Description
These Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are thick, chewy, and naturally sweetened, making them the perfect snack, breakfast, or dessert! Made with oats, nut butter, maple syrup (or honey), and chocolate chips, these gluten-free and dairy-free bars are easy to prepare and great for meal prep.
Ingredients
For the Bars:
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats (or old-fashioned rolled oats for a chewier texture)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 egg, whisked (or flax egg for vegan option – 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water)
- ¾ cup nut butter (almond, peanut, or cashew butter)
- ¾ cup pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
- Flaky sea salt, for topping (optional)
Instructions
-
Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
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Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, combine oats and baking powder.
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Combine Wet Ingredients:
- In another bowl, whisk egg, nut butter, maple syrup (or honey), and vanilla extract until smooth.
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Combine Mixtures:
- Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until fully combined.
-
Add Chocolate Chips:
- Fold in ½ cup of chocolate chips.
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Prepare for Baking:
- Spread mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips on top.
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Bake:
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until edges are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Add Finishing Touch:
- If desired, sprinkle flaky sea salt immediately after removing from the oven.
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Cool & Serve:
- Allow bars to cool completely before slicing into squares.
Notes
- Nut-Free Option: Substitute nut butter with sunflower seed butter.
- Vegan Version: Use flax egg instead of regular egg.
- Add-Ins: Try chopped walnuts, almonds, dried cranberries, or coconut flakes for added texture.
- Spiced Version: Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg for warmth.
- Lower Sugar: Reduce maple syrup/honey slightly, but note that it may affect the texture.
