Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars {GF + DF}

These no-bake, gluten-free Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are a versatile recipe that serve as either a breakfast bar or a dessert treat! They are made with almond butter, vanilla, gluten-free oatmeal, and dairy-free chocolate chips! {Vegan-Friendly + Gluten-Free}

Our family is going bonkers over these no-bake, gluten-free, and dairy-free Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars! They are sweet but not too sweet, and although they house chocolate chips, they are surprisingly breakfast-friendly. Like, if you just need a sweet treat to go with your coffee, then grab one of these from the fridge and enjoy.

I tend to grab a Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bar in the afternoon when I want a filling-but-not-heavy snack. Basically, however you want to enjoy these bars, you’ll be correct. Because you can’t go wrong. It’s simply not possible.

This recipe is quite similar to our No-Bake Paleo Chocolate Chip Coconut Bars. They are popular on the blog and amongst our friends and family. Those bars are also a regular treat in our house. But not everyone loves shredded coconut, so we conceptualized a gratifying alternative. And these oatmeal bars came to fruition.

In addition to deciding when you want to enjoy your Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars, another decision is whether you want thinner or thicker bars. For today’s oatmeal bar recipe, I prepared them in a 9×9 pan and in the coconut bar recipe, I prepared them in an 8×8 pan. So although the amount in both recipes is the same, you’ll notice today’s bars look thinner. Below is a side-by-side comparison. Go with either the pan you have on hand or the one with the volume you like. Any which way you pour, the recipe will taste wonderful. 😊

So grab your dish of choice and let’s get no-baking! These Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are just waiting to be discovered!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are

• Gluten-free
• Vegan-friendly
• Buttery (and also a little bit flaky-crumbly)
• No-bake
• Sweet, but not too sweet
• Satisfying!
• Snacktastic!

These Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are also fast becoming a huge after school snack hit! After we make them, we cut these bars into squares, layer them with parchment paper (if we think of it), and store them in the fridge in an airtight container. The girls love to grab one on their way through the kitchen as they dump book bags, lunch bags, and various school gear. Also, this is is an easy recipe to make alongside your children (or for them to prepare on their own!).

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars ingredients

The ingredient list is fairly important for this recipe if you want your Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars to be gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly. I have details in the ingredient list below where relevant. 

• Coconut oil. This critical ingredient sets the bar mixture as it chills and holds everything together.
• Almond butter (or other nut butter of choice). I like Costco’s Kirkland brand almond butter. Roasted almonds provide the best flavor (in my opinion). Look for an unsweetened nut butter with as few ingredients as possible.
• Sweetener. Maple syrup (first fave choice) and agave nectar (second fave of choice) work well in this recipe, and they’re vegan-friendly.
• Vanilla. I use just a teaspoon, and it provides the right amount of flavor and sweetness.
• Sea salt. A pinch adds just the right flavor balance.
• Gluten-free oatmeal. I use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats. I prefer these to quick oats, which are smaller and may get a little “lost” in this recipe.
• Chocolate chips. I use either Chatfield’s, Nestle, or Enjoy Life allergen-friendly chocolate chips. Regular-size and mini chocolate chips will work. I also like to sprinkle a few extra chips on top after I pour the batter into the pan, especially if the chips start to sink.

How to make Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

This is a throw-everything-in-the-bowl-stir-then-pour kind of recipe. It’s quick and easy to prepare!

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the melted coconut oil, almond butter, sweetener of choice, vanilla, and sea salt. I find it helps to whisk everything together or stir with a sturdy fork.
2. Then stir in the gluten-free oatmeal, followed by the chocolate chips. Give the ingredients one last whisk and the pour the batter into the pan. To keep the chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom of the mixing bowl or pan, pour the mixture into the pan using a rolling motion os the batter on the bottom comes to the top and the ingredients are less likely to separate before they’ve had a chance to set.
3. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips over the top of the mixture in the pan, if desired, and chill in the refrigerator. Times will vary, depending on the thickness of the bars, but you can usually anticipate about a hour, give or take a few minutes.
4. Once the mixture has set, then cut it into bars and refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container. Consume within about a week.

Best practices for a delicious treat

We love this recipe, so over time we’ve discovered a few simple, but helpful, techniques to concoct the best-est, tastiest, most delicious-est bar!

• Choose a gluten-free oatmeal that isn’t ground down. Old-fashioned rolled oats are good.
• Start out light on sweetener. You can always add more as your go. Once you’ve added the chocolate chips, then do a quick taste test to see if you like the result.
• Cut the bars with a sharp knife. These bars have a smooth, buttery texture that lightly flakes and crumbles when cut. A sharp knife and a careful grip will do the trick.

More no-bake treats to enjoy!

If you are in the mood for additional no-bake dessert recipes, then put your eyes on these NO-BAKE delights!

• Paleo Chocolate Chip Coconut Bars
• Chocolate Almond Butter Truffles
• Almond Butter Bites

Enjoy, friends! Stay wild and know how glad I am that you’re here. ❤️

Print