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Made with creamy peanut butter, naturally sweet bananas, and indulgent chocolate chips, Peanut Butter Banana Bars are incredibly simple to make and absolutely irresistible.
If you enjoy chocolate chip oatmeal bars or can't resist a slice of banana bread, you are going to LOVE these bars. Inspired by my peanut butter banana muffins, this recipe blends peanut butter, chocolate, and bananas into one delightful treat!
Peanut Butter Banana Bars at a Glance
These Peanut Butter Banana Bars check all the boxes:
- Quick & Easy Recipe. These simple banana bars don't even require a mixer! Just 5 minutes of prep and a handful of everyday ingredients.
- Wholesome Ingredients. Made without added oil or butter, whole grains, and naturally sweetened, the only indulgence in these bars are the chocolate chips.
- Family Favorite. Whether served as an afterschool snack or a post-workout treat, you can never go wrong with the combination or peanut butter, bananas, and peanut butter.
- Adaptable. I have included tested modifications to make these bars gluten-free, egg-free, and/or dairy-free. That way everyone can enjoy them!
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
5-Star Reader Review
Wow! So good! Banana, chocolate and peanut butter is my favorite flavor combination. These did not last long in my house. -Andrea ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Notes on Ingredients
If you find yourself with brown bananas, take that as your sign to make these Peanut Butter Banana Bars. You likely have everything else on hand.
- Bananas: The riper the banana, the sweeter these bars will end up being. I love to use really brown bananas that are well past their prime.
- Flour: This recipe has been tested using whole white wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. I typically opt for whole white wheat flour, which keeps the bars light and fluffy, yet filled with whole grains.
- Honey: Feel free to replace the honey with maple syrup if desired.
- Egg: An egg helps to provide structure and stability. If needed, replace the egg with a flax egg by mixing together 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Peanut Butter: Use creamy natural peanut butter for best results. You can use shelf-stable peanut butter or refrigerated peanut butter.
- Chocolate Chips: Use semi-sweet, milk-chocolate, dark chocolate chips, or even dairy-free chocolate chips. Mini chocolate chips work as well.
How to Make Peanut Butter Banana Bars
Making Peanut Butter Banana Bars is not difficult, but these simple steps will guide you through the process to ensure they turn out perfectly, almost like I'm right there baking alongside you. 😊
- Use parchment paper to line your baking dish. This will help prevent your banana bars from sticking to the pan and make for easier clean-up. 👉🏻 Note on pan: Keep in mind that the bake time will vary not only based on your oven but your baking dish. A glass baking dish will require a bit longer bake time than a metal pan.
- Combine wet ingredients. Mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl until creamy and smooth. Add the egg, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla and use a whisk or fork to mix until incorporated.
- Combine dry ingredients. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt (if your peanut butter is unsalted). Add the chocolate chips, tossing to coat with flour. This helps to keep them from sinking to the bottom of the bars so every bite is filled with melty chocolate.
- Fold batter together. Add the flour mixture to the peanut butter banana mixture, and use a wooden spoon or spatula to gently fold together until just moistened and combined. Don't overmix or the bars will become tough.
- Bake. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, and use a spatula to gently spread into an even layer. Bake until the surface is lightly golden and center is set.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
While these snack bars don't last long at our house, they store exceptionally well. I often bake a double batch and freeze half to enjoy later in the month.
- Let cool fully before slicing. Don't try to slice the bars when still warm--they are likely to crumble. Instead, let them cool in pan for 10 minutes, then use the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the pan and let cool completely. Slice into squares and enjoy as desired.
- Refrigerate: Due to the whole grains, it is best to refrigerate these peanut butter banana bars rather than storing them at room temperature. Simply place the bars into an airtight container, separating layers by parchment paper if needed and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezer-Friendly: Flash freeze the prepared, sliced bars on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once frozen to the touch, transfer the bars to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let defrost in the refrigerator or at room temperature for a couple of hours before enjoying. I often throw a frozen bar into my kids' lunch box in the morning and they defrost by lunch time.
- Enjoy Warm: For gooey, melty chocolate, place a bar on a heat-safe plate and warm for 15-30 seconds in the microwave.
- Dress it Up. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and peanut butter for an extra special treat.
More Delicious Banana Recipes
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If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Peanut Butter Banana Bars
Made with rich peanut butter, sweet bananas, and decadent chocolate chips, these Banana Chocolate Chip Bars are extremely easy to make and irresistibly good.
Ingredients
- 2 large overripe bananas, mashed
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole white wheat flour, see note
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ teaspoon table salt, if your peanut butter is unsalted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉ and line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper or grease well.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Add the egg, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. (Add ¼ teaspoon of salt if your peanut butter is unsalted.) Add in the chocolate chips and toss to coat the chocolate chips with the flour.
- Add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter and banana mixture and gently fold together until the flour is fully moistened. Do not overmix.
- Spread the batter out evenly in the prepared baking dish, it is a thick batter.
- Bake the bars until lightly golden and the center is set. This is 17-20 minutes if using a metal pan or 19-23 minutes if using a glass pan.
- Cool the banana bars on a cooling rack for 10 minutes and then carefully remove the parchment paper from the pan to cool the bars completely. Slice into 12 bars and serve. Note, if you just greased your pan instead of using parchment paper, do not try to remove the bars from the pan, just cool for 20 minutes before slicing.
Equipment
Notes
Flour: Feel free to swap the whole white flour, which is whole grain, with all-purpose flour or a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
Storage: Once cooled, store the bars in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Flash freeze the prepared, sliced bars on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once frozen to the touch, transfer the bars to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let defrost in the refrigerator or at room temperature for a couple of hours before enjoying.
Add Nuts: If you want to add a bit of texture to the chocolate chip banana bars, add up to ⅓ cup of chopped walnuts to the recipe when you add the chocolate chips.
Egg-Free: Mix together 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let sit for 5 minutes. Use in place of the egg.
Dairy-Free: Simply use dairy-free chocolate chips or omit the chocolate chips.
Double the Recipe: This recipe can be doubled easily. Bake in a 9x13 pan for 22-28 minutes at 350℉.
Nutrition
Calories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 5gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 202mgPotassium: 170mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 50IUVitamin C: 1.7mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @amindfullmom or tag #amindfullmom!
Originally published in 2018 and updated in 2025.
Delicious, healthy, soft and easy bars to make. I made them exactly as the recipe states and they turned out perfect. These bars are a nice change from banana bread, which my family LOVES. I will be making them again!
Hi Libby! I am so thrilled you and your family loved these banana bars! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Banana, chocolate chip and peanut butter! My favorite combo! Love how simple this recipe is and my family loved it too!
It is such a favorite combo! Love hearing you enjoyed!