Banana Oat Bites have been a favorite in my family for as long as I can remember and are appreciated by big and little kids alike. They are a perfect bite-sized snack or an easy breakfast. Banana Oat Bites would be a wonderful recipe to make ahead and freeze for after you bring home your baby, or a great addition to gift to a postpartum family. Bonus: these can easily be made gluten and/or dairy free. I recommend doubling the recipe and enjoying some right away and freezing the rest.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

2 bananas, mashed

1 cup regular or gluten free oats (quick cooking or rolled*)

1/2 cup milk of your choice

Stir above ingredients together, and set aside while you work on the rest. *You may want to allow for a little extra soaking time if you use rolled oats. 

4 tablespoons butter, softened, or coconut oil for dairy free

1/2 cup brown sugar

Cream together using a hand mixer.

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Add to the butter and sugar; mix.

2 cups all purpose flour or all purpose gluten free blend

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

Sift together. Combine with the all of the other ingredients. Scoop into mini or regular muffin tins that have been greased or lined with muffin liners.* Bake for approximately 15 minutes for mini muffins and 20 minutes for regular muffins. Enjoy, share, or freeze for later.

*This recipe makes about 48-54 mini muffins or 24 regular muffins.