Banana Oatmeal cookies/bars

These simple bars have been so awesome for us. You can whip them up in under a couple of minutes with TWO ingredients. That's right. TWO ingredients. It's up to you if you want anymore ingredients.

Banana Oatmeal "Cookies"/Bars

The first time I saw these they were prepared as cookies (here's where I found them). And sure, I think they'd be great as a cookie replacement. However, my child has never really had cookies, so even if these were healthy and delicious, why would I want to get her hooked on any type of cookie?? Doesn't make sense. Hence I decided to start shaping them into little handheld bars. 

Get ready for this super complex recipe. 

• 1 cup of oatmeal
• 2 very ripe bananas
• 1/4 add-on ingredient - so far we have only and always added chia seeds, but you can try whatever you like! Nuts, dried fruits, seeds. 

First set the oven to 350 degrees.

And get out your lengthy list of ingredients. 

As you can see I actually used Steel Cut oats. Previous times I've used traditional. McKenna really didn't seem to have a preference with one over the other. But let me say, unless you prep the Steel Cut first, they are rather tough.

There isn't a whole lot to tell you what to do... First, mush the ripe bananas. 

Then add in the oatmeal and additional ingredients (if you decided to). 

Form them onto a nonstick cookie sheet (make cookies or bars, however you want to). 

Pop them in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Cooking thoroughly really isn't an issue, so I just check the bottom or feel them to make sure they are firm. 

Here they are baked. Look about the exact same as they did before they went in the oven (minus a few taste testers).

As you can see there really isn't a difference in shape/size between cooked and "raw". 

Any toddler mama will attest to the ability to snap a picture of a toddler in "go-go" mode. So here's the best I got of McKenna noshing on one of our favorite snacks. 

Her snatching one out of my hand even with her hands full:

When a snack isn't her favorite, typically the dogs get a taste. Let me tell you they don't get to taste these! 

 

And for the icing on the cake, Nana (for Banana) was one of McKenna's first words outside of Mama and Dada.  She's not even that big of a fan, she just loves saying (that and edamame!).

Another link to the original article can be found here.