Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper or grease it well.
• In a large bowl, combine the mashed banana (1 1/3 cup), 6 tbsp water, 3 tbsp sweetener (choose pure maple syrup, agave, or honey, or use the stevia equivalent), 3 tbsp oil or nut butter (or use the additional water option), and 1 tsp vanilla. Stir until the wet ingredients are uniform.
• Add 2 cups rolled oats and 1/2 tsp salt to the wet mixture. Stir until evenly combined. If using mix-ins (chocolate chips, chopped nuts, etc.), either fold a handful into the batter now or reserve them for the top.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared 8-inch pan. Use a spatula to spread and press it into an even layer.
• Sprinkle any reserved chocolate chips or toppings evenly over the top, if desired.
• Bake on the middle oven rack at 350°F for 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, turn off the oven but do not open the oven door. Let the pan sit inside the closed oven for an additional 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and cool on a rack for at least 10 minutes, then lift the bars out using the parchment (or invert the pan) and let cool further until firm enough to slice.
• Slice into bars. Store leftovers refrigerated for 3–4 days or frozen for a few months.