nutritious enough to start your day. They are great when you need a quick, healthy breakfast on-the-go or a snack that the whole family will love — kids too! Think warm, comforting bowls of oatmeal, but in bar form.
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup raisins
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil or butter, melted
- 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- melted chocolate (optional, for serving)
- creamy peanut butter (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients including rolled oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, sugar, and salt until evenly combined. Stir in the raisins.
- In another mixing bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients including peanut butter, coconut oil, mashed bananas, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add the dry mixture into the wet mixture and fold together until just combined.
- Transfer the mixture into a 9-inch square baking pan and press gently to create an even layer. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until lightly browned. Place on a wire cooling rack to cool down completely and cut into 9 even squares.
- Serve with a drizzle of melted chocolate and a drizzle of peanut butter.
Notes
How to store: To keep your leftover bars fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For best results, wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper. For longer storage, place the bars in the fridge where they’ll keep for up to a week.
How to reheat: For a warm breakfast, microwave one bar for 10-15 seconds until just heated through.
How to freeze: Tightly wrap each bar individually, then place them in a freezer-safe container or airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, just take one out and let it thaw at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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KayeDee says
This recipe is delicious! I did make a couple tweaks because I'm a T2D. I used an erythritol monkfruit blend in place of sugar, and used a GF flour substitute (2:1 ratio of almond flour & tapioca flour = 2.5 Tbs almond flour & 1.5 Tbs tapioca flour. To make a bigger batch to keep on hand you mix 4c almond flour with 2 cups tapioca flour. I usually mix my 2:1 ratio as needed though). I also did half coconut oil & half butter. I don't care for raisins in baked goods so I used chopped walnuts and unsweetened coconut shreds. I added a tablespoon of ground flax meal as well because I try to sneak that in wherever I can. My husband also raved about this recipe! It is very flavorful! I will most definitely make this again.