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Snack recipe · from the recipe book

Cocoa Banana Walnut Pressed Oat Bars

Chewy, fudgy oat bars with deep cocoa flavor, sweet banana and dates, and crunchy walnuts.

Cocoa Banana Walnut Pressed Oat Bars

Ingredients

  • 1 medium120 gBananavery ripe, mashed
  • 1 cup90 gOld-fashioned rolled oats
  • ⅓ cup chopped40 gWalnutschopped
  • 2 dates48 gMedjool dates, pittedfinely chopped
  • 2 tbsp12 gUnsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2¼ tsp15 gMaple syrup
  • ½ tsp2 gVanilla extract
  • ½ tsp1 gGround cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp0.5 gSalt

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment, leaving some overhang.
  2. Prepare the ingredients first: mash the banana in a large bowl, chop the walnuts, and finely chop the dates.
  3. Stir the maple syrup and vanilla into the banana until smooth.
  4. Add the unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt to the banana mixture and stir until no dry cocoa powder remains.
  5. Fold in the oats, the dates and the walnuts until evenly mixed into a thick dough.
  6. Scrape the dough into the pan and press it firmly and evenly with a spatula or the bottom of a glass.
  7. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until the top looks dry and the edges feel set.
  8. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out by the parchment and cool on a rack for 30 minutes more before cutting into 4 bars.

Check labels: Gluten-free when you buy old-fashioned rolled oats labeled gluten-free.

Contains: Tree nuts. Some brands contain gluten.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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