Description
These Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are a delicious and nutritious snack option, combining wholesome ingredients like rolled oats, whole wheat flour, and natural sweeteners. Enhanced with dark chocolate chips and optional nuts and dried fruits, these bars offer a perfect balance of flavor and health benefits, ideal for breakfast or an energizing snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
Add-ins
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
- 1/4 cup dried fruits (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix until evenly blended to ensure consistent flavor and leavening.
- Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together melted coconut oil, honey or maple syrup, unsweetened applesauce, vanilla extract, and egg until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
- Combine Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined to form a uniform batter without overmixing.
- Add Chocolate Chips and Extras: Fold in the dark chocolate chips along with optional chopped nuts and dried fruits for added texture and flavor.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and press down gently with a spatula to form an even layer.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown and the center is set, indicating doneness.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish before cutting them into squares or bars to prevent crumbling and preserve their shape.
Notes
- For a nut-free version, omit the nuts and substitute with extra dried fruits if desired.
- Use maple syrup instead of honey to make the recipe vegan-friendly, but also replace the egg with a flaxseed egg or other egg substitute.
- Ensure the applesauce is unsweetened to keep added sugars minimal.
- You can store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- To make the bars gluten-free, substitute the whole wheat flour with a gluten-free flour blend and ensure oats are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
