Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars Recipe
These Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are a nutritious and delicious snack perfect for any time of day. Made with wholesome ingredients like rolled oats, almond flour, natural sweeteners, and a touch of dark chocolate, these bars offer a balanced combination of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. They’re easy to prepare, naturally sweetened, and customizable with optional nuts and dried fruits for extra texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup almond flour (or whole wheat flour)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (or a mix of both)
- 1/4 cup almond butter (or peanut butter)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Add-Ins
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (or mini chocolate chips for less sweetness)
- 1/4 cup dried fruit (optional, such as raisins or cranberries)
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional, such as walnuts or almonds)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, almond flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir thoroughly to evenly distribute the leavening and spices.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey or maple syrup, almond butter, unsweetened applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients bowl and stir until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
- Add chocolate chips and optional add-ins: Fold in the dark chocolate chips along with any optional dried fruit and chopped nuts you wish to include.
- Transfer to pan: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, pressing down gently to ensure a compact and uniform layer.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with just a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment paper edges. Cut into 12 bars and serve or store in an airtight container.
Notes
- You can substitute almond butter with peanut butter if preferred.
- Using mini chocolate chips reduces overall sweetness and gives a better distribution.
- For a vegan alternative, replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp water).
- These bars store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Adding dried fruit and nuts is optional but adds extra texture and nutrition.
Keywords: Healthy snack, oatmeal bars, chocolate chip bars, gluten free bars, nutritious snack, homemade bars, easy baking
