These Peanut Butter Banana Bars are made with wholesome ingredients and take just 35 minutes. The chewy bars are packed full of peanut butter and banana goodness, making them perfect for on-the-go breakfasts.
If you want some more delicious banana snacks, try my Granola Banana Bites and my Banana Dessert Sushi. They are both a perfect snack to make your for your family.
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Why this Peanut Butter Banana Bar Recipe is a Keeper
These banana oat bars are pure comfort; here’s why our version is the one to bookmark. It is something you can feel good about feeding to your family.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with pantry staples like ripe bananas and regular peanut butter.
- Quick to Make: The batter comes together in minutes with no complicated steps.
- Family Favorite: Soft bars with classic peanut butter and banana flavor that kids and adults both enjoy.
- Great for Any Time Snacks: Perfect for breakfast, lunchboxes, or an afternoon treat.
Do the Banana Chips Stay Crunchy After Baking?
The banana chips tend to get softer when they bake with the wet ingredients, so there shouldn’t be any super crunchy bits in these easy peanut butter dessert bars.
What Reader’s Are Saying…
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“We took these to a family get together and they disappeared so quickly! The peanut butter and banana flavor combination made them a big hit!.”
~ Dana
Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Bars
All of the required ingredients are easy to find at the store, but you might even have some already.
This is an overview of key ingredients. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Peanut Butter Chips: Instead of trying to use messy peanut butter, this recipe calls for peanut butter chips.
- Banana Chips: Dehydrated banana chips are perfect for adding the banana flavor.
- Vanilla: It’s best to use pure vanilla extract to get the best vanilla flavor.
Variations – Make Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars
Feel free to switch up this easy to make recipe to try different flavors or to accommodate for sensitivities.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Stir in a handful of mini chocolate chips for a classic peanut butter banana combo. Try dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate chips or even white chocolate chips on top too.
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars: Replace part of the flour with rolled oats for a heartier snack bar. Avoid quick oats as they will get soggy.
- Use Almond Butter: Try this recipe with almond butter if you prefer a different nut butter than crunchy peanut butter or natural peanut butter.
- Make Gluten Free: Substitute a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend to make GF chewy banana chip cookie bars.
Special Equipment Needed for Snack Bars
Although there aren’t any special tools needed to make this easy peanut butter banana recipe, one thing is useful when it comes time to clean up.
- Parchment Paper: Lining the baking pan with parchment paper makes it easy to lift the bars out for clean slices.
How to Make these Peanut Butter and Banana Bars
These peanut butter banana snack bars come together in just 3 quick and easy steps. These creamy peanut butter bars are so good, I make them as special breakfast cookies.
These are just highlights. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Prep Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, peanut butter chips and crushed banana chips. In another bowl, beat together the sugar, butter and vanilla, then slowly beat in the eggs.
- Make the Batter: Slowly start adding the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. When mixed, spoon the mixture into a greased square baking dish.
- Bake the Bars: Bake the banana bars in a preheated oven until done. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the middle of the pan and if it comes out with minimal crumbs, they’re done!
Prep Ahead and Short Cut Tips
Start preparing steps and ingredients ahead of time so that the baking process is as easy as possible.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Measure and combine the dry ingredients earlier in the day so the batter comes together quickly.
- Chop Banana Chips: Prepare them ahead of time and store in an airtight container until ready to bake.
- Bake and Slice: Bake the chocolate peanut butter banana bars in advance and cut the bars into portions once cooled, making these bars ready to go.
Alternate Cooking Methods to Love this Recipe
This peanut butter banana chip bars recipe is great as bars, but it can also be made into a loaf or muffins.
- Make Muffins: Pour the batter into a muffin pan and reduce baking time by about 5–8 minutes.
- Use a Smaller Pan: A loaf pan can work if needed, though baking time may increase slightly.
Can I Replace Banana Chips with Fresh Banana Slices?
Sure, feel free to gently fold in banana slices or mashed banana to make it more like banana bread. Be aware that the bars may end up more moist if you mash the bananas in.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
Proper storing and reheating made this recipe just as good as they were fresh.
- Storing: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: 10 seconds in the microwave made these peanut butter banana treats just like they came out of the oven.
- Using Leftovers: Crumble leftover banana chip dessert bars over yogurt or serve with fresh fruit for a quick breakfast.
Expert Tips for Making Banana Peanut Butter Bars
- Do Not Overmix: Stir the peanut butter banana dessert bars batter just until combined to keep the bars soft.
- Line the Pan: Parchment paper helps the bars lift out easily for neat slices.
- Cool Completely: Let the bars cool fully before cutting to prevent crumbling.
- Serve With: Serve the banana chip baking recipe with Blueberry Baked Oatmeal, Texas Sheet Cake Cookies or Granola Bar Banana Bites.
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Peanut Butter Banana Bars
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup All-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon Baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- ⅔ cup Peanut butter chips
- ⅓ cup Crushed banana chips
- 1 cup White sugar
- ½ cup Unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Grease an 8-inch baking dish with a coat of butter and dust with flour or spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- Combine flour, baking soda, salt, peanut butter chips and crushed banana chips in a mixing bowl.
- Mix well to evenly distribute the ingredients. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together sugar, butter and vanilla with an electric mixer on high speed.
- Add eggs. Beat mixture on high until it is fluffy and thoroughly combined.
- Slowly add the dry flour mixture to the sugar/butter mixture. Stir quite well to thoroughly combine all ingredients.
- Spoon all of the mixture into the baking dish.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely. Cut into bars and enjoy.
Christina’s Notes
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe to share with your friends ad family. To double this recipe increase ingredients proportionally and split between two baking dishes.
- Toppings: For some extra flare, top with a nut butter swirl (peanut, almond butter, or cashew butter) or slices of ripe bananas.
- Chocolate Chips: You can use chocolate chips in place of or addition to these banana peanut butter bars.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
We took these to a family get together and they disappeared so quickly! The peanut butter and banana flavor combination made them a big hit!
Two of my favorite things in one bar – they were SO good!
Such a perfect combination! Banana peanut butter bars are also a great addition to our picnic menu. YUM!