Kids No Sugar Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars are a healthy and easy sugar free kid friendly recipe perfect for your BLW babies and toddlers!
Kids No Sugar Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars
Kids No Sugar Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal BarsI have talked a little bit about the fact that we did Baby Led Weaning (BLW) with our twin one year olds. We started them on solids around 7-8 months when they showed all signs of readiness, letting them feed themselves and explore the flavors and textures of food beyond just purees. There are so many benefits to this way of eating, including the fact that you can serve them what you are eating and don’t have to make special meals just for your kids.
With that said, I don’t want my kids eating added sugars before the age of two. I know some people think that is too rigid, but I want to set them up with the healthiest eating habits possible. Therefore they won’t be eating the sweets that we like to enjoy like Chocolate Chip Cookies unless Grandma and Grandpa sneak it to them, but instead will be enjoying treats like these Kids No Sugar Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars.
Sugar Free Recipes for Kids
Sugar Free Recipes for KidsI wanted to whip up a simple granola bar or bar recipe for the kids that I could use for breakfast or snacks that didn’t have any sugar in it. I set out on an internet search for a quick fix. The problem with searching for sugar free recipes is that people use that as a buzzword while sharing recipes that are full of sugar…just not granulated sugar. Honey, molasses, coconut sugar, etc. are all still SUGAR at the end of the day. While they are healthier forms of sugar, they aren’t actually healthy at the end of the day.
I finally came across a good recipe from Mama Knows Nutrition that didn’t have ANY added sugars in it. I made a couple changes to her recipe like adding peanut butter into the mix to appeal more to my children. Now before you call me out on it, I known that peanut butter does have a little added sugar in it. The amount of sugar that it adds to this recipe is less than a 1/4 gram per serving though, so we are still going to stick with the idea that these are a no sugar added recipe.
Sugar Free Snack Recipes for Kids
Let me be very clear about these Kids No Sugar Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars, they are intended for children who are not used to eating sugar. If you take a bite of these, you will very quickly understand why. To put it simply, they are bland. There is virtually no sugar or sodium in this recipe because it is a healthy wholesome snack for kids and they don’t need all that stuff that us adults like to enjoy. To be honest, we don’t need it either, but most of us have trained our pallets to want it. I ate small bar smeared with lots of extra peanut butter and it was a good filling snack for me, but it’s nothing I would go back for seconds with.
The first time I made these Kids No Sugar Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars, I handed a piece to my 11 month old son and he LOVED it! He gobbled it up in no time during snack time.
Gluten Free Sugar Free Recipe for Kids
Not only does this recipe not add in any sugar, it is also gluten-free which is a plus for anyone with who has an intolerance. Peanut butter is a high allergen that you will want to be mindful of when first serving to make sure your kids don’t have a reaction. We introduced our children to peanut butter at 7 months per newer recommendations to introduce high allergen foods as soon as possible. It has actually been shown to reduce allergies by exposing kids earlier in childhood. Just keep in mind that allergic reactions can happen the first time or 50th time you introduce a food to your child and that this pertains to children who don’t have a family history of allergies.
Prepping Kids No Sugar Snacks
Prepping Kids No Sugar SnacksKids No Sugar Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars make a big batch of 24 servings. Even with twins, this was more than I needed over the course of a week. The best part of these bars is that you can freeze them for easy snack prep. Refrigerate the bars you will be using over the course of the next 5 days and pop the rest of the bars in a freezer bag and store them up to a couple months. Pull out a few bars each week for a quick and easy snack for your kids. If you want the bars to last even longer, individually wrap each bar. This will keep them from spoiling in the freezer for at least a few months.
Whatever you do, do NOT store these bars at room temperature. With no sugar in this recipe, there is nothing preserving them and they will spoil within 48 hours. Trust me, I may know from experience forgetting some on the counter. Whoops…
Kids No Sugar Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 c. oats old fashion or quick cooking, divided
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 large banana
- 4 oz unsweetened apple sauce
- 1/4 c. creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 large egg
- 1 c. whole milk
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 Tbsp. ground flax optional
- 1 Tbsp. hemp hearts optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Add one cup of the oats to a food processor and blend until a flour consistency. Set aside.
- Add the coconut oil to a large bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Add the banana to the bowl and mash using a fork or potato masher. Add the apple sauce, peanut butter, vanilla, eggs and milk to the bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Add the oatmeal flour, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, flax and hemp seeds to the bowl. Stir well to combine.
