Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars – Nutritious Energy Snack Recipe

ByEmily Healthy Desserts
Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars – Nutritious Energy Snack Recipe

Transform simple pantry staples into a delicious and nutritious snack that everyone will love. These chocolate-covered oat bars are packed with wholesome ingredients like oats, nuts, dried fruits, and natural sweetness from bananas. Perfect for busy mornings, post-workout fuel, or a guilt-free dessert, these bars offer the ideal balance of flavor and nutrition. The combination of crunchy oats, chewy dried fruits, and rich dark chocolate creates an irresistible treat that’s far healthier than store-bought snack bars. Best of all, they’re incredibly easy to make and require minimal baking time.

Ingredients

For the Bars:

  • 100g (1 cup/3.5 oz) rolled oats
  • 30g (¼ cup/1 oz) raisins
  • 1 tablespoon (5g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon (10g) sesame seeds
  • 70g (½ cup/2.5 oz) dried cranberries
  • 60g (⅓ cup/2 oz) almonds, roughly chopped
  • 60g (⅓ cup/2 oz) peanuts, roughly chopped
  • 70g (½ cup/2.5 oz) prunes, chopped
  • 1-2 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 30ml (2 tablespoons/1 oz) Jerusalem artichoke syrup or honey

For the Chocolate Coating:

  • 100g (½ cup/3.5 oz) sugar-free dark chocolate
  • ½ tablespoon (7g) coconut oil

For Serving:

  • Fresh lemon wedges
  • Fresh raspberries
  • Your favorite tea

Instructions

Prepare the Base Mixture

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, raisins, cocoa powder, and sesame seeds. Add the dried cranberries, chopped almonds, chopped peanuts, and chopped prunes. Mix all the dry ingredients together until evenly distributed.

Add Wet Ingredients

Mash one to two ripe bananas in a separate bowl until smooth. The riper the bananas, the sweeter your bars will be. Add the mashed bananas and Jerusalem artichoke syrup to the dry mixture. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and the mixture holds together when pressed.

Shape and Bake

Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Press the mixture firmly into the tray, forming a rectangle about 2cm thick. Alternatively, shape the mixture into individual round bars or press into silicone molds for uniform shapes. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20 minutes until the edges are lightly golden and the bars are firm to touch.

Cool the Bars

Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely on the tray. Once cooled, cut into individual bars or remove from molds. The bars should be firm enough to hold their shape but still have a chewy texture.

Prepare Chocolate Coating

Break the sugar-free dark chocolate into small pieces and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the coconut oil. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, or use a double boiler method for more control. Stir until smooth and glossy.

Coat the Bars

Dip the top of each bar into the melted chocolate or drizzle the chocolate over the bars using a spoon. You can also coat the entire bar for full chocolate coverage. Decorate the tops with extra almonds, cranberries, or prunes while the chocolate is still wet.

Set and Store

Place the chocolate-covered bars on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for 40 minutes until the chocolate is completely set and firm. Once set, the bars are ready to enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Serve

Arrange the bars on a serving plate alongside fresh lemon wedges and raspberries. The citrus brightness from the lemon and the tartness of raspberries complement the rich chocolate perfectly. Enjoy with your favorite tea for a complete snack experience.

Time and Servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 bars

Nutrition (per bar): Calories: 185 | Protein: 5g | Carbohydrates: 22g | Fat: 9g | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g

Why This Recipe Is Good for You

These oat bars are a nutritional powerhouse that supports your overall health and wellness. Oats provide soluble fiber that helps regulate blood sugar levels and promotes heart health by lowering cholesterol. The variety of nuts delivers healthy fats, protein, and vitamin E, which supports brain function and skin health. Dried fruits like cranberries, raisins, and prunes offer natural sweetness along with antioxidants that fight inflammation and protect cells from damage. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that improve cardiovascular health and boost mood. The natural sweetness from bananas eliminates the need for refined sugar, making these bars suitable for those watching their sugar intake. With a good balance of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and plant-based protein, these bars provide sustained energy without the crash associated with processed snacks.