Chocolate Walnut Oatmeal Bars

Chewy, soft baked chocolate walnut oatmeal bars that are gluten free and made without any refined sugars. They are so good you won't be able to eat just one. Made with only 10 ingredients!

*I received free samples of California Walnuts mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by California Walnuts and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time*

EEEEK! I did it. I have been working on this recipe off and on for a while now and I finally freaking did it!

I have made the most delicious 10 ingredient oatmeal bar you will ever eat. I am serious. You should go make these right away and then report back to me how right I am.

If you are looking for a stupid easy, quick to make, one bowl oatmeal bar recipe, well then friend, you are in the right place. Here's a few of the reasons these bars are oh so gooey amazing.

1. They are gooey, and by some random craziness, also get this middle layer of chocolate...that is freaking amazing.
2. They are part cookie, part granola, totally healthy, and all the way kid friendly.
3. You need one bowl, so a quick make and quick clean up.
4. All pantry staples and made with only 10 main ingredients! You don't even need leavening agents.

So as I mentioned, I have been working on this recipe for a a few months now. Off and on I try it and serve them to my kids. God bless their willingness to eat anything sweet and chocolaty, because they have eaten all the batches I have tried.

Even the not so good ones.

But baby I finally got it. First, I figured out the ratio dry to wet ingredients and they were finally so gooey and great. But then....

Then I added the walnuts.

The walnuts took these over the edge. And I am not a nut in my desserts kind of person. But something about the nutty walnuts pairs perfectly with the oatmeal and of course the chocolate.

I am not a food chemist or a trained chef, so I don't know the reasons why they meld together, I just know my mouth liked it and wanted to eat all of them at once.

I think that is all you really need right? The urgent need to shove all the bars in your mouth at once is proof they are in fact amazing.

Ingredients for chocolate walnut oatmeal bars

• old fashioned rolled oats (gluten free)
• gluten free flour all purpose mix with xantham gum (I used Namaste brand)
• coconut sugar
• California walnuts
• honey
• eggs
• vanilla
• cinnamon
• chocolate chips
• light tasting olive oil
• salt

Why are these chocolate walnut oatmeal bars healthy?

Let's talk about why each of the main ingredients in these bars are healthy.

Oatmeal: Oatmeal is high in soluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps keep the gut moving, removing toxins and build up from the body. It is also apart of having a healthy heart. Oatmeal is also high in antioxidants, in particular avenanthramides. Avenanthramides are unique to oats, and have a high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect on the body.

Chocolate: Chocolate is healthy! Just choose a good brand that is actually made from chocolate not fake ingredients. Dark chocolate is best for your health. Chocolate has been shown to reduce heart disease, improve HDL and has antioxidants as well.

Walnuts: Did you know that 99% of the US walnuts come from California? California walnuts contain protein (4g/oz) and fiber (2g/oz) and are the only nut to contain an excellent source of plant-based omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz). More nutrient information can be found here.

A handful of California walnuts is a versatile snack and can satisfy any taste preference, from savory to sweet.​ Regardless of your flavor preference, walnuts are the only nut to provide an excellent source of the plant-based omega-3, ALA (2.5g/oz).

Honey: I have talked about honey a lot on the blog because it is one of my favorite ingredients to use. Honey is a powerhouse of a sweetener. It contains antioxidants and antibacterial properties. It is an unrefined sweetener so will have a different impact on the body that a processed sugar like table sugar.

Coconut Sugar: Another unrefined sugar, coconut sugar is made from the sap of the coconut palm flower. It has fiber, minerals, antioxidants and a low glycemic index. To show you the comparison the glycemic index of coconut sugar is 35. Table sugar has a GI of 65. The glycemic index is a ranking that shows how that food effects the blood sugar. The higher the number the worse effect it has on your blood sugar.

Eggs: Good for you fats and proteins can be found in eggs. They are an excellent source of a complete protein and are also cheap.

Step by step instructions

1. Pre heat your oven to 350°F
2. Prepare a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper. To make this easier crumble your parchement paper into a ball. Then undo the ball and your parchment paper will be easier to work with. If you do not have parchment paper you could lightly grease your dish.
3. Lightly crush your walnuts in to small (not ground) pieces. I used a meat mallet and pounded on the walnuts a few times.
4. Measure and place your ingredients in a large bowl starting with your oatmeal. Then proceed to add the rest of your dry ingredients- walnuts, cinnamon, coconut sugar, chocolate chips, gluten free flour mix, salt. followed by your wet ingredients- whisked eggs, oil, honey, and vanilla.
5. Mix with spoon until well combined. Scoop the mixture into your prepared baking dish.
6. Pat the mixture with your hand or the spoon until it is evenly spread in the dish.
7. Bake the bars for 30 minutes and then remove to cool completely. Be sure to know your oven. You want these to have turned a a little golden, it will be shiny but firm to touch when baked. Start checking your oven at 25 minutes. Once cool slice into 8 slices (or more if you want smaller pieces) and enjoy!
8. Store store in a sealed container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days if they last that long. You can also freeze these after they have baked and cooled. Just slice and freeze and pull out when you are ready to eat them.

Substitutions

If you aren't gluten free, feel free to substitute regular oats. I think you could probably use quick cooking oats as well without an issue. Steel cut, and instant would probably cause some trouble. I haven't tested subbing out the oats.

I have not tested subbing out the egg. They are the only item in the mix giving lift to the bars, so if you sub it for something like a flax egg they may not rise the same.

You could sub out the olive oil with a refined coconut oil. Refined oil does not have a coconut taste.

The honey helps everything stick together, it would be hard to sub this out. Coconut sugar could be subbed with brown sugar.

Let me know if you try a sub and they work out. The only sub that has been tested is the oil swap.

I would love for you to share this recipe if you love it! Pin it easily to Pinterest by clicking on the pics in the post. It would be super dope if you tagged me on Instagram too! @sweetrusticbakes.

And since I am asking for things with a big pretty please, you can follow me on Pinterest here and on the Gram here and I would heart you for...ev...er!

Print

But wait friend! Have you signed up for sweet rustic bakes emails yet? If you are looking for simple ways to make your health and your family's health better Sign up here ???? and get your free "5 Steps to a Healthier Family + 1 day Real Food Menu".