Description
Nourishing baked oatmeal bars blend wholesome ingredients into a delightful breakfast treat. Hearty rolled oats, sweet maple syrup, and warm cinnamon create a comforting morning experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan)
- 2 cups (200 grams) rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
- ½ cup (120 ml/milliliters) milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed (or ½ cup applesauce)
- ⅓ cup (80 ml/milliliters) maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 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
- Preheat and Prepare: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and line a square baking dish with parchment paper, ensuring complete bottom and side coverage.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly blend rolled oats, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt until evenly distributed.
- Mix Wet Components: Whisk together mashed bananas, eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and nut butter until achieving a smooth, homogeneous texture.
- Integrate and Enhance: Gently fold the wet ingredients into the oat mixture, stirring until fully combined. Delicately fold in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit to elevate flavor and texture.
- Bake and Monitor: Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, spreading evenly. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for golden edges and a clean toothpick test.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the baked oatmeal to rest for 10 minutes, enabling it to set and stabilize. Slice into uniform squares or rectangular portions for serving.
Notes
- Customize Texture: Adjust oat type (rolled vs. quick) to control density and moisture absorption, ensuring a perfect bar consistency.
- Balance Sweetness: Replace maple syrup with honey, agave, or monk fruit sweetener for alternative sugar profiles and dietary needs.
- Prevent Dryness: Ensure ripe bananas are very soft and well-mashed to maintain moisture and create a tender, soft bar texture.
- Enhance Nutrition: Experiment with protein powder, chia seeds, or ground flaxseed to boost nutritional value without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg