Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
Photography By Kateryna Ozirna
These Oatmeal Breakfast Bars offer a convenient and nutritious start to your day, providing a balanced mix of essential nutrients. These bars are rich in dietary fiber from the old-fashioned rolled oats, which promotes digestive health and helps maintain steady energy levels. The almond butter adds a dose of healthy fats and protein, contributing to prolonged satiety. Natural sweetness from honey or maple syrup, along with the mashed banana and unsweetened applesauce, provides a gentle energy boost without refined sugars. Additionally, the inclusion of chopped nuts, seeds, and dried fruit introduces a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, enhancing the overall nutritional profile. These bars are a wholesome, portable breakfast option perfect for busy mornings.
Photography By Kateryna Ozirna
Servings: 12 bars
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup almond butter (or any nut or seed butter of your choice)
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts or seeds (such as almonds, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds)
• 1/4 cup dried fruit (such as raisins, cranberries, or chopped dates)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
Steps:
Photography By Kateryna Ozirna
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or line 9x9 inch baking dish.
• In large bowl, mix oats, almond butter, honey/maple syrup, mashed banana, applesauce, nuts/seeds, dried fruit, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.
• Press mixture into prepared dish evenly.
• Bake 20-25 minutes until edges are golden and bars are set.
• Cool bars completely in dish. Once cooled, cut into individual portions with sharp knife.
Freezing and Reheating
• For freezing, cool bars completely. Wrap each in plastic wrap or foil. Store wrapped bars in freezer-safe bag or container.
• To eat from frozen, unwrap desired number of bars. Let thaw at room temperature briefly. Or, microwave for quick breakfast option.