Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
These Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are lightly sweetened with ripe bananas and honey. They are quick and easy to make and perfect for breakfast or snack time!
I live about 30 miles from the school that I teach at, which means that I spend a decent amount of time commuting to and from work. It’s frustrating to think about the hours I spend commuting as lost time, so I try to find ways to make my commute more enjoyable. I used to listen to audiobooks that I’d check out from the library, but lately I’ve been listening to podcasts and loving it. My favorites are podcasts about blogging and motherhood.
Since returning to work after my maternity leave I’ve been catching up on episodes of The Chopped Podcast. If you’re not a food blogger, then this podcast probably won’t interest you much, and if you are then you’re probably already listening. (And if not, I highly recommend you do!) At the end of each episode, the host always asks the guest of the week a few questions, including: What’s the one food you can’t live without? What would your answer be?
I know mine… oats! I eat and bake with oats so much that I should probably buy stock in my favorite brand.
Just think about it. There’s the usual oatmeal, overnight oats and homemade granola. But there are also oatmeal muffins, oatmeal cookies, and granola bars. I even put oats in my smoothies. I have over 45 recipes on my site with oats in them, and that number is increasing quickly!
If I didn’t have oats in my kitchen then I couldn’t make these Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, and that would be a very sad thing. These are my perfect granola bar, and they’ve become my go-to recipe.
LOVE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS? Try this banana-free Quaker copycat version next!
I’m not a huge fan of banana granola bars, actually, but the banana is just right in these. You won’t notice an overwhelming banana flavor, but rather just a hint of banana. The banana is important because it adds natural sweetness to the bars. So you can make these Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars with just ¼ cup honey and no other sweeteners (besides the chocolate chips, of course). Be sure to use really ripe bananas, like turning brown-spotted bananas, because those are the most sweet.
You won’t even need a mixer to make these bars, just a big bowl and a liquid measuring cup (or smaller bowl) and a spoon. You’ll mix the wet and dry ingredients up separately and then together, press the mixture in a pan, and bake.
These bars hold together well, so you don’t have to worry about them crumbling and falling apart. Unless you throw them in the bottom of your purse or backpack… in that case I can’t guarantee anything. Except that you will still have one amazingly tasty snack, crumbled bits and all. 🙂
Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 4 cups old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup white whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup honey
- ¾ cup mashed ripe banana, about 2 medium
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, line with parchment, and spray the parchment.
- Stir the oats, white whole wheat flour, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl.
- Place the coconut oil in a microwave-safe liquid measuring cup or bowl. Heat in the microwave until melted. Whisk in the honey, mashed banana, and vanilla. Whisk in the egg.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry and stir until well combined. Stir in the mini chocolate chips. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Lay a piece of parchment on top (to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands) and firmly press the mixture down into the pan; remove and discard the piece of parchment.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 32-35 minutes, until set and lightly golden. Let cool completely and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into bars. (Use the parchment lining to help you gently transfer the bars from the baking dish to a cutting board before cutting.)
- Store granola bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
I can’t wait to dive into that podcast…sounds so good! And these granola bars look incredible, Kristine! Bananas and chocolate chip sound like the best combination. What a great way to start the day off with!
Thank you, Gayle! I think you would love these bars!
What a positive outlook on commuting! I’m a big planner, so I use driving time/shower time to plan ahead 🙂 These granola bars look so yummy and beyond delicious!
Sometimes I’ll think through my plan for the day, etc. during my commute, too. Gotta make the most of that time!
I need to start listening to podcasts. 🙂 And this granola is great.
I feel ya on the commute! Before leaving the teaching field, my commute was an hour. Podcasts were one of my favorite ways to pass the time! What are some of your favorite blogging podcasts if you don’t mind sharing?
I didn’t know you were in the teaching field! I love the Chopped Podcast, and I used to listen to How They Blog, but there haven’t been any new episodes for a while. I also find some of the Smart Passive Income episodes helpful. If you know of any others, I’d love some new recommendations!
I would definitely not be able to give up oats, I eat them all the time and in everything! Love these granola bars, Kristine! They look like a perfect snack or breakfast on the go!
Thanks, Nora! I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t eat oats in one form or another!
I always LOVE homemade granola bars! And I love your recipe, the banana and chocolate chip sound SO delicious together! Pinned 🙂
Never made my own granola bars before so you definitely have given me a bit of inspiration here. These look perfect and I’m sure taste better than any store bought bar.
You’ve got to try homemade granola bars! They are so easy and I love keeping them on hand for snacking!
That podcast sounds awesome, I feel the same way and would choose oats too! These look incredible, Kristine! Homemade granola bars are my favorite and I love the banana chocolate chip combo! Such a delicious way to start the day!
These look so delicious! I love banana and chocolate chips together! I couldn’t live without oats, either!
