Made these today and they are delicious. I made a few substitutions as with the diet I follow I am unable to consume apples, honey or bananas. Used maple syrup in place of the honey and yogurt in place of the applesauce. Cut up some green grapes for the fruit- made for a nice moist cake.
We like that the sugar is minimal- trying to lower/limit the family’s sugar intake.
I am trying to keep calories low, can I leave out the peanut butter and add in egg whites to help with the combining property?
also can I use oat flour not wheat flour?
Hi Tami! I’ve only tested the recipe as written, so it would be hard for me to say how those substitutions would work. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
I tried this recipe yesterday, it is so easy to make and taste so delicious! I have to make some changes because i don’t have all of the ingredients. I skipped the cinnamon. I used overripe mashed banana in place of apple sauce. And i used half cup of coconut flour & half cup of whole wheat flour. These bars are still so delicious with all of those changes! Will definetely make this again soon. Thanks Erin!!
There’s no way this has 8g of protein per serving. 2 Cups of oats has about 20g and an egg has about 6g but there are 9 servings sooo where is all the protein coming from??
Hi Sarah! This is a rough nutritional count and unfortunately the way the nutritional facts are set up, I am not able to change them. For anything else you can calculate the calories/protein for free at MyFitnessPal (there are other similar sites too). I hope that can be a helpful resource for you! When in doubt, you should definitely check them out yourself with the ingredients you use at home!
I made these bars yesterday and had bhopes based on the reviews. I followed the recipe except only had mashed bananas so used those instead of diced bananas. I have to say they are so bland, I’m considering throwing them out, but I’ll put some jam or honey on them first to see if that helps. I don’t have a super-sweet tooth, but these definitely need more honey or something! Also, beware of making these in muffin cups because they do NOT release from the paper.
I made these yesterday, and I agree that they’re pretty bland, in almost the same way that unflavored oatmeal is. I prefer unsweetened overnight oats, but even the oat flavor is somewhat muted. I followed the recipe as written, but substituted mashed banana for applesauce, and added pre-hydrated dried cranberries. From what I can tell, it’s very important to the bars having flavor that there are larger pieces of banana left in them. To me, the bars are perfectly flavorful when there’s a little bit of fruit in the bite, and the sweetness of that fruit makes the rest of the bar’s taste stronger. That being said, I will be adding more dried cranberries next time, dicing the banana a little larger, and I could see more cinnamon helping. Or, anything you usually like in oatmeal which would hold up in the oven! Also, for other bakers: I had no issue getting it to release from parchment paper, which I lined my 8×8 pan with instead of greasing it.
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, Lore. Any changes made to the recipe can result in a different tasting bar than the one I’ve tested. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
These were excellent. Used a whole banana and mushed it, no applesauce so added an extra egg. Used oat milk. Was 1/2 cup short of oats, so added 1/4 chia seeds and 1/4 cup flax seeds. Also added some walnuts and pumpkin seeds (1/2 cup each), a little dried cranberry. I was nervous about my changes with chia and flax, so I let it sit for 15 minutes to absorb before baking. Texture is spot on (soft and slightly chewy), just delicately sweet and loaded with protein and fiber. Will make on repeat. Many thanks for the excellent base recipe. Also love reading about everyone else’s adjustments, so helpful.
I LOVE this recipe! I eat these for breakfast on busy days and give them to my kiddos for afternoon snack. Great alternative to overnight oats for a whole grain breakfast.
I made these subs and loved the outcome:
-Original Soy milk, instead of unsweetened
-Sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter
-Flax egg instead of egg (separately mix 1TB ground flax mixed with 2.5TB water, wait 5 mins, then combine with wet ingredients.
-1.5tsp Baking Powder instead of 1tsp
2 bananas instead of 1
Then I topped with hemp hearts and chocolate chips. I lined the pan with parchment paper and it worked great.
