There isn't a single day when Bob doesn't start his morning with a big bowl of oats. Why? Because not only are oats great tasting, but they're also excellent for you. With your daily schedule filling up faster than before, finding the time to cook and prepare a bowl of oats might not fit into your morning practice. If that's the case, don't stress. There are several ways that you can work this superfood into your daily routine, one of our favorites being by making oatmeal bars.
What Are Oatmeal Bars?
Wondering what an oatmeal bar is? We have the answer. If you've ever tried a snack bar before, then the chances are you've tried an oatmeal bar. Oats are one of the main ingredients used to boost the nutritional content of snack bars. Not only do oats taste great when baked, but they also help all the other elements of the snack bar bind together. An oatmeal bar is an excellent treat to snack on between meals, and because oats are high in fiber, it will work to keep you fuller for longer. Whether you choose to enjoy an oatmeal bar on your way to work or add it to your child's lunch bag, it's a great on-the-go treat to enjoy no matter where you are.
Why Are Oatmeal Bars Good for You?
When made with healthy, wholesome ingredients, oatmeal bars are great for you. Not only are oats loaded with fiber, but they're also high in essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium, zinc and iron. All of which work to boost your energy levels and keep you feeling your best. Depending on what kind of oats/oatmeal is used, this superfood is free of added sugars and low in calories. All of these benefits combined make it the perfect ingredients to bake up nutritious oatmeal bar recipes.
How to Make Oatmeal Bars
When choosing the best oatmeal bar, it's essential to look at the ingredients listed. As with most foods, you'll want to steer clear of anything with artificial ingredients, high amounts of sugar and preservatives. Lean towards oat bars like Bob's Bars, which use simple ingredients and natural sweeteners.
Additionally, to ensure that your oat bars are of the highest quality, you can easily make them at home. With the right recipe and ingredients, making oatmeal-based bars is a fun and straightforward task that the entire family will enjoy. Not sure where to start? Keep scrolling as we walk you through the steps of making Oatmeal-Based Bars.
Step 1: Choose Your Oats
While all oats are great for you, they do come in several different varieties. Quick Cooking Oats, Old Fashioned Rolled Oats and Gluten Free Oats are just a few of the many that can be used to make oatmeal-based bars. To determine which oats are best for your recipe, you'll want to consider the other ingredients used and the baking method.
For baked oatmeal bars with several different ingredients, we recommend choosing Old Fashioned Rolled Oats. Due to their slow-cooking nature, they'll create an easy to bind base to secure all the flavors while being cooked.
For no-bake or quick-baking recipes, use Quick-Cooking Oats. Doing so will ensure that the oats are fully cooked/soaked before they're eaten.
Step 2: Determine Add-ins
When learning how to make healthy oatmeal bars, add-ins make all of the difference. One of the best benefits of making food at home is that you get to customize it to your taste preferences. There are several different add-ins that you can choose to add to your oatmeal-based bar recipe. Take a few minutes to review the list below and choose a couple that sound the best to you. Substitute them into your oatmeal bar recipe and voila! You'll have a delicious treat that you're bound to enjoy.
Nuts & Seeds
Adding nuts and seeds to your oatmeal-based bar recipes can transform the treat into a highly nutritious snack in minutes. Not only are nuts and seeds tasty, but they're also loaded with health benefits. Full of healthy fats, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, they're an excellent option if you're looking for a way to boost your bar's health benefits. Aside from their many health benefits, they can also increase the texture of your oat bar. By adding crunchy, filling nuts and seeds to your recipe, you will create a snack tasty enough to satisfy all of your cravings.
