Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars are typically made with 1 1/2 to 2 sticks of butter and are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Using a blend of canola oil – a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat – and applesauce as a substitute for butter in these oatmeal and chocolate chip bars reduces not only the saturated fat, but also the sodium and calories and reduces cholesterol to zero. Using a canola oil-applesauce blend not only increases the healthy fats, but the result is a moist and delicious, snack bar.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Nonstick cooking spray
How to Make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, applesauce, canola oil, and maple syrup until well blended.
- In a small bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, and sea salt.
- Gradually add dry oat mix to applesauce mixture and blend well. (Batter will be thick). Stir in chocolate chips.
- Coat 13-inch by 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread batter into coated pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until edges start to turn brown and pull away from the sides of the pan.
- Cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into bars and remove with a spatula. Makes 24 bars.
- Bars can be kept in airtight container up to 3 days or can be frozen.
Calories: 122
Total Fat: 5.0 g
Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 2.6 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Total Carbohydrates: 22.6 g
Fiber: 1.9 g
Protein: 1.6 g
Recipe Variations
- To make an even healthier Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar substitute a half-cup of the all-purpose flour with a half-cup whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour. A natural sweetener such as Stevia can be used as a substitute for the sugar. To replace the sugar in this recipe, substitute 1.5 teaspoons of liquid Stevia or 1/4 teaspoon of powdered Stevia.
- Instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips can be used.
- Those who prefer nuts in these oatmeal snack bars can add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or chopped walnuts.
- To add even more healthy fats to this recipe, add 1 tablespoon of wheat germ or ground flaxseed.
For more healthy recipes using oats and chocolate chips, see: Flourless Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and Wholesome Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.
 |
