Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

These chocolate chip oatmeal bars are thick, chewy, and made with wholesome ingredients. You’ll love every chocolatey bite of this sweet dessert or healthy snack!

Chocolate lovers, get excited. These Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are truly obsession worthy and I’m officially the president of their fan club. As the president it’s my duty to make sure you know how incredibly rich and yummy these are. Plus they’re so incredibly easy to make.

We’re using quick cooking oats in these bars to achieve the perfect chewy bite. Don’t you worry, there are also lots of gooey chocolate chips. The key to that balance of sweet and savory is a sprinkle of flaky salt on top as soon as these beauties come out of the oven.

You won’t need to use a food processor or stand mixer to create these healthy oatmeal bars. Just a few ingredients and a large mixing bowl will do the job. In fact this is a great way to get your children involved in cooking. My 9 year old loves making this healthy dessert with me.

Make these delicious bars for parties, potlucks, or just a special treat for the family. Or make them just for you. That’s also highly encouraged. Fair warning: These bars disappear fast so if you’re sharing, snag a few for yourself immediately. You can even serve these up as a quick breakfast because the ingredients are so good! The whole family will get excited for that on busy mornings!

Ingredients for Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

• Quick cooking oats: Quick cooking oats are steamed for longer than old fashioned oats (also called rolled oats) when processed and they’re smaller. This means they get softer faster and create a chewy texture that’s so satisfying in these oatmeal bars.
• Baking powder: Baking powder helps to create air bubbles during the baking process which gives us a lighter finished texture.
• Egg: The egg helps keep the chocolate chip oatmeal bars moist.
• Nut butter: You can use whatever nut butter you prefer in these bars. Almond butter, peanut butter, and cashew butter are great options. I personally use an almond butter that’s made with just almonds. Whichever nut butter you include, be sure to stir it well before incorporating it into the recipe.
• Pure maple syrup or honey: Both pure maple syrup or honey can be used to sweeten these bars. No refined sugar (like white sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar) is used at all! You can find more information on why I recommend pure maple syrup or honey below.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is a must in so many desserts. It doesn’t take much to make a big difference!
• Dark chocolate or semi sweet chocolate chips: Feel free to use dark chocolate or semi sweet chocolate chips. Both work beautifully here.
• Flaky salt for topping: Don’t skimp on the salt! A sprinkle of flaky salt balances out the sweetness of these bars perfectly. Maldon is the brand I buy and use to top baked goods like these bars.

To make these bars, we’ll start by stirring together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then stir in the wet ingredients (whisked egg, nut butter, pure maple syrup or honey, and vanilla). Stir in 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips.

Spread the mixture in an even layer in a parchment paper lined baking dish. Press the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips into the top of the bars.

Bake and top with flaky sea salt. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Can you use rolled oats instead of quick cooking oats?

I’ve tested these bars with both old fashioned rolled oats and quick cooking oats. There’s a definite difference in the texture of the finished bars.

Quick oats have been steamed for longer and are smaller. This means they can break down faster when you cook with them so they meld with the nut butter to create a really satisfying chewy texture. When testing this recipe with rolled oats I felt the finished bars were just a little too crunchy for my liking. I recommend sticking with quick cooking oats for this particular recipe.

Pure Maple Syrup vs Pancake Syrup

Pure maple syrup is made from 100% maple sap that’s been boiled down to a thicker consistency. Regular pancake syrup (often called maple syrup too) is usually some combination of corn syrup, maple flavoring, sugar, and other artificial flavorings.

I love pure maple syrup as my sweetener of choice in lots of baked goods. It adds just the right amount of sweetness, doesn’t overpower the dish, and is made with just that one ingredient (maple syrup)!

Pure Maple Syrup vs Honey as a Sweetener

You can use pure maple syrup or honey in these chocolate chip oatmeal bars and lots of other sweet treats. But let’s discuss the differences between the two:

Pure maple syrup has a teeny tiny edge over honey when it comes to nutrition (but not much). It’s lower in calories (52 vs 64 calories in each tablespoon) and sugar. Pure maple syrup also has more micronutrients (including calcium, manganese, zinc, and riboflavin) and possesses antioxidants.

Honey has less fat and sodium than pure maple syrup. Honey is also thought to have antibacterial properties.

Both pure maple syrup and honey have anti-inflammatory properties. Both have a lower glycemic index than sugar which means they won’t spike your blood sugar levels as quickly.

Ultimately these are two deliciously great natural options to use for sweetening baked goods, savory dishes, and drinks. Of course, it’s recommended to incorporate any sweetener into your diet in moderation.

How to store these oat bars

For the perfect texture and chewiness I recommend storing these in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll remain good for up to 7 days. I do not recommend storing these baked oatmeal bars at room temperature.

You can also freeze these bars if you like. Once cooled completely, cut into squares and then store in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw when you’re ready to enjoy!

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