I made these yesterday, and while they were slightly different than I expected, they’re still quite good! I would describe them as if you made good oatmeal into a cake, but only changed the consistency. I substituted mashed banana in place of applesauce and added about half a cup of dried cranberries I rehydrated with hot water, and they’re wonderfully moist and springy, with a caky texture inside of a slightly chewy, but not oily outer-layer. Their flavor is very mild, which is mostly pleasant, and something I was looking for as someone who struggles with nausea in the mornings, but in bites around the edges that don’t have any fruit, what little flavor there is somewhat cardboard-like. That being said, it’s nothing that popping a dried cranberry or chocolate chip in one’s mouth doesn’t fix, and it could probably be fixed by adding in a little extra fruit to begin with, or dicing the banana into larger chunks than I did so it doesn’t disintegrate as much in the oven. Little bits of sweetness in the bar really brighten the whole thing. I will definitely be making this again and fiddling with it! I may have mixed my cinnamon in poorly, but I could only taste it strongly in some bites, so I will try adding a bit more next time, too. I could really see any add-ins you like in oatmeal being good in these too!
Wonderful recipe. Yum! I upped the sweetener a little (maple syrup), skipped the banana, and added some dried cranberries. Even my sweet-loving husband approved. I keep trying to find healthy recipes that he can eat instead of cookies and candy, so this was a win! And I’m thinking these would be great to take on a hike. Next recipe I’m going to try is: Cookie Dough Protein Balls. Thank you!
I was wondering when you write the nutritional value of a dish if it would be possible also the write the sodium information. I follow weight Watchers and when I calculate my points we also need the sodium intake in our recipes. I love all your recipes…thank you.
Hi Diane! I stopped including sodium info because it can vary so much depending upon what products you used, and I found a lot of conflicting info online, so ultimately I didn’t feel comfortable publishing it because sometimes it wasn’t even in the ballpark. If you’d like to calculate it yourself, there are lots of free tools online (myfitnesspal.com is popular). I hope that helps!
Are these supposed to be wet / gooey inside? I cooked at 375 F for 15 minutes longer than the recommended time and they are still very moist on the inside. I did do a double batch and made first batch in 8×8 pan so wondering if because I split a big batch up something wasn’t mixed right. Thoughts? Have never made these before.
Hi Katie! Yes, they will be moist due to having the banana and applesauce in the mixture. You could try baking them a little longer. Hope you enjoy them!
These were awesome! Not too sweet, used maple syrup instead of honey, added a bit more cinnamon than the recipe, then added 1/2 dark chocolate chips and a fistful or two of dry roasted salted pumpkin seeds. Really good.
Added extra banana, PB and some semi-sweet chocolate chips. I love that there is no added sugar in this recipe, which makes me feel really great about serving this to my kiddos before they get on the school bus. It’s tasty but not overly sweet (I did add extra honey also) and has a good amount of protein punched into each serving.
I am used to making the no bake protein balls with oats, honey etc. wanted to try something different for the family. Unfortunately, these turned out very bland. Unlike others, I made zero substitutions. Followed everything in the recipe aside from adding chocolate chips. Even with the added sweetness of chocolate, I could not get the kids, nor my husband to eat these (and he will eat anything!). I think for healthy on the go oatmeal snacks, we will stick to our no bake recipes. Really wanted to like this yet tasted pretty bad :(
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, Veronica. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
I’m sorry to say but these bars turned out so gross. The texture was weirdly hard but also gummy. Zero flavour. Not sure what I did, I followed the recipe exactly. So disappointed, threw the whole batch in the garbage as was completely inedible.
I’m sorry to hear that you had trouble with the recipe, Miranda. The amounts, flavorings and timing have worked well for myself (and others) so I wished it would have been a hit for you too! I know it can be so disappointing to try a new recipe and it does not turn out for you.
Hey Miranda, I made these 2 days ago and had the same reaction. I submitted a comment and am hoping the author replies soon with some suggestions. I just don’t understand how people are saying these taste great when they don’t taste like anything to me. I seriously asked if upping the peanut butter to 1/2 cup would alter the baking temp/time. 2 tsp of cinnamon and a couple Tbl of honey and peanut butter does not give this batch any flavor. I don’t know what we’re doing wrong!
I REALLY wanted to love these. I made them for my teenage son as he often skips breakfast because he’s bored of the usual choices we have. He has braces, so I was hoping for a calorie dense, protein packed option that won’t break his braces or take an hour to clean from his braces. Lol. I’m wondering if adding more than the recommended 2T of peanut butter would adversely affect the outcome in the baking process. I’m thinking more like 1/3 – 1/2 cup. I used 1% milk because that’s what we drink. I used regular flour instead of wheat flour because that’s what I had on hand. I made two batches. One with pb and banana and the other with Nutella and craisins. Both were super flavorless. Other than that, they were super easy to make, bake, cut, and store. I don’t want to give up. Any suggestions?
