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    Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

    Snacks Breakfast Recipes Desserts August 7, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 55 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars feature all the flavor of a decadent Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie but are healthy enough for breakfast. Made with whole grains and naturally sweetened, these healthy oatmeal bars are filling, chewy, and packed with chocolate.

    Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars are thick, chewy, studded with chocolate chips, and incredibly simple to make. And while these bars taste like a decadent treat, they are made without refined sugar or butter and are packed with nutrients and whole grains.

    These Healthy Oatmeal Bars are like a cross between an oatmeal cookie and baked oatmeal in bar form. They bake up soft and tender, with a bit of chew, and are oozing with chocolate. Whether enjoyed as a breakfast on the go, a late-night snack, or an after-school snack, these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars are the ultimate healthy treat.

    Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars cut into bars and stacked on top of eachother.


    why you will love healthy oatmeal bars

    • One Bowl Recipe. With just one mixing bowl and 5 minutes of prep time, chocolate chip oatmeal bars are one of the easiest recipes to make
    • Simple Ingredients. This recipe is packed with nutrients, yet uses simple ingredients you likely have on hand in your pantry at all times.
    • Packed with Nutrients. Made with oats, yogurt, and whole wheat flour, these oatmeal bars are loaded with whole grains, fiber, nutrients, protein, and calcium.
    • Decadent Tasting. Thanks in part to the maple syrup and added chocolate chips, these oatmeal bars taste insanely decadent.

    Notes on Ingredients

    Ingredients labeled on white counter for baked oatmeal bars.
    • Flour: This recipe calls for whole wheat flour. You can use all-purpose flour in this recipe for oatmeal bars, but whole wheat flour adds nutrients, fiber, and whole grains.
    • Oats: Either rolled oats or quick-cooking oats work to make these oatmeal bars. Steel-cut oats will not work for these bars.
    • Yogurt: Instead of an oatmeal bar full of butter or oil, this recipe replaces half the oil has been replaced with plain Greek yogurt. The yogurt keeps these bars soft and tender, cuts down on the fat, and adds a dose of calcium.
    • Coconut Oil: For the remaining portion of oil, I love using coconut oil in place of canola oil or melted butter, as it keeps baked goods super moist and tender. However, feel free to use either canola oil or melted butter if desired.
    • Sweetener: Instead of using refined sugar, these bars are naturally sweetened with maple syrup. And because maple syrup is so rich, less is needed.
    • Chocolate: I highly recommend using dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate for an added dose of antioxidants! However, any variety of chocolate works.

    Tips for Making Healthy Oatmeal Bars

    As I stated, this recipe for Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars is extremely simple to make. But I have a few tips to ensure success.

    Tip #1: Add the chocolate chips to the dry ingredients. By adding the chocolate chips to the oat and flour mixture rather than folding them into the batter right before baking, the chocolate chips will be coated with a bit of flour which will help to keep them suspended in the bar, rather than all sinking to the bottom of the bars.

    Mixing bowl with oats, flour, and chocolate chips.

    Tip #2: Whisk the egg before adding to the batter. If you whisk together the egg in a small bowl, you can simply add all the wet ingredients right to the oatmeal bar batter rather than mixing them together in a separate bowl.

    Tip #3: Don't overmix. Just like any cookie or muffin recipe that contains flour, it is best to just fold the ingredients together just evenly combined. That will prevent a dense, tough bar.

    Mixing bowl with oatmeal cookie bar mixture.

    Tip #4. Use parchment paper. The batter for these oatmeal bars is quite thick and sticky, to prevent the bars from sticking to your pan or your hands, line your baking dish with parchment paper and use parchment paper to help press the batter into an even layer into the prepared pan.

    Oatmeal Cookie Bar Mixture in glass pan.

    Tip 5: Bake until just set. You don't want to overbake the oatmeal bars, as then they can become crispy, rather than soft and chewy. Simply bake until the top of the bars feel set and toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the oatmeal bars.

    Baked Oatmeal bars in glass dish.

    Tip # 6: Cool Before Serving. So that the bars are easy to slice and you don't burn your mouth when taking a bite, it is best to let the oatmeal chocolate chips bars cool in the pan for 10 minutes after baking, and then remove the parchment paper from the pan and cool another 10 minutes, before slicing into bars.

    Oatmeal Cookie Bars on cutting board cut into 12 pieces.

    Recipe Modifications

    • Egg-Free Oatmeal Bars: To replace the egg in this recipe, combine 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let sit for 5 minutes. Add in place of the egg. The bars will be a bit denser, but still delicious
    • Gluten-Free Oatmeal Bars: To make these bars gluten-free, use a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend in place of whole wheat flour and certified gluten-free oats. I have done this many times with success.
    • Other Ideas for Mix-Ins: Feel free to add chopped nuts, raisins, or dried cranberries in place or in addition to the chocolate chips. Don't exceed more than 1 cup of mix-ins in total.
    • Oil-Free Oatmeal Bars: In place of coconut oil, use unsweetened applesauce.
    • Dairy-Free Oatmeal Bars: Use mashed banana or unsweetened applesauce in place of Greek yogurt. Also, be sure your chocolate chips are dairy-free, or omit the chocolate altogether.

    More Healthy Treats

    • Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
    • Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Banana Bars
    • Homemade Larabars
    • Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies

    If you enjoyed these Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars I would love for you to leave a comment and review below. 

    Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars cut into bars and stacked on top of eachother.

    Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

    Made with whole grains and naturally sweetened, these healthy oatmeal bars are filling, chewy, and packed with chocolate.
    4.82 from 16 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 152kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cup rolled oats
    • ½ cup whole wheat flour or all-purpose
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 pinch salt
    • â…“ cup plain Greek yogurt
    • â…“ cup coconut oil melted and cooled
    • â…“ cup maple syrup
    • 1 large egg whisked
    • 2 teaspoons vanila
    • â…” cup chocolate chips
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350℉. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper or grease well with cooking spray or oil.
    • In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt together. Add in the chocolate chips and toss to coat.
    • Add the whisked egg, oil, yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla to the oat mixture and fold together until the ingredients are just combined. The batter will be thick.
    • Dollop the batter into the prepared pan, and carefully spread out the batter evenly in the pan. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until set and slightly golden.
    • Remove the bars from the oven and place them on a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes. Remove the bars from the pan using the parchment paper and cool completely. Cut into bars and enjoy.

    Equipment Needed

    • 8x8 baking pan
    • Parchment Paper

    Notes

    Storage: Store chocolate chip oatmeal bars in a covered container at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.  You can also freeze cooked bars for up to 3 months.
    Gluten-free Oatmeal Bars:  use a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend in place of whole wheat flour and certified gluten-free oats. I have done this many times with success. 
    Oats: Regular or quick-cook oats can be used in these oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars.
    Maple Syrup: Feel free to use honey in place of maple syrup if desired. 
    Coconut Oil: Feel free to use melted butter or canola oil instead of coconut oil if desired. 
    Dairy-Free Oatmeal Bars: Use dairy-free chocolate chips and non-dairy yogurt or unsweetened applesauce in place of the yogurt. 
    Egg-Free Oatmeal Bars: Mix together 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let sit for 5 minutes. Use in place of the egg. The bars will be a bit denser, but still delicious. 
    Feel free to add chopped nuts, raisins, or dried cranberries in place or in addition to the chocolate chips. Don't exceed more than 1 cup of mix-ins in total.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!
    « Instant Pot Risotto
    Chicken and Green Beans Skillet Recipe »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. sandra

      February 22, 2022 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      These are great. A nice healthy version of chocolate chip bars, I will be keeping this recipe. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 22, 2022 at 3:16 pm

        Thank you for sharing your review Sandra! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed!

        Reply
    2. Jenn Link

      November 29, 2021 at 2:29 am

      5 stars
      Made these today and they were delicious! I had some coconut flour I needed to use up so I did half AP flour and half coconut flour and they turned out great. Will definitely be making these again.

      Reply
    3. Liz

      January 14, 2021 at 3:29 pm

      5 stars
      I make these all the time! They are so good and I love the healthy ingredients! Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 14, 2021 at 4:36 pm

        I am so glad you enjoy these Liz! I need to make a batch asap myself.

        Reply
    4. Kristen Kemp

      July 25, 2020 at 8:50 am

      Good morning Kristen from another Kristen! Have you ever made these using almond flour? Curious if that will work. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 25, 2020 at 10:52 am

        Hi Kristen 🙂 I have not tried these with almond flour. I have made them with a gluten free flour blend and that works great. Almond flour would require some changes in measurements and liquid ingredients.

        Reply
    5. Stephanie Luong

      February 24, 2020 at 5:42 am

      5 stars
      Delicious and so easy! I was looking for an alternative to chocolate chip oaty bars my son loves (but are expensive and have so much sugar!) I threw this together last minute before school pick up. I had all the ingredients on hand, and tossed in a handful of chia seeds just 'coz. I cooked them in my airfryer (175 degrees celcius, 15 minutes one side, then flipped for an extra 5 minutes). They were perfect, my boys gobbled them up (and didn't even complain about the chia seeds!) Will definitely be making these again. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 24, 2020 at 6:23 am

        I am so glad you found this recipe Stephanie and that your boys gobbled them up! I am glad to hear you will be enjoying again 🙂

        Reply
    6. Kelsey

      July 18, 2019 at 12:45 pm

      4 stars
      These were quick and easy to prepare. I subbed half the chocolate chips with dried cranberries and sprinkled in a few pumpkin seeds. I just wish that you didn't taste the whole wheat quite so much. Maybe next time I'll try to sub some oat flour.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 18, 2019 at 6:17 pm

        Hi Kelsey!! I am sorry the taste was a bit too much for you for the wheat flour. I would suggest using half whole wheat flour/ all purpose flour instead of using oat flour. Oat flour would change the consistency of these bars...they may need more or less liquid.

        Reply
    7. Lee Ann

      June 05, 2019 at 5:17 pm

      Disappointed to see that the recipe is calculated for 16 cookies at 152 cal each, but as shown in your photos, the bars are cut into just 9 cookies, which brings the calorie count up to 270 cal apiece. Not exactly a low calorie treat, and when cut to the recipe size, they’re very tiny.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        June 05, 2019 at 8:07 pm

        I am sorry if the way I cut the bars mislead you. It was for photo quality, even though we always eat a smaller square. It was in no way done to be misleading. Again, I apologize for that.

        Reply
    8. Melanie

      March 09, 2019 at 12:53 pm

      These look amazing! Any suggestions for making them dairy free? I have dairy free chocolate chips on hand, but I'm not sure what to do with the Greek yogurt. Coconut yogurt seems too thin for a substitute.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 09, 2019 at 2:11 pm

        Hi Melanie I would use either mashed banana or peanut butter as as substitute. You can use coconut yogurt as well, but start with only 1/4 cup. If batter appears still too thick, use the full 1/3 cup. Enjoy!

        Reply
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    Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars feature all the flavor of a decadent Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie but are healthy enough for breakfast. Made with whole grains and naturally sweetened, these healthy oatmeal bars are filling, chewy, and packed with chocolate.

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

    A Picture of A Mind"Full"Mom

    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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    Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars feature all the flavor of a decadent Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie but are healthy enough for breakfast. Made with whole grains and naturally sweetened, these healthy oatmeal bars are filling, chewy, and packed with chocolate.

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