Peanut butter banana chocolate chip oatmeal bars

We're attempting to get a couples with young children small group off the ground with some people at our church and had our first little get-together this week. It was a somewhat potluck style meal, classic, and we offered to bring a dessert. I was tasked, by my wife, with figuring that out. A perfect opportunity to make something you've never made before, right?

I definitely didn't think I'd be doing (m)any more dessert posts (see Re-learning how to eat) but with a change in diet is an opportunity to find new recipes, even when it comes to treats. To start I searched for some kind of oatmeal chocolate chip bars and I ended up with another one from Sally, her Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars. It was worth sharing.

What you need:

1 cup (2-3) over-ripe bananas (like you'd use for banana bread)

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup milk (I used oat milk)

2+1/2 cups traditional ('rolled') oats

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips

This was perfect. We actually had two bananas past their prime and we always have the rest. A fairly small amount of sugar, no butter (or even eggs) and I could substitute oat milk for cow's milk (a huge difference in saturated fat). But how would it taste?

Quick and easy version:

1. Pull out stand mixer, preheat oven to 350, line 9"x9" baking pan with parchment paper (left hanging over edges for easy removal later)

2. In stand mixer bowl, mash the bananas (a fork works)

3. With paddle attachment on low speed, add rest of ingredients one by one

4. Turn speed up to medium for a bit (15-30 seconds?) to bring everything together

5. Pour batter into prepared baking pan and spread it evenly (use spatula as needed)

6. Bake for ~25 minutes, until center is set

7. Cool on counter/stovetop for about an hour, then refrigerate for another hour

8. Cut into bars and store in fridge until ready for eating

These are super easy to make and can be mixed up entirely in one bowl, significantly limiting the dishes afterward. They look and taste like an oatmeal bar, but (if that's an unappealing statement to you), the flavors are dialed in and delicious. I like them quite a bit, as did the other adults in our burgeoning group and the children as well. And I don't feel bad at all for serving, or eating, them.

Now, of course, they aren't as sweet (or indeed delicious) as, say, brownies or chocolate chip cookies. But if you're looking for a dessert alternative, one that isn't wholly bad for you, here's something to try. I'll be making them again, and probably fairly soon.