Baked Chia Chip Oatmeal Bars

This is how the conversation went:

Laura: “Scarlett, do you want to write this post since you developed the recipe?”

Scarlett: “Um, no”

Laura: “Are you sure you don’t want to write it?”

Scarlett: Chuckles, “yes, I can’t write a post!”

Laura: Well, you can write a post. You just don’t want to.”

Scarlett: Goes back to youtube

I wasn’t too upset she wasn’t keen to writing the post. After all, youtube likely means she’s doing research. An enthusiastic cook in the kitchen, Scarlett has taken over cooking her own meals. She also always takes part in dinner prep. One of the reasons for this is because she’s been vegetarian for the last year. However, she also really loves to be in the kitchen. She watches endless youtube videos about recipes and what people eat in a week (slightly weird content to me but whatever). She plots her back to school lunches and makes meal plans she sort of sticks to when she’s in the mood. She also loves to experiment in the kitchen with dishes.

This recipe started as an experiment during covid quarantine and then turned into one of her much-loved snacks. I also love them too. They’re more like cake than a crunchy bar, and they’re really a great base for adding what you like. Think of them as a bowl of oatmeal. If you want nuts instead of chocolate chips in your oatmeal, then had crushed pecans. Try raisins, cranberries, coconut, really anything you would sprinkle or stir into your morning bowl of oats.

These bars also freeze beautifully and make a great hybrid school snack. I already told Scarlett she shouldn’t bring them to school on the days she’s in class. We agreed she doesn’t want to eat things with her hands, but I can guarantee she’ll have them at home waiting for her.

Baked Chia Chip Oatmeal Bars

These oat bars are like a warm hug of oats filled with chocolate chips and chia in the perfect snack form. We like to share, so go ahead and makee them your own by adding what you crave and love.

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Course Snack

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  

• 2 1/4 cups rolled oats
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsps baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Toppings

• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp hemp hearts
• 1 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions

 

• Preheat oiven to 350 degrees and line an 8 inch square pan with parchment paper allowing a 1-inch edge to hang over the sides.
• First combine oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
• In a seperate bowl, whisk eggs, milk, applesauce, oil and vanilla extract.
• Combine the egg mixture with the oat mix. Stir in the chocolate chips. Let the mix rest for 15 minutes to allow the oats to absorb some of the liquid.
• Next press mix into prepared baking pan in an even layer.
• Then, in a small bowl, whisk toppings together and sprinkle over top.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until edges of the bars are golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Lift bars out of pan using parchment and set on a flat surface. Let them cool completely and then cut into in bars.
• Finally, store in an airtight container for 3 days on the counter or 1 week in the refrigerator.