Banana Peanut Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

• 2 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/4 cup applesauce (optional, for a softer bar)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Steps

1. Heat oven: Heat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8 pan with parchment, leaving an overhang so you can lift the bars out later.
2. Mash and mix wet ingredients: Mash 2 very ripe bananas until mostly smooth. Warm peanut butter slightly and mix into the banana along with applesauce, cinnamon and vanilla extract
3. Add oats: Stir in oats until everything is coated. The mix should be thick and spreadable, not soupy. If it’s too wet, add more oats a spoonful at a time; if too stiff to spread, a splash of water or extra applesauce.
4. Press into pan: Scrape into the pan and press into an even layer about half an inch thick. Wet fingers or the back of a spoon keeps it from sticking.
5. Bake: Bake until the edges are golden and the center is set and springs back. Start checking at 25 minutes.
6. Cool before cutting: Let it cool completely in the pan, then lift out by the parchment and cut into squares. Cutting warm makes them crumble.

Notes

Start with 1 1/2 cups oats and adjust by feel. Banana brands and ripeness vary in moisture. If you want them less banana-forward, drop to one banana and use more applesauce. Chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or a handful of raisins all work folded in at the oat stage.

Modified from: 2 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies, with help from Claude AI