Name: Chocolate Oatmeal Trail Bars
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup almond flour; 2 Tablespoons cacao powder; 6 dates; 2 Tablespoons maple syrup; ¼ cup tahini; ¼ teaspoon sea salt; 1 cup old fashioned oats.; 6 oz chopped dark chocolate (or about 1 cup chocolate chips); 3 teaspoons tahini; ½ teaspoon flakey sea salt (I use maldoon); 3 Tablespoons raw pistachios; 3 Tablespoons sliced raw almonds; 3 Tablespoons cup raw pecans; 2 Tablespoons raw pepitas; 2 Tablespoons raw sunflower seeds; 1 Tablespoon chia seeds; 1 Tablespoon hemp seeds; 1 Tablespoon unsweetened and unsulfured dried cherries, chopped

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These oatmeal trail bars are insanely good. I’m totally obsessed…oh, and they happen to filled with healthy goodness too!

Stack of oatmeal trail bars. Crumbly bottom, layer of chocolate and trail mix on top.

This post was updated from the original that was published December 4, 2017. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Basically it’s an oatmeal bar, topped with chocolate and tahini and then sprinkled with trail mix. Not sure what you call it besides incredible!

Decadent and healthy…a match made in heaven, if you ask me! These oatmeal trail bars are a favorite in our house…for dessert, sure, because chocolate. BUT…they’re also a great little afternoon pick me up (hello healthy topping) and I’ve even had one for breakfast. Yeah, you heard that right.

Why you will love these:

Top view of an oatmeal bar covered in chocolate and then trail mix.

Chocolate. Plus sea salt. Winning combo.
Protein: nuts and seeds, plus some tahini!
Healthy fats: nuts, seeds, tahini…shining superstars.
No refined sugar! Dates provide fiber along with the sweetness and coupled with the healthy fats and protein, these won’t spike your blood sugar. Plus, the oatmeal acts as a stabilizer too.
Stash them in your freezer so they’re always available for breakfast, snack, dessert…whatever time of day you need a little pick me up.

Base layer ingredients

Ingredients in the bowl of food processor: rolled oats, dates, tahini, almond flour, cacao powder, maple syrup.

almond flour
cacao powder
natural sweetener: dates + maple syrup
tahini
old fashioned rolled oats

Topping Ingredients

Small sections of nuts and seeds on a rimmed baking sheet. Pecans, almonds, pistachios, pepitas, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds.

Nuts: I used a combo of pistachios, almonds, pecans. You do you…toast up whatever nuts you love and have on hand.
Seeds: I used sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and hemp seeds. Find your perfect balance.
Dried fruit: Just one tablespoons unsweetened dried cherries brought so much texture and sweetness. You could also use raisins, dried cranberries, dried figs or dried apricots. Look for brands that have no added sugar or sulfites.

How to make chocolate oatmeal trail bars:

First, preheat the oven to 350 and line a square 8×8 baking pan with unbleached parchment paper.

Then, put all the base ingredients into the food processor and process until crumbly. Dump mixture into prepared pan and then use wet hands to press into an even, compacted, layer. Bake for 10 minutes.

While that is baking, place all the nuts and seeds onto a rimmed baking sheet and add to oven for 10 minutes.

Numbered steps: 1: oatmeal base layer. 2: chocolate 3: tahini swirl 4: sprinkle with nuts and seeds.

Base layer of oatmeal mixture baked for 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with chocolate chunks and place back into warm oven that’s turned off. After 4 minutes, remove and spread evenly over top.
Spoon the tahini over the chocolate in dollops and then swirl with a toothpick.
Sprinkle on the toasted nut, seed, dried fruit mixture. Then let cool in the fridge for at least 30 minutes so the chocolate hardens.

Remove from pan by carefully lifting parchment paper and setting onto a cutting board. Cut in large or small squares, or into rectangular bars. Enjoy cold or at room temperature. Personally, I prefer mine straight from the freezer!

More energizing snacks:

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Yield: 16 bars