Hi Krystal, First of all, I am sorry you were disappointed with this recipe. That is a real bummer and frustrating. These are definitely not your typical breakfast bars, especially if you usually buy them from the store. The amount of sugar here is very low, which is likely why you are tasting them as “flavorless.” I’d start with upping the honey to 1/3 cup and the PB to 1/4 cup to start (reduce the applesauce to 1/4 cup). If that works out fine, you can add more PB next time. Adding chocolate chips is never a bad idea either. You can also check out my classic PB protein bars which are a real crowd favorite and may be more up your alley: https://www.wellplated.com/peanut-butter-protein-bars/. I hope it goes better for you next time please let me know!
These are good for those of us who aren’t quite ready to eat in the morning but have to have something before lunch. I will definitely add more honey to make them a tad sweeter next time. The recipe worked perfectly. Saving this one.
Hi. I made these bars pretty much according to the recipe. But I added a little extra peanut butter and honey. They were DELICIOUS! Came out really good. Definitely adding these to my recipe book.
Love these breakfast bars. All healthy ingredients. I also add pecans and a few chocolate chips. The bar satisfies your hunger until lunch time. I make a double batch, keep 5 in the refrigerator and put the rest in the freezer until needed.
Made these today and they are delicious. I made a few substitutions as with the diet I follow I am unable to consume apples, honey or bananas. Used maple syrup in place of the honey and yogurt in place of the applesauce. Cut up some green grapes for the fruit- made for a nice moist cake.
We like that the sugar is minimal- trying to lower/limit the family’s sugar intake.
Thanks for the feedback on the substitutions Leta!
I am trying to keep calories low, can I leave out the peanut butter and add in egg whites to help with the combining property?
also can I use oat flour not wheat flour?
Hi Tami! I’ve only tested the recipe as written, so it would be hard for me to say how those substitutions would work. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
I tried this recipe yesterday, it is so easy to make and taste so delicious! I have to make some changes because i don’t have all of the ingredients. I skipped the cinnamon. I used overripe mashed banana in place of apple sauce. And i used half cup of coconut flour & half cup of whole wheat flour. These bars are still so delicious with all of those changes! Will definetely make this again soon. Thanks Erin!!
Hi Julita! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
There’s no way this has 8g of protein per serving. 2 Cups of oats has about 20g and an egg has about 6g but there are 9 servings sooo where is all the protein coming from??
Hi Sarah! This is a rough nutritional count and unfortunately the way the nutritional facts are set up, I am not able to change them. For anything else you can calculate the calories/protein for free at MyFitnessPal (there are other similar sites too). I hope that can be a helpful resource for you! When in doubt, you should definitely check them out yourself with the ingredients you use at home!
Recipe states 8 servings, not 9. Also, the peanut butter contains significant protein, which you didn’t mention.
Milk (12g), peanut butter (8g), whole wheat flour (16g) and banana (1.3g) all have protein sooo that’s where it’s coming from.
Hey! What is the texture of the bars like? Are they soft or hard?
Hi Liv, they are a soft-baked bar that is slightly, chewy. Hope you enjoy them!
Hello can I use almond flour and almond butter?
Hi Elena! Yes you can use almond butter but I’ve not tested the recipe with almond flour. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
I made these bars yesterday and had bhopes based on the reviews. I followed the recipe except only had mashed bananas so used those instead of diced bananas. I have to say they are so bland, I’m considering throwing them out, but I’ll put some jam or honey on them first to see if that helps. I don’t have a super-sweet tooth, but these definitely need more honey or something! Also, beware of making these in muffin cups because they do NOT release from the paper.
I’m sorry this recipe wasn’t to your tastes, Elizabeth. I (and many other readers) have truly enjoyed it, so I wish you would’ve too!
