Protein Packed Banana Oat Bars

As a kid I used to grab a protein bar of some sort or another on my way to school each morning. Usually chocolate chip, fully processed and full of sugar and salt. Delicious, but probably not the healthiest way to start the day (especially not when I’d eat 3 or 4 of them). Since I (kind of) grew up I’ve been a lot more picky on the sugary things I eat and the commercial bars just didn’t do it for me. I know there are the much more healthier bars available in supermarkets now – try the Apple Cinnamon Cricket Flour Bars (actually made from crickets, seriously) but the prices are exorbitant and the taste is not to my exacting specifications.

So I make my own…

The ingredients could not be simpler – 7 ingredients in this one and plenty of room to adjust and substitute different tastes and flavors depending on whatever you feel like. With a 5 minute prep time and only 30 minutes in the oven, there really isn’t any excuse to not make these simple, healthy, delicious protein bars / breakfast snack / mid-afternoon rescue food!

Check out our quick, 2 minute video that shows just how easy this is to make.

The honey and bananas provides the healthy sweetness need for this type of bar and the cranberries and cinnamon are just one of the many flavor combinations you can use to avoid getting bored with the same taste every day. Some great suggestions are peanut butter (!), crushed cashews, any dried fruit or even a little cocoa powder…

Served with som plain Greek yoghurt and a little extra cinnamon – awesome start to the day!

If anyone makes this recipe I would love to see some pictures of it, or if you have any tips on improving it, as always please let me know 🙂

Print Recipe

Protein Packed Banana Oat Bars

These super easy protein bars are made in 5 minutes and then take only 30 minutes in the oven. I always have these on standby to take to work so I have a quick and, more importantly, protein-filled snack to get me through the day

Course

Snack

Cuisine

American

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

30 minutes

Servings

bars

Ingredients

• 3 whole bananas ripe or even over ripe
• 2 cups oats wholegrain
• 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder or 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or another dried fruit
• 1 Tbsp honey

Course Snack Cuisine American Prep Time 5 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes Servings bars Ingredients 3 whole bananas ripe or even over ripe 2 cups oats wholegrain 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder or 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup dried cranberries or another dried fruit 1 Tbsp honey

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and grease an 11" x 7" casserole dish or similar.
2. Add 3 ripe bananas to a mixing bowl and smush them up until the consistency is runny.
3. Add oats, protein powder, salt, cinnamon, cranberries and honey and mix thoroughly.
4. Pour the mixture into the dish and use a spatula to spread and level the bar mix. Top with a further sprinkle of cinnamon to taste.
5. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes until the edges just start to lift away from the dish.
6. Remove from oven and immediately turn out onto wire rack to cool. This stops the bars becoming too mushy. Once cooled, slice and serve or store in an airtight container until needed.

Recipe Notes

• Doubling this recipe: This recipe can easily be doubled.
• Storage of leftovers: Store your leftover bars at room temperature. These bars DO NOT refrigerate or freeze well. The banana will go bad quickly if kept cold. At room temperature the bars will last for 3 days only.