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Chocolate Oatmeal Crumble Bars Recipe

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3.9 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Sara
  • Total Time: 53 minutes
  • Yield: 16 servings
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Chocolate Oatmeal Crumble Bars are a deliciously fudgy and crumbly dessert, combining a buttery oat crust with a rich chocolate filling and a crisp oat crumble topping. Perfectly balanced with natural sweetness from brown sugar and apple sauce, these bars are baked in two stages for the ideal texture, and can also be made with a no-bake option by freezing.

Ingredients

Crust and Crumble Top

  • 1 1/3 cups oat flour (or 1 cup all purpose flour)
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
  • Pinch of salt
  • ½ cup peanut butter (softened)
  • 3 tbsp butter (softened)

Chocolate Filling

  • 1 cup oat flour (or 2/3 cup all purpose flour)
  • 1 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar or cane sugar)
  • 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
  • 6 tbsp applesauce (unsweetened) or room temperature aquafaba
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • 3 tbsp butter

Instructions

  1. Prep: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Gather all your ingredients to have them ready for assembling.
  2. Line pan: Line an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal after baking.
  3. Melt butter: Microwave 3 tablespoons of butter for about 10 seconds until just melted; this will help bind the crust ingredients.
  4. Make crust & crumble top mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 1/3 cups oat flour, 1 cup rolled oats, 1 cup brown sugar, pinch of salt, ½ cup softened peanut butter, and the melted butter. Use a hand mixer or spoon to blend until crumbly.
  5. Reserve crumb: Remove about 3/4 cup of this crumbly mixture and set aside to use as the topping later.
  6. Press crust: Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into the prepared pan, leveling with a spatula.
  7. Bake crust: Place the crust in the oven and bake for 8 minutes at 325°F (163°C). Then, remove and allow it to cool in the pan while you prepare the filling.
  8. Prepare for filling: Increase oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Measure out the filling ingredients.
  9. Melt chocolate & butter: In a microwave-safe container, combine 1 ½ cups chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons butter. Microwave for 1 minute, then stir until smooth.
  10. Add sweeteners and liquids: Stir in 1 cup brown sugar until creamy, then mix in 6 tablespoons applesauce (or aquafaba) and 1 tablespoon peanut butter until combined.
  11. Combine dry filling ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, stir together 1 cup oat flour, pinch of salt, and any additional dry ingredients if present.
  12. Make filling batter: Add the melted chocolate mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until it forms a brownie-like batter.
  13. Layer chocolate filling: Spoon the chocolate batter evenly over the baked and cooled crust, smoothing the surface with a spoon or spatula.
  14. Top with crumb: Sprinkle the reserved crumb topping evenly over the chocolate layer.
  15. Bake bars: Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 30 to 35 minutes, until the crumb topping is golden brown and firm. The center will be moist and fudgy.
  16. Cool and set: Remove bars from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes.
  17. Refrigerate for clean slices: For cleaner slices, refrigerate the pan until the bars are firm enough to cut neatly.
  18. Storage: Store the oatmeal bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
  19. No-bake option: Instead of baking the crust and filling, assemble as directed and freeze the pan covered for 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

  • You can substitute all purpose flour for oat flour if desired.
  • Use coconut or cane sugar as alternatives to brown sugar for different flavor notes or dietary needs.
  • Applesauce can be replaced with aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas) for a vegan-friendly option.
  • Softened Earth Balance vegan butter or regular butter can be used based on preference.
  • For a no-bake variation, skip baking and freeze bars after assembly for 30 minutes.
  • Ensure bars are cooled and preferably refrigerated before slicing to achieve clean cuts.
  • Store bars properly to maintain freshness and texture.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 43 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://sarabaking.com/chocolate-oatmeal-crumble-bars-recipe/