Naturally gluten free and nut free, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Trail Bars pack a healthy punch with oats, chia seeds, coconut, flaxmeal, and sunflower seeds. These bars make a nutritious snack for anytime of day.
UPDATED/REVISED 2021.
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Would you like a granola bar with a bit more protein? Try Chocolate Mint Granola Bars (naturally gluten free). The added quinoa and collagen give these bars a significant protein boost.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Trail Bars
Trail bars are easy to prepare and pack wherever life is leading you that day. You can pack them to work, school, picnic, or hike. They fit nicely in a snack size reusable bag. Stasher Reusable Silicone Food Bag, Sandwich Bag and Snack Bag
The reasons I like to have these bars handy in my house:
- Nutritious everyday snack
- Love the ingredients – particularly the seeds (chia, sunflower, and flax meal)
- Easily frozen to eaten at a later date.
- Clean eating snack choice.
- Not too sweet – but sweet enough!
Let’s look closer at why I love these ingredients so much!!
Benefits of Trail Bars
Old Fashioned Oats provide us with antioxidants, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper and other trace minerals.
Chia Seeds are rich in fiber and provide our bodies with omega-3 fats, protein, vitamins and minerals, including phosphorus, potassium.
Coconut is a nutrient dense food providing our bodies with numerous benefits. Coconut supports our immune system, improves our digestion and increases the absorption of nutrients. It improves our blood sugar and insulin levels.
Flaxmeal (ground up raw flax seeds) are known for their rich source of omega-3’s. Flax seeds are high in fiber and antioxidants. Flax seeds are numerous vitamins and minerals, but is most known as one of the highest magnesium sources.
Sunflower Seeds contain an essential nutrient to our body, selenium. These seeds are consumed for their high magnesium content. Sunflower seeds also contain two important nutrients, vitamin E and folate.
Coconut Sugar has trace minerals and nutrients such as zinc, potassium, calcium and iron. It is known to be a healthier sweetener choice due to a fiber called inulin. This fiber aids in slow glucose absorption, which makes it healthier choice for those with blood sugar concerns.
Are you excited to try one yet?? I just love reading about all the nutrients found in these Trail Bars. It is hard not to find pleasure in such wholesome food ingredients.
Finding the Ingredients
One questions I get asked frequently is where do you buy ingredients and what brand do you buy. Below is a list of the ingredients and what brands I prefer. It doesn’t always make a difference, but sometimes it really does. I’m partial to Bob’s Red Mill products as they have a reputation for quality products. It’s important to use old fashioned oats or thick cut oats.
Not all coconut sugar is milled the same; so I do have preferences for brand. My favorite is Nutiva Organic Coconut Sugar – 1 Pound.
- Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Old Fashioned Oats
- Organic Finely Shredded Coconut, Unsweetened
- Simply Organic Vanilla Extract
- Organic Sunflower Seeds
- Black Chia Seeds, Organic
- Organic Grade A Maple Syrup (grade B is darker with a richer flavor)
- Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini Chocolate Chips
Organic butter and organic flaxmeal can be purchased at your local grocery store. They might be in the health food section of the store.
We have a flock of laying hens that provide us with organic free-range eggs. Before we had chickens, we bought from local farmers or at the local meat market for our fresh eggs.
Printable Recipe: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Trail Bars
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Trail Bars
Gluten free, nut free, peanut free, with dairy free options
Ingredients
- 3 c. old fashioned gluten-free oatmeal
- 1 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3 large organic eggs
- ½ c. organic coconut sugar
- ½ c. raw sunflower seeds
- ¼ c. chia seeds
- ¼ c. organic flaxmeal
- ¼ c. pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- ½ c. organic butter or coconut oil, melted
- 1 c Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, add all the dry ingredients. Mix well with a whisk or spatula.
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In a saucepan, melt the butter or coconut oil. Remove from the heat & add to the dry ingredients.
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Add the remaining wet ingredients; vanilla, eggs, and maple syrup. Stir until all the wet ingredients are mixed in well.
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Fold in chocolate chips.
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Prepare a baking sheet, 15″ x 10″ with unbleached parchment paper. Evenly spread the trail bar mixture on to the baking sheet.
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Bake for 18-20 minutes until slightly brown along the edges. Remove and cool on a wire rack.
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Once the bars are cool, cut them into bars. They will stay fresh for a couple days in the pantry. For longer storage, they freeze well.
An unbleached healthier choice parchment paper: If You Care Parchment Baking Paper – 70 Sq Ft Roll – Unbleached, Chlorine Free, Greaseproof, Silicone Coated – Standard Size – Fits 13 Inch Pans
GLUTEN FREE – Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Trail Bars
When you need a quick source of energy, grab an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Trail Bars to go!
When do you enjoy your Trail Bars?
Pursing Better Health Together,
Tori McConnell says
I will be trying these tonight! Thank you for the great recipe. The girls need more go-to healthy snacks!
Michelle says
You’re welcome! Please let me know how they liked them.
Alexa says
I love these trail bars! They are one of my favorite snacks!