Description
Delicious and nutritious Chunky Monkey Protein Baked Oat Bars combine ripe bananas, protein powder, oats, and crunchy walnuts with chocolate chips for a healthy, energizing snack or breakfast option. These bars are easy to make, naturally sweetened, and perfect for on-the-go fuel.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup vanilla or chocolate protein powder
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Pan and Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. Add the unsweetened applesauce, honey or maple syrup, almond milk, peanut butter, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and form a consistent wet mixture.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the rolled oats, protein powder (vanilla or chocolate), chopped walnuts, dark chocolate chips, salt, ground cinnamon, and baking powder. Mix these dry ingredients well to ensure even distribution of flavors and leavening agents.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the dry ingredient mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Gently fold together until just combined, careful not to overmix to maintain a good texture in the bars.
- Transfer to Baking Pan: Spread the combined mixture evenly into the prepared 8×8-inch baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula to ensure uniform thickness.
- Bake Bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 22 to 25 minutes. The bars should be set and golden around the edges when done.
- Cool and Cut: Remove the baking pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift the parchment paper to remove the bars and slice into 12 equal pieces. Serve or store as desired.
Notes
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup.
- Use gluten-free oats to make this recipe gluten-free.
- You can swap walnuts for other nuts like pecans or almonds based on preference.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- These bars can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: protein bars, baked oat bars, chunky monkey bars, healthy snacks, banana oat bars, homemade protein bars