- Line an 8x10 pan with parchment paper or spray it with non-stick spray. Add the batter to the pan and bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes, or until the center is set.
- Slice and store refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen in an airtight container for 2 months.
Notes
Nutrition
Meghan says
My two year old LOVES these!!! Thanks for the recipe.
Danielle Green says
So happy to hear Meghan!
Meghan says
My two year old LOVES these!!! Thanks for the recipe.
Maya says
These look great! I will definitely be making these. Can oat flour be substituted for the ground oats?
Missy says
Yes. Oat flour is just ground-up oats.
Leigh says
My one year old loves these! I have made them twice now. Thank you for the recipe!
Leigh says
My one year old loves these! I have made them twice now. Thank you for the recipe!
Rebecca says
Do you have any ideas to replace the eggs? My baby is allergic and I’m trying to come up with some good snacks for her!
Danielle Green says
I haven’t tried it with this recipe, but I think a chia egg substitute may work well with this recipe.
Anna says
I just made these with flax eggs (2 reg eggs = 2 tbsp flax meal + 5 tbsp water, let sit for 5 mins), and it worked great!
Julie says
Fantastic recipe! I have made some for myself for breakfast in the car on my daycare drop of days! It’s a perfect pairing with my morning coffee. I added an extra half banana for more sweetness.
Julie says
Fantastic recipe! I have made some for myself for breakfast in the car on my daycare drop of days! It’s a perfect pairing with my morning coffee. I added an extra half banana for more sweetness.
Jessica says
I think I did something wrong… they came out more like crumbly cake. It tastes fine, and my little guy gobbled it up. I was expecting more of a soft oat bar, but not quite this soft.
Jessica says
I think I did something wrong… they came out more like crumbly cake. It tastes fine, and my little guy gobbled it up. I was expecting more of a soft oat bar, but not quite this soft.
Lauren Camacho says
Hello, can I substitute any other oil instead of coconut?
Priya says
Unfortunately no flavour at all and my baby refused to eat it. A waste of ingredients.
Gabriela says
I followed the instructions except that I used store-bought oat flour instead of processing my own. Unfortunately they came out with not too much taste to them : ( Maybe too much flour?
Danielle Green says
They really don’t have a ton of flavor. With very little salt and no added sugar this is a healthy filling treat for small children who aren’t yet accustomed to eating sugar and salt. I wouldn’t eat them myself without a good slather of extra peanut butter or a drizzle of honey.
Priya says
Unfortunately no flavour at all and my baby refused to eat it. A waste of ingredients.
Gabriela says
I followed the instructions except that I used store-bought oat flour instead of processing my own. Unfortunately they came out with not too much taste to them : ( Maybe too much flour?
Nj says
Can I use olive oil instead of coconut oil?
Danielle Green says
Vegetable or Canola oil would be a better substitute than olive oil
Codi says
Would avocado oil work?
Danielle Green says
I haven’t tried it with avocado oil, but please let us know how it turns out if you do!
Erin says
I’m on my 3rd batch of these bars — my son loves them! I sometimes add chia seeds or unsweetened coconut flakes. They are a big hit in my house, and having breakfast already made makes mornings go so much more smoothly.
Danielle Green says
So glad you have enjoyed them!
Erin says
I’m on my 3rd batch of these bars — my son loves them! I sometimes add chia seeds or unsweetened coconut flakes. They are a big hit in my house, and having breakfast already made makes mornings go so much more smoothly.
Annie R. says
Just made these and my 18-month old loved them! She has not had any salt or added sugar in her food yet either, so it was great to find something to new to add variety to her diet. I used ground unsalted peanuts, and it worked out well and did not add any salt or sugar.
Annie R. says
Just made these and my 18-month old loved them! She has not had any salt or added sugar in her food yet either, so it was great to find something to new to add variety to her diet. I used ground unsalted peanuts, and it worked out well and did not add any salt or sugar.
Bonnie says
I made these today and my 22 month old loved them!
I never ground up the oats just kept them as is. I added an extra banana and a half cup of almond flour and coconut sugar. They are not super sweet but like the photo for this recipe suggests and if Mama or Dada want some just top with a spread. More Peanut Butter perhaps?!
Thanks for the recipe!