Sweet and gooey these chocolate chip and banana oat bars are a fantastic family recipe that kids and adults will love. They're perfect as an afternoon snack, dessert or even as a breakfast bar.

These family friendly chocolate and banana oat bars make a perfect sweet treat for adults and kids. Yes, I loved these. Even though the rest of my family might not like them, they are still worth making because I know there are kids out there who would absolutely love these sweet chocolate and banana bars!
Why did I first make these chocolate banana oat bars?
Just when I'm getting more tired would like to rest more before the next baby comes along, Little Miss Spice has decided that afternoon naps are no longer her thing. She's also become quite bossy, Mummy sit down, pointing at the floor next to her. Mummy read book and if she sees me with my apron on, she knows it means I won't be giving her my full attention. She soon starts pulling at it, demanding that I, Take it off.
Unless of course it means we are making biscuits together. She's very picky but she does love star-shaped biscuits and cereal bars. Usually we make the biscuits together but we buy the cereal bars. I decided it was time to try and make some cereal bars together. This banana tray bake is not quite as healthy as the snacks she usually has, but I thought it would be a nice treat for her and for me.
The inspiration for this recipe
The cereal bars are based on a recipe I found in Mary Berry's Baking Bible in the Baking for Children chapter. However, I used different quantities of ingredients and different types of sugar and flour. Even so, these are definitely inspired by Mary Berry's chocolate and banana bars.
Did my family like these chocolate chip banana oat bars?
I thought they were lovely. They were sweet and gooey in the middle from the banana, and the few chocolate chips on the top went really well. I would definitely make them again and make double the quantity. If only... If only Little Miss Spice had liked them. Well, the nearest she has got so far to trying them is licking one, although she did enjoy playing with the mixture and helping to make them.
Never mind. I shouldn't complain that she doesn't want to eat something with sugar and chocolate in it. I'm sure in a couple of years time I'll be wishing she didn't like sweet things like this. Although hopefully by then she will agree to eat a few vegetables too.
Update: Fast forward a few years and now she loves these bars. Master Spice doesn't but he isn't a fan of anything with banana in so I can't really expect him to like them!
Mr Searching for Spice is also a huge fan of these chocolate oat banana bars. To be honest, if he knows about them the rest of us are lucky to eat more than one or two!
How long does this banana and chocolate chip tray bake last?
This banana tray bake keeps well for up to 3-4 days. I usually keep the bars in an airtight container in the kitchen but you can keep them in the fridge so they last a little longer.
You can also freeze them for up to three months. Wrap them up well in baking paper and keep them in an airtight box. Defrost them at room temperature.
Recipe
Chocolate Chip and Banana Oat Bars
Ingredients
- 75 g white self raising flour
- 20 g wholemeal flour
- 75 g porridge oats
- 75 g golden caster sugar
- 110 g butter at room temperature
- 1 banana
- 30 g chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C.
- Grease and line the bottom of a loose-bottomed square baking tin (18cm).
- Put the flour, oats and sugar in a bowl and mix together. Add the butter and rub together with your fingers until it resembles breadcrumbs.
- Put about ⅔ of the mixture into the baking tin and press it down with your fingers.
- Slice the bananas and lay them on the oat mixture. Top with the rest of the mixture and press down again.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.
- Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes.
- Let them cool in the tin but run the knife through to slice them into squares while they are still warm.
Notes
Nutrition
More cereal bars that are great for kids
These chocolate chip pumpkin cereal bars have no refined sugar! Well, except for the sugar in the chocolate chips!
These date and banana oaty bars make a perfect after school snack as they have no added sugar!
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Keep in touch
Do let me know if you make these oaty chocolate banana bars. I love to get feedback from readers.
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Places I'm sharing these chocolate chip banana oat bars
Cook Blog Share hosted by Eb at Easy Peasy Foodie
Baking Crumbs hosted by Jo's Kitchen Larder and Apply to Face Blog
This post was first published in 2014 but has been updated in 2019
Renu
Thanks, found your recipe in baking crumbs. Wonderful recipe. Oats and banana two healthy ingredients. I have bookmarked this recipe to try.
Corina Blum
Thanks Renu! I hope you like it. Let me know!
megha
very nice recipe thank you for shearing keep it up.
Anna | Once Upon A Food Blog
I love the fact that Little Miss Spice only licked them - it really takes me back! 🙂 Cooking for children is fraught with problems isn't it! I think they look gorgeous and would have gladly devoured one.
Corina Blum
It is fraught! Sometimes I make things and they like them but the next time I make them they say they don't like it!
