Description
Homemade baked oatmeal bars bring warmth and comfort to morning routines with wholesome ingredients and simple preparation. Packed with nutrition and delightful flavor, these bars offer a satisfying breakfast or snack you can enjoy anytime during your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (200 grams) rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
- 2 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan)
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed (or ½ cup applesauce)
Flavor and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Add-ins:
- ¼ cup (60 grams) peanut butter or almond butter (optional for extra richness)
- ½ cup (90 grams) chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350F (175C) and lining a square baking dish with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage of the bottom and sides.
- Create a dry ingredient foundation by thoroughly mixing rolled oats, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt in a spacious mixing bowl until evenly distributed.
- Craft a smooth wet ingredient blend by vigorously whisking ripe mashed bananas, farm-fresh eggs, creamy milk, rich maple syrup, aromatic vanilla extract, and optional nutty nut butter until the mixture achieves a uniform consistency.
- Merge the dry and wet components by gently pouring the liquid mixture into the oat mixture, stirring with deliberate strokes until completely integrated. Tenderly incorporate chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit throughout the batter for additional texture and flavor complexity.
- Transfer the oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish, using a spatula to spread the batter evenly and create a smooth surface that reaches all corners of the pan.
- Position the dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, monitoring until the edges transform into a golden-brown hue and a inserted toothpick emerges clean and dry.
- Remove from the oven and allow the baked oatmeal to rest and stabilize for a minimum of 10 minutes, enabling the bars to set and cool slightly before slicing into uniform squares or rectangular portions.
Notes
- Customize your bars by swapping out ingredients to match dietary needs like gluten-free, vegan, or nut-free alternatives.
- Use ripe bananas for natural sweetness and better binding, ensuring a moist and cohesive texture in your oatmeal bars.
- Experiment with different mix-ins like seeds, coconut flakes, or alternative chocolate chips to create unique flavor combinations.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or refrigerate for extended freshness, allowing quick grab-and-go breakfast or snack options.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 50mg