Indulge in these irresistible, wholesome bars, a delightful fusion of banana bread and baked oats! Packed with protein from oats, wholemeal flour, milk, egg, and peanut butter, they're perfect for a sustained energy boost. Plus, the oats and bananas deliver a fantastic fibre hit, great for gut health and lowering cholesterol. CHECKED
old-fashioned rolled
medium
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Lightly grease a 23cm square baking pan with extra virgin olive oil.
In a large bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, wholemeal flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
In a separate bowl, mash the banana. Then, whisk in the milk, unsweetened applesauce, honey, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add 4 tablespoons (60g) of peanut butter and whisk until smooth.
Gently fold the dry oat mixture into the wet banana mixture until just combined and no dry streaks of flour remain.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it into an even layer. Dollop the remaining 2 tablespoons (30g) of peanut butter evenly on top. Use a toothpick or a small knife to create a marbled effect by dragging the peanut butter through the oat mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges of the bars begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Let the bars cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before slicing into individual bars.
For sweeter bars, ensure your bananas are very ripe, with plenty of brown spots on the skin.
Feel free to customise your bars! Swirl in some jam for a 'peanut butter and jelly' twist, or add dark chocolate chips, chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts), seeds, dried fruit, or coconut before baking.
These bars can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 4 days, or frozen for up to 2 months. If freezing, wrap individual slices in parchment paper to prevent sticking.