Wholesome Oat Treat Snack (Printable Version)

Lightly sweet baked oat bars with nuts and dried fruit for a wholesome, energizing bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups rolled oats
02 - 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
03 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds)
06 - 1/2 cup dried fruit (e.g., cranberries, raisins, chopped apricots)

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
08 - 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or unsalted butter
09 - 1 large egg
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, mix rolled oats, whole wheat flour, ground cinnamon, salt, chopped nuts, and dried fruit.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together honey or maple syrup, melted coconut oil or butter, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients and stir until fully incorporated.
05 - Transfer the blend to the prepared pan and press down firmly with a spatula to create an even layer.
06 - Bake for 20–25 minutes, until edges are golden and center is set.
07 - Let cool completely in the pan before lifting out and slicing into 12 bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They satisfy that mid-afternoon hunger without the crash that comes with store-bought treats.
  • The recipe is forgiving enough that you can swap nuts and dried fruit based on whatever you have on hand.
  • They stay fresh for days, so you can actually make them on Sunday and eat them guilt-free all week.
02 -
  • Overbaking is almost impossible here—even a few extra minutes just makes them crispier on the edges, which some people actually prefer.
  • The flax egg substitute works perfectly for vegan versions, but mix it and let it sit for the full 5 minutes or it won't bind properly.
03 -
  • Press the mixture into the pan more firmly than feels necessary—this creates bars that hold together instead of crumbling.
  • The smell of these baking is a reliable timer; when your kitchen stops smelling like vanilla and starts smelling like toasted oats, they're probably done.

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