How funny that I was on pinterest last night looking for Banana granola bars!! These look amazing! Going to try them tonight once I get to the store for some eggs. Don’t you hate when your always out of something when you make to bake? 🙂 Pinned!!
If you try these, I hope you love them! Yes, I hate when I realize I’ve run out of an ingredient I need, especially when it happens mid-recipe!
I love listening to podcasts during my commute too! Makes the time fly by. This granola bars sound deeeelish!
I just started using my podcast app and cannot get enough of it! Thank you so much for the recommendation. And for this recipe, I mean, could it get any better?? Oats, chocolate chips, and bananas are their own holy trio and they look amazing in these bars!
Podcasts are great, aren’t they! I love feeling like I’m learning something while commuting or working out. If you have any recommendations, pass them along! 🙂
This is such a great recipe! Love that it doesn’t use dairy.
Thank you, Jess! These is our go-to granola bar recipe!
This might be my new favorite blog 🙂 This works great for the little one, but I am thinking this could be a good filling snack to hold me pre-lunch! Gonna spend some time reading through this blog, to get some more ideas Kristine! Keep it up, I really appreciate the effort
Thank you, Janene! I also love these granola bars just as much as my kids do. 😉
Hi, love the recipe and can’t wait to try it!
Unfortunately where I live there is no white whole wheat flour, can I use whole wheat flour instead? Would it make a difference?
Regular whole wheat flour will work fine here. Sometimes the lighter texture and flavor of white whole wheat really makes a difference, but I don’t think you’d even notice in this recipe. Enjoy!
Hello,
These look super yummy and I want to try them. The only thing is that I am allergic to coconut. Can I use a different oil?
Thank you!!
You can use melted butter or olive oil. Enjoy!
Just made these and the flavor is great but I would have the recipe to make thinner crunchier bars. These come out a bit to thick and chewy.
Can I use instead of white wheat flour just regular white flour?
Can I use instead of white whole wheat flour just regular white flour?
Yes, regular flour will work. Enjoy!
Must these be refrigerated? Say, I’m travelling for two or three days. Will they go bad in that time?
I think they will be fine at room temperature for a few days. I hope you like them!
Hello! Can I use all purpose flour or does it have to be white whole wheat flour?
Thanks!
Hi Stacy, all purpose flour will work fine. Enjoy!
Can I use whole wheat flour rather than white whole wheat flour?
Yes, that will work fine. I hope you like the granola bars!
Is there any way to reduce the amount of coconut oil in this? Is there something I could substitute with (other than different types of oil)?
Hi Gina, the coconut oil helps the bars to stick together. I haven’t tested substitutes, but nut butter might work. Let us know if you try it!
Has this recipe been tried with a Gluten Free Flour? I have “1 to 1 GF Baking Flour” available. It would be great to keep them nut free as well, but if Almond Flour works best, I’ll consider it. I am making this for a gathering and would like to make a gluten free option, and these look great!
For others’ future reference, I made it with a 1:1 GF flour and it turned out pretty well – we thought it was a little “dry” – maybe I needed a little more banana or oil or honey? But, they held together great and tasted good.
I just found your website and this is the first recipe we’ve tried. It was such a huge hit this morning and fun to make with my preschooler and toddler. Thanks for the easy, healthy recipe! I’m looking forward to making this and some of your other recipes part of our household staples.
Hi Danna, your comment made me smile! I’m glad you enjoyed the granola bars and some time in the kitchen with your little ones!
Love these bars! So simple and delicious and WHOLESOME!!! Homemade granola bars are a billion times better than store-bought!!
Thank you! Homemade is always better!
My kids gobbled these up (I did too!)! I want to make another batch, but my bananas aren’t very ripe. Do you think I could sub applesauce?
I’m so glad! I haven’t tried them with applesauce. It might work – let me know how they turn out if you try it.
The simplicity of these bars make it so easy to make (and eat!) These bars are so yummy, perfect for a mid-day snack!
Thank you!
Made these gluten free by using oat flour. These were so good!
I don’t have honey on hand but really wanted to make these with my ripe bananas without running to the store….can i just use sugar even though its not as healthy??
Hi Lanay, Unfortunately, the honey not only sweetens the bars but it also helps to hold them together. Without the honey, the bars would fall apart.
Loved this recipe. Great taste, not sweet and not overwhelming banana flavor. My kids loved them as well. It was easy to prepare.
These sound wonderful. I’ve just started an acid-friendly diet to control refux so I plan to give these a try using carob chips in place of chocolate.
Hello for the granola banana chocolate chip you have mentioned that fo 1 bar is 172 calorie how do I know the size of the bar how much does it weigh in grams so that I know?
Since the recipe says it makes 16 servings, the nutrition estimate is for 1/16 of the recipe. The nutrition information is always an estimate, since it will vary based on the exact ingredients/brands used.
Is the texture of this more like baked oatmeal or crunchy like granola bars?
They are crunchy and chewy like granola bars. The texture is not like baked oatmeal.