I made these yesterday, and I agree that they’re pretty bland, in almost the same way that unflavored oatmeal is. I prefer unsweetened overnight oats, but even the oat flavor is somewhat muted. I followed the recipe as written, but substituted mashed banana for applesauce, and added pre-hydrated dried cranberries. From what I can tell, it’s very important to the bars having flavor that there are larger pieces of banana left in them. To me, the bars are perfectly flavorful when there’s a little bit of fruit in the bite, and the sweetness of that fruit makes the rest of the bar’s taste stronger. That being said, I will be adding more dried cranberries next time, dicing the banana a little larger, and I could see more cinnamon helping. Or, anything you usually like in oatmeal which would hold up in the oven! Also, for other bakers: I had no issue getting it to release from parchment paper, which I lined my 8×8 pan with instead of greasing it.
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, Lore. Any changes made to the recipe can result in a different tasting bar than the one I’ve tested. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
These were excellent. Used a whole banana and mushed it, no applesauce so added an extra egg. Used oat milk. Was 1/2 cup short of oats, so added 1/4 chia seeds and 1/4 cup flax seeds. Also added some walnuts and pumpkin seeds (1/2 cup each), a little dried cranberry. I was nervous about my changes with chia and flax, so I let it sit for 15 minutes to absorb before baking. Texture is spot on (soft and slightly chewy), just delicately sweet and loaded with protein and fiber. Will make on repeat. Many thanks for the excellent base recipe. Also love reading about everyone else’s adjustments, so helpful.
Hi SMR! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I LOVE this recipe! I eat these for breakfast on busy days and give them to my kiddos for afternoon snack. Great alternative to overnight oats for a whole grain breakfast.
I made these subs and loved the outcome:
-Original Soy milk, instead of unsweetened
-Sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter
-Flax egg instead of egg (separately mix 1TB ground flax mixed with 2.5TB water, wait 5 mins, then combine with wet ingredients.
-1.5tsp Baking Powder instead of 1tsp
2 bananas instead of 1
Then I topped with hemp hearts and chocolate chips. I lined the pan with parchment paper and it worked great.
Thanks for the amazing recipe!!
Hi Kristen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and feedback on substitutions!
I made these yesterday, and while they were slightly different than I expected, they’re still quite good! I would describe them as if you made good oatmeal into a cake, but only changed the consistency. I substituted mashed banana in place of applesauce and added about half a cup of dried cranberries I rehydrated with hot water, and they’re wonderfully moist and springy, with a caky texture inside of a slightly chewy, but not oily outer-layer. Their flavor is very mild, which is mostly pleasant, and something I was looking for as someone who struggles with nausea in the mornings, but in bites around the edges that don’t have any fruit, what little flavor there is somewhat cardboard-like. That being said, it’s nothing that popping a dried cranberry or chocolate chip in one’s mouth doesn’t fix, and it could probably be fixed by adding in a little extra fruit to begin with, or dicing the banana into larger chunks than I did so it doesn’t disintegrate as much in the oven. Little bits of sweetness in the bar really brighten the whole thing. I will definitely be making this again and fiddling with it! I may have mixed my cinnamon in poorly, but I could only taste it strongly in some bites, so I will try adding a bit more next time, too. I could really see any add-ins you like in oatmeal being good in these too!
Glad you still enjoyed them Lore!
Wonderful recipe. Yum! I upped the sweetener a little (maple syrup), skipped the banana, and added some dried cranberries. Even my sweet-loving husband approved. I keep trying to find healthy recipes that he can eat instead of cookies and candy, so this was a win! And I’m thinking these would be great to take on a hike. Next recipe I’m going to try is: Cookie Dough Protein Balls. Thank you!
Hi Jane! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I was wondering when you write the nutritional value of a dish if it would be possible also the write the sodium information. I follow weight Watchers and when I calculate my points we also need the sodium intake in our recipes. I love all your recipes…thank you.
Hi Diane! I stopped including sodium info because it can vary so much depending upon what products you used, and I found a lot of conflicting info online, so ultimately I didn’t feel comfortable publishing it because sometimes it wasn’t even in the ballpark. If you’d like to calculate it yourself, there are lots of free tools online (myfitnesspal.com is popular). I hope that helps!
Are these supposed to be wet / gooey inside? I cooked at 375 F for 15 minutes longer than the recommended time and they are still very moist on the inside. I did do a double batch and made first batch in 8×8 pan so wondering if because I split a big batch up something wasn’t mixed right. Thoughts? Have never made these before.
