Chocolate Banana Oat Bars

Ingredients

– 1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 bananas)
– 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
– 1/4 cup peanut butter (or any nut butter)
– 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
– 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
– 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

Mix Wet Ingredients:
In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

Add Dry Ingredients:
Stir in the rolled oats, cocoa powder, and cinnamon (if using) until well combined. Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips, if desired.

Transfer to Pan:
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it down evenly with a spatula to create a flat surface.

Bake:
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bars are firm and set.

Cool and Slice:
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing them into squares or rectangles.

Enjoy!