Banana Peanut Oat Snack Bites

Banana and peanut butter have been a pairing for a long time, and it makes sense once you bake them together. The banana is doing more than sweetening. As it ripens, its starches turn sugary, which is why the browner and spottier the peel, the better these taste. If you have a banana that looks past its prime on the counter, this is the recipe to save it for. Mash it well so there are no big lumps in the batter.

Peanut butter is the other workhorse here. Warming the jar for thirty seconds in the microwave makes it loosen up and blend into the banana without fuss. Stir it before you measure, because the oil sometimes sits on top and throws off the amount you scoop.

A little tip from my own kitchen: after you scoop the batter, press each ball down slightly with a wet fingertip. They spread less unevenly that way and bake to a more even golden color. Let them cool on the rack for a good while before you move them. They firm up as they cool, and if you lift them too soon they can crumble.

For storage, keep the bites in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two, or in the fridge for about a week. They also freeze well. Put them in a bag once they are fully cooled, and pull out a few at a time. A frozen one thawed on the counter for twenty minutes is a nice little snack with a cup of tea.

These go nicely alongside fruit. A plain apple or a handful of berries makes a light plate, and if you want something warm and a bit more grown up, try them next to a bowl of Warm Baked Pears with Cinnamon Walnuts for a dessert-style afternoon. They also pair well with a glass of cold milk, which suits the peanut flavor.

If you are packing them for a lunch box or a hike, the bites hold their shape well, so they travel easily. Wrap them loosely in parchment rather than sealing them in plastic, which can make the tops go a little soft.

Once you have made a batch, you may find yourself wanting something sweet for a weekend breakfast too. The Warm Cinnamon French Toast with Blueberries is another easy way to use the same kind of cozy, cinnamon-warm flavors.