No Bake Banana Granola Bars

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These Banana Granola Bars are the ultimate wholesome snack-soft, chewy, and naturally sweetened with ripe banana. Perfect for busy mornings, post-workout fuel, or stashing in your bag for an afternoon boost. Vegan and gluten-free!

A batch of banana granola bars, on a piece of parchment paper, sliced and ready to eat.

Just reading the name of these bars makes my mouth water. One of my FAVORITE food combinations is peanut butter and banana. My go-to dessert is frozen bananas with peanut butter drizzled on top.

One evening, while enjoying my delicious peanut butter banana dessert, I was wondering why on earth I can't eat this peanut butter banana combination for breakfast.

I realized that I hadn't made breakfast bars since I shared my Raw Apple Pie Granola Bars a while ago. So I thought, why not? Banana Granola Bars. Yum!

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Why you'll love these Banana Granola Bars
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Step-By-Step Instructions
Storage Tips
FAQ
Recipe Prayer
Related recipes
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A close up view of the sticky texture of the banana granola bar.

Why you'll love these Banana Granola Bars

Dietary needs - these bars are vegan and gluten free. Sweetened with bananas and dates!
Naturally sweet - Banana adds natural sweetness and moisture, no refined sugar needed.
Great for snack prep - Make a batch on Sunday and you're good to go all week.
Grab-and-go friendly - pack one in your lunch for a sweet snack.
Totally customizable - Add your favorite mix-ins or keep it simple and classic.

A corner piece of no-bake banana granola bar.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Medjool Dates: I highly recommend medjool dates because they are the softest and will help the bars stay together
Peanut Butter: you can also use any nut or seed butter
Mashed Banana: the riper the banana, the sweeter and more banana-forward the bars will be
Peanut Powder: this is a peanut protein powder that I love including in my recipes to get some extra protein. You can also use almond powder. Or for nut free, you can use any nut-free protein powder
Vanilla
Sea Salt
Rolled Oats
Mix-Ins: mini chocolate chips, raisins, peanuts

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1. Pulse the dates, peanut butter, banana, peanut powder, vanilla, and salt in a food processor.

Banana granola bars step 1 - blend the dates and peanut butter.

Step 2. Transfer to a bowl (or use a spatula in the bowl of your food processor) and stir in the oats and mix ins.

Banana granola bars step 2 - stir in the oats.

Step 3. Transfer to a parchment-lined pan (8x8" or 9x9"). Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Banana granola bars step 3 - press the mixture into a pan and freeze.

Step 4. Slice and serve. Store in the fridge for up to two weeks or freezer for up to 3 months.

Banana granola bars step 4 - slice into bars.

Pro Tip: If your dates are hard, soak them in hot water for 5-20 minutes before making the bars. Dry thoroughly to avoid adding too much water.

Storage Tips

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Freeze for up to 3 months - these are great straight out of the freezer
Place parchment paper between layers to keep bars from sticking.

A batch of banana granola bars, on a piece of parchment paper, with peanuts and chocolate chunks.

Pro Tip: Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and sweetness-those soft, spotty ones are perfect.

FAQ

Are granola bars gluten free?

Many granola bars are gluten-free because they use oats, nuts, and seeds. However not all granola bars are gf and not all are certified gluten-free.

These homemade granola bars are gf. Be sure to use certified gf oats to ensure the bars are completely gluten-free.

Can I make banana granola bars without nut butter?

Yes! Try sunflower seed butter or tahini for a nut-free version that still binds well.

How do I keep my granola bars from falling apart?

Make sure your mixture is sticky. If needed, add more dates to bind the bars together. Then be sure to press the mixture firmly into the pan.

Pro Tip: Freeze individual bars for a month's worth of emergency snacks. Just wrap and go.

A close up view of the sticky texture of the banana granola bars.

Recipe Prayer

Jesus thank you for foods that pair perfectly together. Your genius is evident in all your creation. Amen.

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