Step 1

preheat the oven to 350F

Step 2

peel and finely mash 2 ripe bananas in a 9×13″ (or similar sized) baking dish. Add the maple syrup, non-dairy milk, and (optional) vanilla extract to the dish and mix until well-combined.

Step 3

Ingredients: add in the oats, flax, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Fold the walnuts into the oats if using, then use a rubber spatula to evenly distribute the mix throughout the pan. Top with additional sliced banana, if desired.

Step 4

bake in the middle rack of the oven for 30-35 minutes, depending on how thick you would like the oatmeal to be. For a “runnier” oatmeal, serve immediately after baking. Otherwise, let the oatmeal cool completely, then slice into bars.  Serve as desired, warm or cold; leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days or can be pre-sliced and frozen for up to two months.