Tired of skipping breakfast or grabbing a sugar-packed snack bar that barely keeps you going? These Homemade Banana Nut Granola Bars are your solution. Made with real ingredients like oats, ripe bananas, chopped walnuts, and raisins, they’re naturally egg-free and loaded with energy to fuel your morning.

Chewy, nutty, and just sweet enough, they come together in minutes and bake into hearty bars you can grab on the go. Want to take things up a notch? A chocolate-peanut butter drizzle and pinch of sea salt adds a crave-worthy touch you won’t regret.

This recipe makes 12 bars, which makes it perfect for breakfast meal prep or a healthy snack that actually satisfies.

Before you get started

Here’s a quick prep checklist to make the process smooth:

Preheat your oven to 350°F
Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy lifting
Use ripe bananas for best sweetness and texture
Set out your ingredients and mixing bowl
Have a microwave-safe bowl ready if making the drizzle
Set up a cooling rack for quick, even cooling after baking

What You Need To Make Homemade Banana Nut Granola Bars

Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here’s what you’ll need:

Granola Bars:

Ripe bananas (mashed)
Rolled old-fashioned oats
PB2 peanut butter powder (or vanilla protein powder)
Maple syrup
Cinnamon
Salt
Chopped walnuts
Raisins

Optional Drizzle:

Creamy peanut butter
Dark chocolate chips
Sea salt (for sprinkling)

These wholesome ingredients create chewy, hearty bars with a perfect mix of texture and flavor.

How To Make Homemade Banana Nut Granola Bars

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, letting some hang over the sides for easy removal.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth. Add in the oats, peanut butter powder (or protein powder), maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt. Mix everything together with a fork until fully combined.

Fold in the chopped walnuts and raisins until evenly distributed.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press it into an even layer from edge to edge.

Place the pan in the center of your oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the top feels firm and the edges are slightly golden.

Let the bars cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then, lift them out using the parchment paper and place on a wire rack to cool completely.

Once cool, cut into 12 equal bars. Store as-is or proceed to the optional drizzle.

Optional Drizzle:

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir until smooth. If needed, heat in 15-second intervals until fully melted.

Drizzle over cooled bars using a spoon or fork, then sprinkle with sea salt. Let the drizzle set before storing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do homemade granola bars last?

They stay fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature in an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 10 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Can I make them nut-free?

Yes. Replace walnuts with sunflower seeds or leave them out entirely. Use a seed-based butter for the drizzle if desired.

Can I add other ingredients?

Definitely. Try chocolate chips, dried cranberries, shredded coconut, grated carrots, or swap in spices like cardamom or nutmeg.

Are these vegan?

They can be. Just make sure your protein powder and chocolate chips are dairy-free and plant-based.

Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?

Rolled oats give the best texture, but quick oats will work in a pinch. The bars may be a bit softer.

Homemade Banana Nut Granola Bars

Homemade Banana Nut Granola Bars are an easy, healthy breakfast or snack made with oats, bananas, walnuts, and raisins. Naturally egg-free and optionally vegan, these soft-baked bars are perfect for meal prep and can be topped with a chocolate peanut butter drizzle for extra flavor. Ready in under 30 minutes.

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Ingredients

Granola Bar Ingredients:

2 medium ripe bananas
2 cups rolled old fashioned oats
½ cup PB2 peanut butter powder or vanilla protein powder
2 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup raisins

Chocolate peanut butter drizzle ingredients:

½ tbsp creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
Pinch of sea salt

Disclaimer:

Nutritional Information is provided as a courtesy only and should be viewed as an estimate. Ingredients can vary with brands and size and Inspiration Apron makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper for easy removal and clean up.
First, add bananas to a large bowl and mash with a fork, then add oats, peanut butter powder, syrup, cinnamon and salt and mix with a fork until well blended.
A bowl of cereal with a spoon
Next, add walnuts and raisins and fold in until evenly distributed, then transfer mixture to prepared pan and spread evenly from edge to edge. Place pan in center of oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until firm to touch on top and slightly browned.
Let cool in pan for 15 minutes, then lift out by parchment paper and let cool completely on cooling rack. Cut into 12 bars and either store in airtight container or continue to next step for optional drizzle.
To make the optional chocolate peanut butter drizzle, add the chocolate chips and peanut butter to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 1 minute on high. Remove and stir until it is smooth. If chocolate needs a little more melting, heat at 15 second intervals, stirring each time until desired consistency. Next drizzle chocolate over granola bars with a spoon or fork and sprinkle with sea salt.