No Bake Chocolate Chip Almond Oat Bars

This nutritious no bake chocolate chip almond oat bar recipe is the perfect healthy snack or dessert. They’re easy to make, packed with good for you ingredients, and just sweet enough.

Does anyone else look forward to their daily snacks? It can’t be just me! As a Registered Dietitian, I’m all about including healthy snacks in your diet between meals to satisfy cravings, ward off hunger, and give you a boost of energy.

I have big sweet tooth, so give me any sweet yet healthy snack and I am happy. Some of my favorite sweet snacks include energy balls, fresh fruit, dates stuffed with nut butter, and now these no bake chocolate chip almond oat bars. They’re so good!

Ingredients in no bake chocolate chip almond oat bars

Here is everything you need to make these bars:

• Old fashioned rolled oats – I don’t recommend using steel cut or quick oats, because these would alter the texture of the bars.
• Hemp hearts add a boost of plant-based protein and nutty flavor to these bars.
• Flax meal is a healthy addition which adds omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
• Almond butter: you can swap almond butter for another creamy nut butter such as peanut butter for similar results. Just make sure you’re using a natural almond butter with a runny texture.
• Almonds
• Chocolate Chips
• Maple syrup
• Cinnamon
• Salt

These bars take 10 minutes to prepare, and require just 30 minutes in the refrigerator to harden before you cut them. This recipe is vegan, gluten free, and soy free.

How to make no bake chocolate chip almond bars

Combine dry ingredients – oats, hemp hearts, ground flax seed, almonds, chocolate chips, cinnamon, and salt – in a mixing bowl. Stir it up to combine everything.

Then, add the wet ingredients – almond butter and maple syrup. Stir everything up again so the dry ingredients are well coated in the wet ingredients.

Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan lined with parchment paper or silicone baking sheet. Pop the pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to let everything harden up.

Remove from the pan and cut into bars. Drizzle melted chocolate over each bar and put them back in the fridge for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to harden (optional step). Enjoy!

Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. I like to put a piece of parchment paper between each layer of bars in the container to prevent them from sticking together.

Oats nutrition benefits

Oats are a highly nutritious whole grain food. They are a good source of dietary fiber, especially the soluble fiber beta-glucan. This type of fiber is linked to reduced risk of heart disease because it can help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol.

One half cup of uncooked oats provides:

• 4 grams of fiber
• 6 grams of protein
• 20 percent of your daily iron and zinc needs
• 34 percent of your daily magnesium needs
• 11 percent of your daily folate needs

Hemp hearts nutrition benefits

Hemp hearts, or hemp seeds, pack a ton of nutrition. They’re rich in unsaturated fat, including essential omega-3 fatty acids. Three tablespoons of hemp hearts provides:

• 1.2 grams of fiber
• 10 grams of protein
• 1.6 grams of monounsaturated fat
• 11.4 grams of polyunsaturated fat

Hemp hearts are also a good source of iron and zinc, and an excellent source of magnesium.

Flax nutrition benefits

Flax seeds are another seed full of nutritional benefits. Flax is rich in vitamins and minerals, fiber, and protein. If you don’t eat fish, flax seeds are one of the best sources of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. One tablespoon of flax provides:

• 1.3 grams of protein
• 1600 mg ALA omega-3 fatty acids
• 2 grams of fiber

Tip: Ground flax seeds are easier to digest, as our bodies cannot break down the tough outer shell of flax seeds. If you buy whole flax seeds, you can grind them yourself in a coffee bean grinder or blender.

Almonds nutrition benefits

Almonds have an impressive nutrient profile – both whole almonds and almond butter. A small handful of almonds (about one ounce) provides:

• 3.5 grams of fiber
• 6 grams of protein
• 9 grams of heart healthy monounsaturated fat
• An excellent source of magnesium, manganese, and vitamin E

Almonds are also rich in antioxidants which help fight inflammation and keep our cells healthy. Most of the antioxidants in almonds can be found in the skin.

More healthy no bake recipes to try

• Dark Chocolate Cherry Energy Balls
• Birthday Cake Batter Balls
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
• Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bars

Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!

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