Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Bars (Printable Version)

Wholesome bars with blueberries, banana, oats, and protein for a quick nutritious start.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 teaspoon baking powder

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
07 - 1/4 cup honey or pure maple syrup
08 - 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
11 - 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil or unsalted butter

→ Mix-Ins

12 - 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw if frozen)

# Directions:

01 - Set oven to 350°F and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together oats, protein powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder until evenly mixed.
03 - In a separate bowl, mash bananas thoroughly, then add honey or maple syrup, applesauce, eggs, vanilla, and melted coconut oil. Whisk until smooth.
04 - Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.
05 - Carefully fold fresh or frozen blueberries into the batter, maintaining batter texture.
06 - Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan to ensure uniform baking.
07 - Bake for 28 to 32 minutes until bars turn golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow bars to cool completely in the pan, then lift out using parchment overhang and slice into 12 portions.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste like warm blueberry muffins but hold together in your bag without crumbling everywhere.
  • You can mix the batter in under ten minutes using one bowl and a fork.
  • Each bar keeps you full for hours thanks to the oats, banana, and protein working together.
  • They freeze beautifully, so you can pull one out the night before and have breakfast ready by morning.
02 -
  • Do not skip lining the pan with parchment paper. I tried greasing it once and half the bars stuck to the bottom.
  • If you use frozen blueberries, fold them in while theyre still frozen or theyll turn the batter an unappetizing blue-gray.
  • Let the bars cool all the way before slicing. I learned this the hard way when I cut into them warm and they crumbled into a pile of delicious rubble.
03 -
  • Use bananas that are almost too ripe. The darker the peel, the sweeter and easier they mash.
  • Press the batter firmly into the pan so the bars bake evenly and hold together when you slice them.
  • If your blueberries sink to the bottom, toss them in a tiny bit of oat flour before folding them in. It helps them stay suspended.
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