peanut butter banana chocolate chip oatmeal bars

Peanut butter banana chocolate chip oatmeal bars. Whew, that's a mouthful. A mouthful of goodness, though. And healthy goodness at that.

Yes, this is a my first healthy dessert recipe that I'm sharing here on the blog. I've made them a few times since first testing the recipe because they're really a great treat. These bars taste rich and indulgent, but they use absolutely no butter. 

The ripe banana and peanut butter work together to yield a soft and chewy texture that is exactly what I'm looking for in a dessert bar. In addition, they both provide a delicious flavor that pairs so well with the chocolate chips. 

The banana acts as a natural sweetener, so not only are these bars sans butter, but they use considerably less sugar than traditional dessert bars.

Aside from being a treat that you can feel good about eating, I love how easy they are to make. You don't need any fancy equipment. Just a bowl, a spoon, and some muscle. Speaking of muscle, these are a great post-workout snack. Oats, banana, and peanut butter- I'm certain any nutritionist would advise that these as a good option for fuel for the body. Bake these up my friends! 

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

2.5 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup milk (I used skim)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 large ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chip

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Prepare 8x8 baking pan with cooking spray or parchment paper
Whisk together dry ingredients in medium sized bowl; set aside
Mix peanut butter and bananas together in large bowl
Add milk, vanilla, and egg to banana mixture and mix until combined
Slowly add dry ingredients to wet and mix until well combined
Stir in chocolate chips
Evenly spread mixture into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes
Let cool completely before cutting into bars

Enjoy!

Source Sally's Baking Addiction
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