Description
Delicious and wholesome Oatmeal Fudge Bars made with rolled oats, whole wheat flour, and natural sweeteners. These bars feature a rich layer of dark chocolate chips sandwiched between layers of oat-based batter, making them a perfect healthy snack or dessert option.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup peanut butter (or any nut butter)
Add-ins
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, whole wheat flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir until all the dry ingredients are evenly blended.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the unsweetened applesauce, maple syrup (or honey), vanilla extract, and peanut butter until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredient bowl, stirring until just combined. The batter will be thick and slightly sticky.
- Layer Batter: Spread half of the oatmeal batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, pressing gently to create an even layer.
- Add Chocolate Layer: Sprinkle the dark chocolate chips evenly over the batter layer, ensuring good coverage.
- Top Layer: Carefully spread the remaining batter over the chocolate chips to cover them, being gentle to avoid mixing layers.
- Bake: Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is set and lightly golden.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 bars for serving.
Notes
- You can substitute maple syrup with honey for natural sweetness, adjusting to taste.
- Use any nut butter of your choice if peanut butter isn’t preferred, such as almond or cashew butter.
- To make the bars vegan, ensure the sweetener and chocolate chips are vegan-friendly.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute the whole wheat flour with gluten-free flour and use certified gluten-free oats.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
