This healthy oatmeal bars recipe features rolled oats, chewy dried fruit, and a decadent chocolate drizzle. My girls love oatmeal breakfast bars anytime of day because they make the perfect quick and healthy snack with no mystery additives, corn syrup, or gluten… and they’re so easy to prepare! If you need a low carb version, make my keto granola bars instead.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for baked oatmeal bars, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Rolled Oats – Oatmeal bar recipes work best with rolled oats rather than whole or quick oats. If you are sensitive to gluten, get gluten-free oats.Almond Flour – I use Wholesome Yum Almond Flour because of its ultra-fine texture. If you need to avoid nuts, sunflower seed flour should work as well.Sea Salt – Balances the sweet flavor.Raisins – Add natural sweetness and chewy texture to breakfast oatmeal bars. You can use any variety of dried fruit as long as large pieces get chopped finely.Dried Cranberries – I make my own sugar-free dried cranberries, but store-bought ones will work as well.Almonds – For extra crunch! Swap with your favorite nuts or seeds if you prefer (use seeds for a nut-free option).Honey – I’ve made these with both regular honey and sugar-free honey at different times, and both work great. Pure maple syrup should also work (for a vegan option), but I have not tested it to confirm.Brown Sugar Or Sweetener – I use Besti Brown Monk Fruit Allulose Blend for the same flavor and moisture of brown sugar, without the sugar! However, you can also use a conventional brown sugar or coconut sugar.Unsalted Butter – I prefer grass-fed butter, but any kind will do. Coconut oil and ghee can also work for dairy-free baked oatmeal bars.Chocolate Chips – This sugar-free variety variety tastes great and is all natural, but use any kind you like. I melt them and drizzle on top of the bars, but you can also make oatmeal chocolate chip bars by folding them into the mixture instead.
How To Make Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
This section shows how to make oatmeal bars healthy, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or cinnamon if you enjoy those flavors.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep oatmeal raisin bars in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.Freeze: Wrap cooled bars in plastic wrap and store them in the freezer up to 3 months.
More Healthy Snack Recipes
Just like breakfast oatmeal bar recipes, these snacks are perfect for fueling up without weighing you down. Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it! Nutrition info uses sugar-free honey substitute, Besti Brown sweetener, and sugar-free dried cranberries. You can use regular honey, brown sugar, and dried cranberries if you like — the calories will be a little higher and sugar would be notably higher.
