Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe With Secret Ingredients to Boost Nutrition by Elisa Schmitz

When it comes to desserts, I'm all about making them healthier. I love sweets and I crave ingredients like chocolate and peanut butter – especially when they're together! – but I also try to get nutrients into whatever I eat. That includes snacks and desserts.

Luckily, it's pretty easy to sneak nutritious ingredients into dessert and cookie recipes. This decadent peanut butter chocolate chip cookie bars recipe is a great example. It includes protein-packed peanut butter, plus it has a couple of secret ingredients that boost nutrition: oats and bananas! Check out the health benefits of peanut butter, the health benefits of oats and the health benefits of bananas.

If you ask me, the best treats and snacks are those that offer fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Take one bite of these easy, low-sodium peanut butter chocolate chip bars and you may never crave empty calories again. Seriously!

Here are the eight simple ingredients you need to make these gluten-free yet moist and amazingly delicious banana oat bars: overripe bananas, natural peanut butter, vanilla extract, quick-cook oats, baking powder, salt, honey and chocolate chips. The chopped walnuts are optional. Mix the ingredients then bake them up into decadent dessert bars that everyone will love – all in only about 35 minutes!

Serve these more nutritious cookie bars for dessert or as a sweet snack anytime. These wholesome bars even work well as breakfast cookies on the go!

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Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 6 medium overripe bananas
• 1 cup natural peanut butter (smooth or chunky), at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 1/2 cup quick-cook oats
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips or no-sugar-added chocolate chips (I used Lily's Dark Chocolate Baking Chips), divided
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Helpful Products

• Mixing Spoon
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Baking Dishes
• Whisk
• Rubber Spatula
• Mixing Bowl
• Nonstick Cooking Spray
• Parchment Paper
• Airtight Containers
• 13x9-inch Baking Pan

Recipe Notes

• You can use regular chocolate chips, no-sugar-added chocolate chips or dairy-free chocolate chips – they're all delish!

• You can use smooth or chunky peanut butter. I used chunky natural peanut butter.

• For extra crunch, I added some chopped walnuts. You also could use chopped pecans, chopped peanuts or no additional nuts at all.

• Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator and warm in the microwave.

Here's how to make it:

1. Spray a 13x9-inch baking pan or casserole dish with cooking spray. (You also could use parchment paper.) In a large mixing bowl, add the mashed bananas, peanut butter, vanilla and honey. Mix well.
   
   
2. Add the oats, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine.
   
3. Add half the chocolate chips and the walnuts, if using. Stir to combine.
   
4. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan and ensure that it's evenly distributed.
   
5. Sprinkle the top with the rest of the chocolate chips.
   
6. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
   
    
7. Allow to cool a bit before slicing and serving.
   

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories: 143

Total Fat: 5.1g

Saturated Fat: 1g

Cholesterol: 0mg

Sodium: 1mg

Total Carbohydrate: 21.7g

Dietary Fiber: 2.7g

Total Sugars: 11.6g

Protein: 3.3g

Vitamin D: 0mcg

Calcium: 24mg

Iron: 1mg

Potassium: 276mg

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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