Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars Recipe
These Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are a delicious and nutritious snack made with wholesome ingredients like quick cooking oats, nut butter, and pure maple syrup. Perfectly sweetened with dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips and finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, these bars offer a satisfying balance of flavors and textures. Easy to make and ideal for breakfast on-the-go or an afternoon treat, they require just one bowl and simple baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 9 bars
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup nut butter (almond, peanut, or cashew; almond butter recommended)
- ¾ cup pure maple syrup or honey (pure maple syrup recommended)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins & Toppings
- ¾ cup dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips (divided: ½ cup mixed in batter, ¼ cup for pressing on top)
- Flaky sea salt (Maldon Sea Salt Flakes recommended) for topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it is ready for baking.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Line an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal of the bars later.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together the quick cooking oats and baking powder until evenly combined.
- Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the egg thoroughly. Then add the nut butter, pure maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract, stirring until smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir well until the mixture is evenly combined. Fold in ½ cup of the chocolate chips.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Spread the batter evenly into the parchment-lined baking dish, pressing it down gently. Sprinkle and press the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips onto the top of the bars.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the bars are set and lightly golden on top.
- Add Topping and Cool: Immediately after removing from the oven, sprinkle flaky sea salt over the bars. Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish to firm up before slicing.
- Serve: Once cooled, lift the bars out using the parchment paper edges and slice into 9 squares. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for later serving.
Notes
- Use pure maple syrup for a natural sweetness and depth of flavor, but honey works as a good substitute.
- Choose a nut butter with minimal ingredients for the healthiest option;
- Baking in an 8×8 inch dish ensures the correct thickness for chewy bars.
- Flaky sea salt adds a great contrast to the sweetness, but can be omitted if preferred.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For a nuttier taste, lightly toast the oats before mixing.
