Home » Recipes » Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bars

Published on January 8, 2021 | Updated on April 8, 2022 by The BakerMama

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bars

Name: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bars with a Peanut Butter Oat Streusel
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened; 1/2 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter; 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2 large eggs; 2 cups quick-cooking oats; 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 and 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 4 medium ripe bananas); 1 cup chocolate chips; 1/2 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter; 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats; 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Jump to Recipe

When life hands you overripe bananas, bake up some Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bars with Peanut Butter Oat Streusel. Whew, that’s a mouthful! A delicious, chewy, chocolatey mouthful.

No Such Thing as a Bad Banana

I cannot even look at these photos without my mouth watering. Friends, these banana bread bars are everything. They’re sweet, chewy, dense, and y’all, I’m not even over here pretending they are a healthier version of anything 😂. Made with butter, brown sugar, and lots and lots of love, these snacks disappear as fast as you can serve them up.

It all began one morning with a bunch of very ripe bananas. Never one to let a squishy banana go to waste, I decided to whip up something new. Something dreamy. And these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bars with a Peanut Butter Oat Streusel are a dream come true! So full of flavor!

Choosing Ripe Bananas

First, a quick tip! People ask me all the time how they’ll know if a banana is ripe enough for baking. Do your bananas look gross? Like, really gross? Then they’re ready! The more ripe a banana, the sweeter the batter. In a pinch, you can ‘ripen’ bananas in your oven. Simply place them on a baking sheet and then bake for 30 minutes or so in a 300°F oven. Keep in mind, though, that oven-ripened bananas don’t quite have the same sweetness to them.

How to Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bars

To make the batter, first, cream the butter, 1/2 cup peanut butter, and brown sugar together in the bowl of an electric stand mixer until light and fluffy. Next, add your eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, beat in a teaspoon vanilla extract.

In a separate large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (oats, baking powder, and baking soda. Note there’s no salt in this recipe). Next, add the oat mixture to the wet ingredients in the stand mixer and beat on low to medium speed until well combined. Finally, fold in the mashed banana and then 1 cup of chocolate chips.

To make the streusel, first stir the peanut butter, brown sugar, and oats together in a small bowl with a fork until crumbly. Next, gently mix in 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

After spreading the bread batter evenly into a prepared baking dish, sprinkle the streusel evenly over the batter. As always, you can line your baking pan with parchment paper for an easier clean. There you have it!

Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. I admit that waiting for these beauties to bake requires a lot of patience. And letting them cool for 15 minutes feels like a Herculean task. But I promise they’re worth the wait!

Finally, once cooled at least 15 minutes, cut the bread into bars and enjoy a bit of chewy chocolatey heaven. Supposedly, this recipe makes 24 servings, but I’ll let y’all be the judge of that. Serve and enjoy! Your crew will devour these treats before you can say, “Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bars with a Peanut Butter Oat Streusel!”

Substitutions and Storage

I haven’t tried it, but I bet this recipe would work well with whatever nut butter (almond butter, cashew butter, etc.) or seed butter you choose, if peanut isn’t your thing. There’s no flour in these banana oatmeal bars, but if you want to make sure it’s free of gluten, choose gluten-free oats.

Store at room temp in an airtight container for up to three days (they won’t last that long!). Or place in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months.

Craving More Sweet Banana Inspiration?

Try this Classic Banana Bread or one of my flourless banana bread recipes which are all easily made in the blender with minimal ingredients. You’d never believe they don’t have any flour, butter, oil or granulated sugar in them.

I hope you and your loved ones enjoy these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bars as much as we do. When you make them, be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see! I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes and ideas I share.

xoxo,