# What You’ll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups rolled oats
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
03 - 1 1/3 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium bananas)
04 - 6 tablespoons water
05 - 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup, agave, or honey, or stevia equivalent
06 - 3 tablespoons oil (such as coconut, vegetable), nut butter, or additional water
07 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Optional Mix-Ins
08 - 1/3 cup chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or seeds
# Directions:
01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper or grease thoroughly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - Add the mashed banana, water, maple syrup (or alternative sweetener), oil (or nut butter or extra water), and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir until the mixture is uniformly combined.
04 - Gently fold in any desired mix-ins such as chocolate chips or nuts, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
05 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to smooth and level the top surface. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips or nuts on top if desired.
06 - Bake for 20 minutes. Turn off the oven without opening the door and let the bars rest inside the closed oven for an additional 5 minutes to set properly.
07 - Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before slicing into 6-9 bars.
08 - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
