Chunky Monkey Baked Bars (Printable)

Hearty oat bars packed with banana, chocolate, and walnuts for a tasty, energizing snack or breakfast.

# What You'll Need:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
03 - 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey
04 - 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
05 - 1 large egg or flax egg for vegan option
06 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Dry Ingredients

07 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
08 - 1/2 cup vanilla or chocolate protein powder
09 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
10 - 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
11 - 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, optional
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
13 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
14 - 1 teaspoon baking powder

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, thoroughly mash the bananas. Whisk in applesauce, maple syrup, almond milk, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine oats, protein powder, walnuts, chocolate chips, coconut if using, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.
04 - Pour dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
05 - Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Top with additional chocolate chips and walnuts if desired.
06 - Bake for 25 to 28 minutes until golden and set. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean.
07 - Allow bars to cool completely in the pan. Lift out using parchment paper and slice into 12 bars.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They taste indulgent enough to feel like a treat, but the protein and oats keep you full through lunch.
  • One batch lasts all week, which means fewer mornings spent wondering what to eat.
  • No fancy equipment or techniques required—just bowls and a whisk.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling step—slicing warm bars turns them into crumbles, which is sad even if they still taste good.
  • If your bars come out dense, your protein powder was likely too old or your batter was overmixed; fresh powder and a gentler hand make the difference.
03 -
  • Slightly underbake if you like them chewier—they'll continue to set as they cool, so pull them out when a toothpick still has just a crumb or two clinging to it.
  • Toast your walnuts in a dry pan for two minutes before chopping if you want them to taste nuttier and more pronounced throughout the bars.
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