Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Bars

Ingredients

• 4 cups rolled oats (for fine texture inside use quick-cooking oats)
• 1 ½ cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large bananas)
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter (can use almond or cashew butter)
• ⅓ cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ⅓ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1 cup raisin (reserve a handful to sprinkle on top)
• pinch of salt

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C)

2. 2

   Line a 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

3. 3

   In a large mixing bowl mix mashed bananas, peanut butter, and maple syrup.

4. 4

   Ad the rolled oats add salt, cinnamon, nuts, raisins, and mix to incorporate. Mix everything nicely.

5. 5

   Transfer the batter to a lined 8x8 baking dish lined with parchmen paper.

6. 6

   Press down the top with a spatula, making sure the corners are as equally filled.

7. 7

   Sprinkle the top with reserved raisins.

8. 8

   Bake for 22–26 minutes, or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.

9. 9

   Don’t overbake or the bars will turn out dry. Let cool and then cut into 12 square bars. Serve warm or cooled.