Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars

After I had my baby, I discovered that I needed to snack more than I had previously.  I quickly got tired of my typical grab and go snacks, but I wouldn’t take the time to make something like a sandwich.  I found this recipe, and it hit the sweet spot.  A whole pan was quick and easy to make.  It was a tasty, healthy, and filling snack.  My husband says these look like I unwrapped a granola bar.  It does have a similar taste, only much softer.

Another great thing about this snack is it doesn’t have a lot of added sugar.  A recent study found that people who consumed 25% or more of their calories from added sugar were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease as those who consumed less than 10% of calories from added sugar.  This recipe has only 7 g of added sugar.  Compare that to a regular granola bar, which has 12 g of total sugar, which is predominately added sugar.

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars (makes 16 bars)

2 large bananas, ripe or overripe
3 cups dry oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup skim milk
2 large eggs
1/2 cup peanut butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan.

2. In a large bowl, mash bananas. (I usually just use my mixer.)

3. Add dry ingredients (oats through cinnamon) and lightly mix to combine.

4. Stir in vanilla, milk, and eggs.

5. Stir in peanut butter until combined.

6. Pour into prepared 9×13 pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean. Let cool completely. Cut into 16 bars.

Nutritional Information (Amount per bar)

Calories: 163
Protein: 5 g
Fat: 6 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 24 g
Carbohydrates: 24 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sodium: 264 mg

Recipe notes: The original recipe called for quick oats and creamy peanut butter. I never have quick oats, and it works fine with regular oats. My bars do look more “oatey” than the original, so that may be the difference. I only buy chunky peanut butter, and I like the little bit of texture. The original suggested serving these with jam on top, which is tasty, but they are good on their own, too.

The original recipe called these “breakfast” bars.  I would think you’d need to eat 2 or 3 of these to make a filling breakfast. I prefer them as a snack.

Source: slightly adapted from letsdishrecipes.com

Low iodine adjustment:  I loved these as a snack on the low iodine diet.  Replace the brown sugar with regular sugar (most of 1/2 a cup) and a tablespoon or so of honey.  Use non-iodized salt.  Use water in the place of milk.  Use 3 egg whites in place of the whole eggs.  Use unsalted peanut butter.