Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars with Chocolate Chips

Prepared in simply Half-hour, these peanut butter banana oat bars studded with chocolate chips are smooth, chewy, and filled with taste. Child-friendly, gluten-free, and simple to make, they’re the right wholesome grab-n-go or bedtime snack!

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This recipe is a household fav. Right here’s Why!

I don’t find out about you however in my family with two wild little boys, we’d like grab-n-go nourishing snacks which are fast and simple to make.

I’m undoubtedly not opposed to purchasing bars from the grocery retailer however IMO they style so significantly better after we make them at house (like my gingerbread granola bars!). And my 4 yr previous is more likely to attempt a brand new meals if he helps make it!

This wholesome snack recipe will be made in simply Half-hour and solely 5 minutes of hands-on prep time. It’s full of kid-friendly flavor (who doesn’t love a peanut butter, banana and chocolate combo?!) and is simple to pack to convey with you for a automotive trip / journey to the playground, and so forth (kinda like my almond butter protein balls).

The registered dietitian in me loves that this snack is stuffed with plant-based protein, wholesome fats, fiber, and carbs. When mixed collectively, all of those vitamins assist with satiety, blood sugar management, and long-lasting vitality.

These scrumptious selfmade bars at all times assist maintain me over till my subsequent meal, and if eaten earlier than bedtime, assist me get a very good evening sleep (preserve studying for extra on the science behind that)!

I hope you and your loved ones take pleasure in these bars (that double as breakfast or dessert!) as a lot as we do!

Elements You’ll Want

Notes on Elements

rolled oats: oats are naturally gluten-free however will be processed in a facility that manufactures gluten. In case you have Celiac illness (gluten allergy, not sensitivity), make sure you search for licensed gluten-free oats in order for you these bars to be gluten-free!

bananas: use ripe / browned bananas – this may assist add sweetness and softness to the bars!

peanut butter: I take advantage of creamy, unsalted peanut butter however if you happen to’re a crunchy PB girlie, go for it!

maple syrup: provides sweetness; can substitute together with your sweetener of selection!

Greek yogurt: helps add moisture and protein to the bars

vanilla: provides heat, candy taste

baking powder: offers bars a lighter, much less dense texture

chia seeds: provides dietary punch of omega 3s, fiber, protein and fats

salt: enhances taste

chocolate chips: provides sweetness (and enjoyable!); simple to omit if you happen to want, however WHY would you :). Select darkish chocolate chips for further antioxidants!

The right diet for a bedtime snack

I’m obsessive about these bars as a night snack – I swear they assist me go to sleep. And this isn’t only a random anecdote. Let this registered dietitian geek out on some dietary science with ya’ll.

I’m positive you’re accustomed to melatonin, the hormone your physique produces at nighttime to assist regulate your circadian rhythm (or sleep cycle), serving to you go to sleep and keep asleep.

However DYK that there are sure meals that naturally comprise melatonin and much more meals that comprise the precursors to melatonin?!

Ever heard of tryptophan? You understand, that phrase you solely hear on Thanksgiving when folks clarify why you’re handed out on the sofa after consuming a bunch of turkey. What about serotonin? The neurotransmitter that helps preserve you cheerful.

Nicely, each of those are precursors to melatonin. Tryptophan, an amino acid discovered within the eating regimen, helps make serotonin within the physique, and serotonin helps make melatonin.

And also you guessed it, these bars comprise components that present tryptophan, serotonin, in addition to minerals that help rest like potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Let’s break it down!

• Bananas: comprise tryptophan and potassium
• Yogurt: comprises tryptophan and calcium
• Rolled oats: comprise tryptophan, calcium and magnesium
• Chocolate: comprises serotonin (and darkish chocolate comprises even increased quantities of it!)
• Chia: comprise calcium and magnesium

So if you happen to’re in search of a candy bedtime snack that comprises the diet to assist help a very good evening sleep, these are it!

And after I want a bit further help within the sleep division (having two little ones will certainly do a quantity in your sleep!), I like taking a melatonin complement, like Terry Naturally’s Melatonin EP120™ to assist help deep, sound sleep.*

And whereas melatonin is greatest identified for its position in sleep, it additionally has been studied for a number of well being advantages like immune operate and wholesome getting older.*

*These statements haven’t been evaluated by the Meals and Drug Administration. This product shouldn’t be supposed to diagnose, deal with, remedy, or forestall any illness.

The best way to Make Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars

1. Mash! Mash bananas in a medium to massive mixing bowl.
2. Add moist components. Whisk in maple syrup, yogurt and vanilla till mixed.
3. Add dry components. Stir in rolled oats, baking powder, chia and salt till mixed.
4. You simply fold it in! Fold within the chocolate chips.
5. Bake, child! Switch combination to a sq. pan and bake till set, about 25-Half-hour. Let cool fully and minimize into squares.

Tools You’ll Want

Mixing bowl

Sq. baking pan

Professional Ideas

1. To make this a child led weaning pleasant bar recipe, omit the maple syrup, salt and chocolate. Add cinnamon for further taste and sweetness.
2. These bars are freezer-friendly if you happen to occur to have any leftovers!
3. These bars are simply adaptable – dairy free? Omit the yogurt. Peanut allergy? Use almond butter as a substitute.

Preparation and Storage

These bars will be saved within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as one week.

For freezer storage, individually wrap squares in plastic wrap and retailer collectively in an hermetic container or bag for as much as three months.

Recipes That Pair Nicely

Air Fryer Eggs

Veggie Egg Bites

Lavender Latte

For extra banana inspiration, take a look at my different recipes beneath!

Banana Bread Oatmeal

Complete Wheat Butternut Squash Banana Bread

Tahini Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Peanut Butter Banana Kefir Pancakes

When you like this recipe, please make sure you remark and provides it a 5 star ranking beneath. When you make it, share it on Instagram and tag me @karalydonrd and I’ll re-share it with my followers! If you wish to save this recipe for later, make sure you pin it on Pinterest!

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