Banana and oatmeal energy bars
Banana and oatmeal energy bars are a wholesome snack made with ripe bananas, pitted dates, rolled oats and pepitas. The Thermomix grinds and mixes everything into a sticky, chewy base in minutes, then you simply press and chill. Ideal for lunchboxes, pre-workout fuel or a sweet treat with natural sweetness only from fruit.
About this recipe
Banana and oatmeal energy bars with the Thermomix TM7 are the kind of recipe you will return to every week, because this all-in-one kitchen machine turns cupboard staples into chewy, naturally sweet snacks without refined sugar. Searching for healthy snack recipes that actually hold together? Ripe banana and sticky pitted dates form the binding base, while the TM7 grinds rolled oats to just the right coarseness and chops the dates into a caramel-like paste in seconds. Pepitas add a gentle crunch, desiccated coconut lends a tropical note and cinnamon ties everything together with a pinch of sea salt. These bars are ideal for breakfast on the go, lunchbox fillers, pre-training fuel or an afternoon office treat. Because everything is mixed in a single bowl, there is minimal washing up, and a batch stores happily in the fridge for days. This is quick, budget-friendly meal prep at its best.
Preparation tips
- Use very ripe bananas with brown spots, as their natural sweetness means you need no added sugar and their soft texture binds the oats and dates far better than firm fruit would.
- Press the mixture firmly into a lined tin using the back of a spoon or a second tin, so the bars hold their shape when sliced rather than crumbling apart after chilling.
- Store the chilled bars between sheets of baking paper in an airtight container in the fridge; they also freeze well, so you can meal-prep a double batch of oat-date bars for busy weeks.
Recipe variations
- Nut-free variation: replace the pepitas with extra rolled oats or toasted sunflower seeds for a school-friendly, nut-free version that keeps the same chewy texture and works well in lunchboxes.
- Chocolate variation: add a handful of dark chocolate chips to the mixture after blending, or drizzle the chilled bars with melted dark chocolate and a little extra desiccated coconut for a more festive treat.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Precise weighing - Weigh the rolled oats and pepitas directly into the mixing bowl of the Thermomix without dirtying a kitchen scale. [Built-in Scale]
- Coarse grinding - The Thermomix grinds rolled oats to the ideal coarseness, giving the energy bars structure rather than a floury crumb. [Grinding]. [Multi-Function]
- Fine chopping - The TM7 chops sticky pitted dates into a smooth caramel-like paste that binds the banana base evenly. [Chopping]. [Multi-Function]
- Even mixing - The Thermomix blends banana, oats and desiccated coconut into a uniform mixture, with no unmixed pockets left behind. [Mixing]. [Multi-Function]
- Quick blending - The TM7 combines all eight ingredients in one bowl in minutes, saving washing up compared to manual bar making. [Time Savings]
Ingredients
- vegetable oil
- pitted dates
- pepitas
- rolled oats
- desiccated coconut
- banana
- ground cinnamon
- sea salt