Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

These oatmeal chocolate chip bars are soft, moist, slightly chewy, super satisfying, and perfect for serving up as breakfast, a snack, or dessert! The recipe uses all simple pantry-friendly ingredients and is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and contains a top-secret healthy ‘hidden’ protein-rich ingredient no one will guess!

Soft Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Oatmeal chocolate chip bars are a breakfast option that tastes indulgent and will satisfy your sweet tooth. They are slightly chewy, gooey, chocolatey deliciousness in every single bite, yet are much healthier than they look. So, when you’re feeling bored of oatmeal and baked oatmeal, then why not try something a little bit more exciting?

Whereas traditional oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars contain eggs, butter, and tons of refined sugar – this recipe is gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar-free, and generally healthier than most oatmeal chocolate bars. Luckily, they also taste delicious, are protein-rich, use simple ingredients, and result in soft grab-n-go healthy oatmeal bars that you can enjoy for breakfast, snacking, or dessert!

High Protein Healthy Oatmeal Bars

Besides my stuffed granola cups and chocolate granola bars these chocolate chip oatmeal bars are on top of my list. Oh, and did I mention they have a secret protein-rich ingredient?! Curious? How would you feel if I told you that these baked bars are made extra special with the addition of chickpeas?

Chickpeas not only work as a great egg replacer, but they also provide lovely texture and are neutral enough in flavor to blend into desserts like vegan edible cookie dough (which then became no-bake cookie dough bars) and flourless chickpea brownies and blondies without taking over (I promise)!

These chickpea oatmeal chocolate chip bars are so easy to prep too, mix the ingredients, chuck in the oven, and enjoy as a great breakfast alternative in no time – and no one would guess they’re packed with healthy legumes! Instead, everyone gets to enjoy a delicious treat with the added benefit of extra nutrients and protein none-the-wiser.

In fact, I love adding healthy, nutritious ingredients into my desserts; I’ve made brownies with zucchini, black beans, and even sweet peas. Maybe they should be next on your list!

The Ingredients and Substitutions

• Chickpeas: All you need for this healthy oatmeal bar recipe is a single can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained (or 270 g home-cooked chickpeas). You could also try this recipe with white beans (like cannellini).
• Milk: Use the plant-based milk of your choice. I used coconut milk.
• Lime juice: Or lemon – Use fresh juice for the best results.
• Nut butter: Cashew, almond, peanut butter, etc. For a nut-free version, use coconut butter or tahini (though tahini is slightly bitter). You could use sunflower seed butter, but it can turn the bars green when combined with the leavening agents.
• Vanilla Extract: I recommend using natural vanilla extract (or paste).
• Sweetener: Use the ‘sugar’ of your choice. I used sugar-free Erythritol, which is a keto-friendly sweetener. You could use Xylitol, date sugar, coconut sugar, cane sugar, etc. Adjust the amount used by which sweetener you use (as their sweetness levels vary).
• Oats: It’s best to use instant oats for this recipe or blend rolled oats into a slightly more floury consistency. If you attempted the recipe with rolled oats, your bars would be drier and chewier. Use gluten-free oats, if necessary, to make gluten-free oat bars.
• Leavening agents: I used a combination of baking powder and baking soda which provides a lighter consistency and slight lift to the vegan oatmeal bars.
• Chocolate chips: Use your favorite dairy-free chocolate chips, e.g. sugar-free ones. Or follow the recipe of my friend “Dee” from Green Smoothie Gourmet to make your own homemade vegan chocolate chips with just 3 ingredients.
• Salt: Just a pinch is all that’s needed to enhance the flavors of these sweet oatmeal breakfast bars.

Optional add-ins and variations

• Chocolate: double (or even triple) up on chocolate (who doesn’t love chocolate chip desserts?!) by swapping out some of the chips for chunks and/or using a combination of dairy-free dark, milk, and white chocolate.
• Fruity: Swap out the chocolate chips entirely for dried fruit instead, like finely chopped dates, raisins, cranberries, or blueberries.
• Coconut: You can add 1/4-1/3 cup shredded coconut for extra texture and flavor.
• Nuts: Add a small handful of crushed nuts. Walnuts or pecans would work very well.
• Flaky salt: Like Maldon, used to sprinkle over the baked oatmeal chocolate chip bars.
• Cocoa powder: Start with 1 tbsp, taste, and increase to taste. Add a little extra plant milk if needed.

For the full ingredients list, measurements, complete recipe method, and nutritional information, please read the recipe card below.

How to Make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

I recommend using a kitchen scale when measuring the ingredients for this recipe.

• First, preheat the oven to 360F/180C and line a baking sheet (mine was 9”x6”/23x15cm) with parchment paper.
• Then, place all the wet ingredients (chickpeas, milk, lime, nut butter, and vanilla extract) in a food processor and process until smooth.
• Add all the dry ingredients except the chocolate chips and process again for just a few seconds until combined (don’t overmix it).
• Finally, add in the chocolate chips and stir in with a spoon/spatula.

• Spoon the oatmeal ‘batter’ into the lined baking pan and sprinkle with a few extra chocolate chips (or chunks), then bake in the oven for between 28-35 minutes.

The time can vary based on your oven and the size of the baking dish. I use a gas oven and bake it for exactly 35 minutes. I recommend inserting a toothpick into the center at 28 minutes – when it comes out dry, the dessert is ready.

• Remove the oatmeal cookie bars from the oven, cool, and then cut into bars and enjoy!

You can enjoy one of these oatmeal bars for breakfast or dessert. Even better, serve alongside a scoop of vegan chocolate ice-cream, whipped coconut cream, and/or some berries! If you’re feeling extra decadent, then you could drizzle the bar with a little vegan caramel sauce.

FAQs

Can I make the oatmeal breakfast bars grain-free?

I haven’t tried, though I imagine this recipe would work with quinoa flakes or buckwheat flour/flakes in place of the oats. That way, they’re grain-free breakfast bars. Though you may need to add an extra tablespoon-ish of the flakes as they’re ‘lighter’ than oats. If you try – let me know!

How do you store vegan oat bars?

To Store: Store the leftover chocolate chip oatmeal bars covered in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Freeze: Freeze the bars in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to three months. Allow them to thaw and then warm them up in the oven or microwave just before eating them.

Can I substitute the nut/seed butter?

If you want to remove all nut/seed products then you could use 40 g of vegan butter or oil instead. I wouldn’t recommend omitting it entirely as the bars could become dry. Though one reader had luck using PB powder.

Other Healthy Oatmeal Desserts and Breakfast Dishes

• Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
• Baked Banana Oatmeal
• Layered Chocolate Oat Breakfast Bars
• Nut-Free Granola
• Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

 Other Chocolate Chip Desserts

• Sweet Potato Muffins
• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you try this recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip bars, I’d love a comment and ★★★★★ recipe rating below. Also, please don’t forget to tag me in re-creations on Instagram or Facebook with @elavegan and #elavegan – I love seeing them.