Jenny Walters
Ooooh these look good. I'm surprised she didnt like them. I love oaty bars too. Just so versatile and perfect quick breakfast treats. I have never made any with banana in though so feeling very inspired.
Corina Blum
I'm amazed you've never made anything with banana in! I have to admit that I love banana things to have chocolate in as well.
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
What a great recipe! Perfect for sneaking some goodness into kids, and much better than shop bought snacks! Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Eb x
Corina Blum
You're welcome Eb and thanks for hosting! x
Helen - Cooking with my kids
I love making flapjacks and cereal bars with my kids but like you, I think I can get them to lick them but not much else #cookblogshare
Corina Blum
I'm glad I'm not the only one! It's frustrating isn't it but I do know other people have made these with their kids and their kids have enjoyed them so at least I know there are kids out there who love them!
Cat | Curly's Cooking
These look delicious and gooey from the banana. Lovely flavour combination.
Corina Blum
I'm so pleased you like them Cat! I think they are really tasty.
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
These have my name written all over them and I'm pretty sure my two boys would literally "go bananas" for them lol. We are all huge fans of oaty/ flapjacks type bars here at the moment and yours look so so lush! Thank you for sharing them with #BakingCrumbs 🙂 x
Corina Blum
Thanks Jo! I'm so pleased you like them and that you think your boys would too. My husband loves them! x
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
They sound very moreish!!
Corina Blum
Thanks Kat! They are delicious.
Monika Dabrowski
Great recipe, with just the right amount of sweetness, my youngest son would probably like to eat the entire traybake. Pinned.
Corina Blum
Thanks Monika! I'm sure your son would love these - they are perfect for kids as well as adults. My husband and I ate quite a few!
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food
These would make an ideal after-school snack! I'm not crazy about bananas myself, but I don't mind them at all if they're in baked goods. These banana and chocolate chip bars look scrummy!!
Corina Blum
Bananas are not my favourite fruit but I do love them with chocolate and they are so good in these!
Jill
Love the extra chocolate chips sprinkled on top. These bars look perfect! My kids' tastes keep changing. For a while they'd eat anything and now as they are entering their teens, they are getting more picky again, LOL!
Corina Blum
Oh no! It's so hard when they are picky. My 5 year old used to eat most things but now it really depends on his mood. With some recipes I've no idea if he'll eat it or not even if he ate it a couple of weeks ago!
Kelly Anthony
I'm always looking for new and healthier snacks to feed my girls and this recipe will be perfect. I mean who doesn't love banana and chocolate.
Corina Blum
Exactly! It's a brilliant combination.
Toni
This was perfect! My kids really loved them!
Corina Blum
That's so good to know. I'm really happy your kids liked them!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
Kids are funny how they demand your FULL ATTENTION. I love how she tries to take off your apron. These banana bars will surely be a hit with our little ones.
Corina Blum
She was so cute at that age! She is 7 now but still very determined. I had plans for her recent birthday cake but she insisted on decorating it herself!
Melissa
I love a good bar recipe! These look amazing.
Corina Blum
Thanks Melissa! They are so good - I loved them.
Kate
These sound delicious. Super gooey!! Yum!
Sarah
these bars sound delicious! can't go wrong with banana and chocolate. 🙂
Eat Your Veg
Ahr she doesn't know what she was missing out on, these sound totally lush to me!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime
These look perfect for my breakfast! Lovely that you can make the time to bake with the little one 🙂
Vanesther
These look so good - moist and chewy and gooey! I'm amazed your little one didn't enjoy them but I'll have her share!
Corina
Unfortunately she's just very picky - She wouldn't even put them in her mouth, but she liked the fact she had helped to make them. She even asked for 'homemade bars' a couple of times but then changed her mind and wanted the bought ones!
whatjessicabakednext...
Yum, these look delicious!
explorenewness
YUM! I'm going to have to try this soon!
Camilla Jordan
Just found this recipe! Could the bananas be mashed and mixed in the recipe rather than rounds?
Corina Blum
Hi Camilla, yes you could definitely mash the bananas if you want and then just spread them in a layer in a the middle rather than just cutting into slices. Do let me know if you like the recipe!
Corina
Joanne
Aww little Miss Spice sounds adorable!! I love that she likes baking with you...these bars sound fabulous!
Julie
These look delicious. You can't go wrong with chocolate and bananas.
Corina
Exactly!
Stuart
I love chocolate and banana together! These look lovely, thanks entering them into Treat Petite 🙂
Karen Burns Booth
WONDERFUL little bakes for our tea time table thanks! I love bars like this, so easy and tasty too! Karen
Corina
Thank you Karen.
sophiebowns
Yummy! They look great!