Dried Fruit
Want to learn how to make oatmeal bars without adding sugar? Stick to alternative sweeteners like dried fruit. Adding dried fruit like strawberries, cranberries, raisins and dates to your oatmeal-based bar recipe is an excellent way to sweeten up its flavor and nutrients. When adding dried fruit to a recipe, you'll want to add just the right amount. While too much dried fruit can quickly increase your bar's calories, adding just enough will result in a sweet bar made with natural ingredients. An excellent way to create a bar sweet enough for the kiddos to munch on, search for recipes that list dried fruit as an ingredient, or get creative and add a handful of fruit in yourself.
Jams & Jellies
Like dried fruit, jams and jellies are an excellent way to sweeten your oatmeal-based bar recipe without the use of sugar. Plus, depending on the other ingredients used, they can transform your bar's taste into something similar to that of your favorite comfort food. If you grew up enjoying peanut butter and jelly and sandwiches for lunch, create a bar inspired by that great memory. Peanuts, peanut butter, mashed strawberries and natural jelly can all be combined to turn your favorite lunchtime sandwich into an on-the-go snack everyone at the office will envy.
Chocolate
If you're a fan of chocolate, then we have good news for you. There are several ways to enjoy a great chocolatey treat without reaching for the nearest candy bar. Add a delicious chocolatey flavor to your favorite oat bar recipes by mixing in dark chocolate chips, cocoa powder or chocolate-flavored protein powder. All of these options are much better for you than sugar-filled milk chocolate and will leave your bar with the fantastic chocolatey taste that you love. Creating a sweet chocolate-inspired oatmeal bar is an excellent way to get your kiddos to choose a healthy snack over a sweet one.
Step 3: Choose a Recipe
Once you've determined which oats to use and how you'd like your snack bar to be flavored, it's time to choose a recipe that will satisfy your snack cravings. At Bob's Red Mill, we love oat bars so much that we've put together a library of delicious oat-based bar recipes. While these recipes are a great start, it's important to remember that everything is customizable. Use one of the recipes below for inspiration and get creative in the kitchen by adding ingredients that will make it your own.
When choosing a recipe, it's essential to consider how much time you have to make the treat. Suppose you're searching for a quick recipe that you can make overnight, opt for a no-bake variety of bar. Or, if you're a fan of meal prepping and are looking to bake a large batch of oatmeal-based bars at the beginning of the week, choose from one of our popular baked recipes below. No matter what you decide, we're confident that it will be delicious.
Baked Oatmeal Bars
Naturally Sweetened Berry Vanilla Granola Bars
We've talked a lot about natural sweeteners. These Naturally Sweetened Berry Vanilla Granola Bars are the perfect example of a sweet, satisfying treat free of refined sugars. Homemade and simple to make, this bar recipe makes for the ideal breakfast bar or snack. 100% customizable, mixing in a few of the add-ins we listed above would work great in these bars. Made with coconut oil and gluten free ingredients, it's a snack that nearly everyone will enjoy!
Homemade Crunchy Granola Bars
If you're new to making granola bars, this Homemade Crunchy Granola Bar recipe is the perfect one. Ideal for children's lunchboxes or as an afternoon snack, these oatmeal-based bars are surprisingly easy to make. Created with a base of quick-cooking rolled oats, coconut oil and honey, these bars taste delicious!
No-Bake Oatmeal Bars
Tropical Fruit No Bake Granola Bar
Searching for the perfect no-bake granola bar recipe? Look no further. This quick and easy oatmeal-based bar recipe is an excellent way to get your children involved in kitchen time. By teaching them how to make delicious tasting treats through the use of whole-grain oats and their favorite fruits, they'll be sure to opt for healthier snacks like these Tropical Fruit No-Bake Granola Bars more often.
We hope that this guide to making oatmeal-based bars at home has inspired you to try out a few of these recipes yourself. While there are several store-bought granola bar options, like Bob's Bars, that are excellent for you, getting your kids involved in the kitchen and making these bars together is a great way to enhance family time. Especially with so many of us spending more time at home this year. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, have a healthy and happy day!
Note: Eating raw oats is generally safe, but may cause digestive issues or increase the risk of foodborne illness.
