This recipe was inspired by a serious staring contest with my pantry.
I wanted to make something sweet. And a little salty. With chocolate. But also kind of healthy.
Too much to ask?
The answer to that question was, thankfully, no.
Plus, bonus points because this almond butter bars recipe is also no-bake!
Gluten-Free Almond Butter Oat Bars Ingredients
These easy oatmeal bars are pretty pantry friendly. Here’s what you’ll need:
Gluten-free oats Maple syrup Almond butter Unsweetened cocoa powder Coconut oil Vanilla extract
Gluten-Free Oats
Oats make up the base of this recipe. If you are gluten-free or need to adhere to a gluten-free diet, you’ll want to make sure you are using certified gluten-free oats.
Luckily, they are easy to find these days. The Kitchn has a summary here about oats in gluten-free baking.
Maple Syrup
Along with the almond butter used in this recipe, maple syrup acts as the glue. It naturally sweetens these bars so that they are sweet but not too sweet. If you are not vegan, honey should work here as a substitute if needed.
Almond Butter
Working as a binder, lending flavor, and adding a good amount of protein, almond butter is most definitely the muscles of this gluten-free oat bar recipe.
Don’t have almond butter? Peanut butter would make a delicious substitute, as well as other nut butters or sunbutter.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
In conjunction with coconut oil, unsweetened cocoa powder makes for a dreamy ganache-like chocolate layer. Cocoa powder is a staple in my pantry. Using it to create this luscious chocolate middle also allows for controlling the sugar content.
Coconut Oil
While coconut oil is often interchangeable for butter or vegan butter when necessary, its ability to slightly harden once chilled is needed here. Don’t like the slightly coconut-y flavor? Use refined coconut oil for a flavorless application.
More Gluten-Free Oats Recipes
Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Skillet Crisp
Oatmeal Cream Pies
French Toast Granola
Print Healthy Almond Butter Oat Bars These no bake Healthy Almond Butter Oat Bars are made with only seven ingredients. Topped with a layer of chocolate, oat crumble, and sea salt, these bars are suitable for breakfast, snack, or dessert! Gluten-free and vegan. Course Dessert, Snack Cuisine American Keyword healthy almond butter oat bars Prep Time 20 minutes Chilling Time 2 hours Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes Author Tessa Fisher Ingredients 3/4 cup almond butter 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons maple syrup, divided room temperature 3 cups (625g) gluten-free oats heaping 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup coconut oil melted and cooled sea salt, for sprinkling Instructions Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper. In a small saucepan, combine almond butter and 1/2 cup of the maple syrup over low heat. Stir occasionally until almond butter has melted and mixture has evenly incorporated, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in salt and vanilla extract. Place oats in a large bowl. Pour almond butter mixture over oats and stir until oats have been evenly coated. Transfer 3/4 of the oat mixture to prepared pan. Using an extra piece of parchment paper, press mixture down firmly into an even layer. In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder, melted coconut oil, and remaining 3 tablespoons of maple syrup. Whisk until combined. Pour cocoa mixture over oats in baking pan. Use a spatula to spread into an even layer. Take remaining oat mixture and drop crumbled pieces on top. Sprinkle with sea salt. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set. Store almond butter oat bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
The post Healthy Almond Butter Oat Bars (Gluten-Free, Vegan) appeared first on Salted Plains.
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