Everything Oatmeal Bars
These Everything Oatmeal Bars are a heavenly treat that have unexpected additions, such as shredded coconut, pecans and dried cranberries! Make a batch of these and grab one on your way out the door in the morning, or savor them as an evening snack. Are they breakfast, are they dessert? Either? Both? They’re delicious and filling, and freeze well so you can make them ahead of time!
Oats: Oats are of course the base of these Everything Oatmeal Bars! They provide a pleasant chewy texture, and soak up all of the delicious flavors of the other ingredients. Oats are packed with healthy carbs and fiber, which helps promote satiety and digestive health.
Whole Wheat Flour: Using whole wheat flour rather than refined white flour adds an extra dose of fiber and healthy carbs, and incorporating flour into the mix allows these bars to have a slightly lighter texture, whereas they would be much more dense if they were solely oat-based.
Dried Cranberries: Using dried cranberries adds a hint of tartness and natural sweetness, along with a pop of color. It also contributes to the soft chewiness of these Everything Oatmeal Bars. I use unsweetened dried cranberries, since the rest of the ingredients in this recipe provide plenty of sweetness already!
Shredded Coconut: I use unsweetened coconut for all of my recipes, and I find that it is plenty flavorful! Sweetened shredded coconut would be delicious in this, too! Whichever one you choose to use, toasting your shredded coconut brings out the flavors and gives it a pleasant, subtle crunch, as well.
Chopped Pecans: Buttery and crunchy, chopped pecans add a delightful contrast to the chewy texture of these bars. Packed with heart-healthy fats, protein and essential nutrients like magnesium and zinc, pecans offer both flavor and nutritional value.
Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips: The chocolate chips lend a decadent touch to this recipe, and add a wonderfully delicious sweetness that takes your Everything Oatmeal Bars to another level. For a healthier version, I’ve made these without the chocolate chips, and they’re still super good! Dairy-free chocolate chips are surprisingly easy to find in stores; just be sure to read the ingredient label to make sure that they don’t have milk in them.
Cinnamon: No recipe involving oatmeal would be complete without cinnamon. Cinnamon adds a warming element and complements the other flavors beautifully, especially the applesauce, brown sugar and maple syrup.
Baking Soda and Baking Powder: Both baking soda and baking powder allow these bars to rise as they’re baking, ensuring that they’re not too dense, especially with the oat base. These Everything Oatmeal Bars are certainly hearty and filling, but the addition of whole wheat flour, baking soda and baking powder balances out their heaviness well!
Salt: Adding just a touch of salt brings out all of the other delicious flavors, just a dash goes a long way! I like to start with a small amount, mix everything together, then taste test the batter and add an extra pinch if I feel like it needs more flavor overall.
Applesauce: I made this recipe with unsweetened applesauce, but sweetened may be used if you prefer! You may just want to reduce the amount of other sweeteners used, such as the maple syrup or brown sugar.
Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds an almost caramel-like flavor to your Everything Oatmeal Bars, due to its molasses content.
Maple Syrup: Using maple syrup as a sweetener allows these bars to maintain their warm, comforting taste. I highly recommend using high-quality maple syrup, rather than the ones that are (overly) inexpensive and contain all sorts of chemicals. High-grade maple syrup tastes so much better, too!
Vanilla Extract: Adding just a small amount of vanilla extract enhances the bars’ aromas and rounds out their flavors, imparting a subtle sweetness and warmth. With its comforting fragrance and flavor, vanilla adds a touch of luxury to this delicious recipe.
Flax Egg: Flax eggs in baking are a common alternative to actual chicken eggs. They’re made by combining ground flaxseeds and water in a small bowl, stirring well and then allowing it to sit for 10-15 minutes to thicken into an almost gel-like consistency. Then, they’re added to baking recipes, such as this one, as a regular egg would be used. They bind ingredients together, provide moisture, and they’re a much healthier alternative, as well! Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, supporting heart and digestive health.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
1½ C oats
¾ C dried cranberries
¾ C whole wheat flour
¾ C shredded coconut
⅓ C dairy-free chocolate chips
1 tsp cinnamon
½ C chopped pecans
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ C applesauce
Wet Ingredients
½ C brown sugar
¼ C maple syrup
1 flax egg (1 T ground flaxseeds mixed with 3 T water)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. In a small bowl or cup, combine the 1 T of flaxseeds with 3 T of water. This creates a “flax egg,” which is your plant-based egg replacer. Stir well and let it sit for at least 10 minutes to thicken, and in the meantime, prepare the rest of your Everything Oatmeal Bars.
2. Preheat the oven to 350º. Spread the chopped pecans and shredded coconut on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until lightly golden and fragrant. Be sure to keep an eye on them so they don’t burn. Once they’re done, remove them from the oven and set aside. Keep your oven at 350º, as you’ll be baking your bars at the same temperature.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
4. Once the dry ingredients are fully incorporated, gently mix in the dairy-free chocolate chips, dried cranberries, shredded coconut and chopped pecans.
5. In a separate bowl, mix together the applesauce and brown sugar until well combined. Then add the maple syrup, vanilla extract and prepared flax egg. Stir until everything is evenly incorporated.
6. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Mix until all of the ingredients are well combined and form a thick batter.
7. Lightly grease a baking dish (the one I used is 11” x 7”) and pour the batter into it, spreading it out evenly. Or, for an oil-free option, you may line your baking dish with parchment paper instead.
8. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake at 350º for about 25 minutes, or until the bars are golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
9. Allow the bars to cool in the baking dish for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, cut into bars or squares. They can be refrigerated in an airtight container for several days, or frozen and reheated when you’re ready to enjoy them.
Stefanie is the founder of Life, Veganized, and a passionate vegan and animal advocate. She creates vegan recipes for all palates and resides in Los Angeles with her adorable puggle, Zeus.