Hi Katie! Yes, they will be moist due to having the banana and applesauce in the mixture. You could try baking them a little longer. Hope you enjoy them!
These were awesome! Not too sweet, used maple syrup instead of honey, added a bit more cinnamon than the recipe, then added 1/2 dark chocolate chips and a fistful or two of dry roasted salted pumpkin seeds. Really good.
Looking forward to the almond butter cookies :)
Hi Karen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Will this recipe turn out well by skipping the egg?
Hi Jim! No, I’m sorry they won’t The egg helps bind them together.
Added extra banana, PB and some semi-sweet chocolate chips. I love that there is no added sugar in this recipe, which makes me feel really great about serving this to my kiddos before they get on the school bus. It’s tasty but not overly sweet (I did add extra honey also) and has a good amount of protein punched into each serving.
Hi Sarah! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I am used to making the no bake protein balls with oats, honey etc. wanted to try something different for the family. Unfortunately, these turned out very bland. Unlike others, I made zero substitutions. Followed everything in the recipe aside from adding chocolate chips. Even with the added sweetness of chocolate, I could not get the kids, nor my husband to eat these (and he will eat anything!). I think for healthy on the go oatmeal snacks, we will stick to our no bake recipes. Really wanted to like this yet tasted pretty bad :(
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, Veronica. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
I’m sorry to say but these bars turned out so gross. The texture was weirdly hard but also gummy. Zero flavour. Not sure what I did, I followed the recipe exactly. So disappointed, threw the whole batch in the garbage as was completely inedible.
I’m sorry to hear that you had trouble with the recipe, Miranda. The amounts, flavorings and timing have worked well for myself (and others) so I wished it would have been a hit for you too! I know it can be so disappointing to try a new recipe and it does not turn out for you.
Hey Miranda, I made these 2 days ago and had the same reaction. I submitted a comment and am hoping the author replies soon with some suggestions. I just don’t understand how people are saying these taste great when they don’t taste like anything to me. I seriously asked if upping the peanut butter to 1/2 cup would alter the baking temp/time. 2 tsp of cinnamon and a couple Tbl of honey and peanut butter does not give this batch any flavor. I don’t know what we’re doing wrong!
Hi Krystal! I just replied.
I REALLY wanted to love these. I made them for my teenage son as he often skips breakfast because he’s bored of the usual choices we have. He has braces, so I was hoping for a calorie dense, protein packed option that won’t break his braces or take an hour to clean from his braces. Lol. I’m wondering if adding more than the recommended 2T of peanut butter would adversely affect the outcome in the baking process. I’m thinking more like 1/3 – 1/2 cup. I used 1% milk because that’s what we drink. I used regular flour instead of wheat flour because that’s what I had on hand. I made two batches. One with pb and banana and the other with Nutella and craisins. Both were super flavorless. Other than that, they were super easy to make, bake, cut, and store. I don’t want to give up. Any suggestions?
Hi Krystal, First of all, I am sorry you were disappointed with this recipe. That is a real bummer and frustrating. These are definitely not your typical breakfast bars, especially if you usually buy them from the store. The amount of sugar here is very low, which is likely why you are tasting them as “flavorless.” I’d start with upping the honey to 1/3 cup and the PB to 1/4 cup to start (reduce the applesauce to 1/4 cup). If that works out fine, you can add more PB next time. Adding chocolate chips is never a bad idea either. You can also check out my classic PB protein bars which are a real crowd favorite and may be more up your alley: https://www.wellplated.com/peanut-butter-protein-bars/. I hope it goes better for you next time please let me know!
These are good for those of us who aren’t quite ready to eat in the morning but have to have something before lunch. I will definitely add more honey to make them a tad sweeter next time. The recipe worked perfectly. Saving this one.
Thanks for the feedback, Patricia!
Hi. I made these bars pretty much according to the recipe. But I added a little extra peanut butter and honey. They were DELICIOUS! Came out really good. Definitely adding these to my recipe book.
Great to hear, thank you Pat!
Love these breakfast bars. All healthy ingredients. I also add pecans and a few chocolate chips. The bar satisfies your hunger until lunch time. I make a double batch, keep 5 in the refrigerator and put the rest in the freezer until needed.
Thanks Shirley!