You've gotta try these healthy oatmeal bars, they're naturally sweetened oatmeal cookie bars, layered with dark chocolate almond butter. A simple vegan cereal bar recipe!
Servings: 12bars
Prep Time: 15 minutesminutes
Total Time: 2 hourshours15 minutesminutes
Ingredients
3cupsrolled oats
1/2cupoat flour or almond flour*
1/2cup+ 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
3/4cupalmond butter, divided (or other nut-butter)
3tablespoonscoconut oil, melted
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1/8teaspoonground cinnamon
3/4cupdark chocolate chips
Instructions
Line a 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, flour, maple syrup, 1/2 cup almond butter, coconut oil, vanilla and cinnamon. The mixture should be sticky and clump together easily. If it's too crumbly, add a bit more nut butter. If too wet, add in more oats/flour.
Transfer half of the mixture into the baking pan and spread evenly. I like to use a piece of parchment paper to press down the mixture evenly, but a small rolling pin (or your fingers!) also works. Place in the fridge and let harden for at least 30 minutes.
After the mixture has hardened in the fridge, melt the chocolate chips along with the remaining 1/4 cup almond butter in a double boiler or small pot over boiling water until creamy and smooth. Pour the chocolate on the oat layer and refrigerate until hardened, about 1 hour.
Remove the chocolate layer from the fridge and place the remaining oat mixture on top. I think it's easiest to crumble the the remaining dough all over the chocolate and press together. Place back in the fridge to harden, at least 30 more minutes.
Slice into 9-12 bars (depending on what size bar you like). The bars will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer.
Notes
*To make oat flour: placed rolled oats into a blender or food processor and pulse until a fine flour forms.