As I’ve probably mentioned before in a post or two, oatmeal is my go-to breakfast. When I was super poor (-er than I am now), I read the cost breakdown comparing oatmeal and cereal and was like, “Cool. That’s sorted…nothing but oats from here on out, girly.” And then proceeded to eat nothing but oatmeal for breakfast for the next two years. I’m surprised I can still stomach the stuff, honestly. BUT I JUST LOVE IT. In an attempt to mix up the mix while also saving some precious morning minutes, I thought I’d bake up a batch of these oatmeal bars! They taste just like the oatmeal-y goodness I’ve grown to know and love but they’re pre-portioned and prepped for meals on the go! Plus, just like a bowl o’ oats, you can tailor these bars however you see fit and throw in whatever add-ons or spices. Here’s how I made mine…

What you’ll need: 

– 2 ripe bananas

– 1 egg

– 2 cups milk of of your choice (I used vanilla soymilk)

– 1 tsp vanilla extract

– 2 cups rolled oats

– 1 tsp baking powder

– 1 tsp cinnamon

– 1/4 cup or so of dried fruit and/or nuts (I had some of the individual-sized packets of Go Raw Trek Mix from Trader Joe’s so that’s what I added in. Full disclosure: I smashed it up with the bottom of a coffee mug to break the nuts down into pieces which I’m sure my downstairs neighbor was SUPER in to… but whatayagonnado?)

and how it all comes together:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a bowl, mix together your wet ingredients, including; 1 banana, 1 egg, milk, and vanilla extract. Use a whisk to mash the banana up and stir.

3. In a separate bowl, mix together your dry ingredients, including; oats, baking powder, cinnamon and dried fruit and/or nuts. Make sure the baking powder is fully incorporated throughout.

4. Now combine the wet and dry ingredients and give everything a good mix.

5. Grease a square 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan and pour the mixture in, making sure everything is level and smooth.

6. Slice banana number 2 on top and sprinkle some cinnamon over everything.

7. Pop that bad boy in the oven and let it do it’s thing for 30 minutes.

8. Serve with greek yogurt, fresh fruit, peanut butter, almond butter…whatever your little heart desires! These bars microwave great for a warm, satisfying breakfast without the work.

I sliced my batch into 9 pieces–1 I ate straight away for a snack, 4 I packaged individually in ziploc bags for breakfast/snack on the go purposes, and 4 I packaged in pairs in tupperware as a bigger lunch serving. They’re safely tucked away in the fridge and ready to go! Meals made easy!