These No Bake Salted Caramel Chocolate Oat Bars come together with only 9 wholesome ingredients and are refined sugar-free! They have a cookie dough-like crust, fudge chocolate, salted caramel and sprinkled with sea salt, all for only 150 calories!
Hi there! I am back! And with so many feelings.
So many good feelings.
But first, how are you? Tell me your exciting news! Did your kids head back to school? Did you take a last vacay to savor the last days of summer? A big BBQ with friends and music blaring? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me!
Last month, when I decided to take a break, my feelings and thoughts were all over the place. My health was at its lowest point. And my desire to even pull myself together to leave the house each day was sparse. Despite all that, I had to pull myself together for my little guy. He was depending on a strong mama.
Fast forward a month and I cannot put into words how much has changed! First up, over the past two months, I have removed all the foods that were triggering reactions – extreme fatigue, joint pain, digestive issues, brain fog just to name a few. Slowly, but surely, my energy came back, my mood is more optimistic. And my desire to get back in the kitchen is sky high! Hallelujah!
Hence these bars. We all win!
One thing that I noticed over the last month was my love of feeding myself real food again. How real food nourishes and energizes you! I have always loved feeding my body real food, but over the past few years, as my health was up and down, it didn’t matter what I ate as everything made me feel awful. There was no rhythm or rhyme. Therefore, I am sorry to all my followers as I ping-ponged around with my recipes. I was trying to be honest and give you recipes that we were eating in our kitchen. But looking back at all the recipes, there are few things similar to those recipes.
With all of that, I have a clear vision. I see a path for this blog, finally! From the beginning, With Salt and Wit has been a blog devoted to uncomplicated cooking. And that will never change. I will continue to bring you seasonal recipes that are easy to prepare, use minimal ingredients, and are anything but plain. While I work my way through my food sensitivities, I have found a joy in creating allergy-friendly recipes, with no second guesses from my husband! While I don’t focus on one specific diet, most of my recipes will focus on allergy free cooking – gluten free, dairy free, or egg free, etc – but all recipes remain healthy and are insanely delicious.
After all this time, I want to thank you, my readers, for sticking around and joining me here each week! I promise you all recipes moving forward will feed our heart, mind, and soul!
What better way to get back in the swing of things than with these insanely delicious No Bake Salted Caramel Chocolate Oat Bars? Guys, I don’t say things like this very often, but these are EASILY my favorite dessert here on the blog. Whoa. While I was devouring my fourth or fifth bar, I told my husband these are my top pick, he was even shocked! He said that is pretty big for me.
What does that mean for you? That these healthy chocolate oatmeal bars are one killer recipe you have to run to your kitchen to make. Not only are they no bake, they only require NINE ingredients, sweetened with only natural sugars and pulled together with oats. Making for one killer simple oatmeal bar recipe.
The base layer is nutty oats mixed with dates, applesauce, cinnamon, and vanilla. The base is actually modified from my toffee caramel ice cream cake. I remember how I couldn’t stop eating the crust, so I knew I had to revisit that recipe. And an added bonus? It tastes like cookie dough!
The middle layer is silky and fudgy. I am lucky any made it into the bars. My spoon just kept going back for more. Cocoa powder mixed with melted coconut oil and maple syrup is all you need. Shocked how simple it is? Yup, I am too!
Then the best part…the ooey, gooey caramel. This is again, a magical three ingredient wonder. If you thought caramel could only be made with melted butter and sugar, get ready to be amazed! I fell in love with this caramel when I made this skillet caramel blondie and have been loving it ever since.
Can we all raise a glass, er I mean bar, to these ooey, gooey and secretly healthy no bake caramel chocolate bars! Coming in at only 150 calories means there is room for seconds!
meal prep tips:
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these bars taste great refrigerated! They hold great when sealed in an airtight container, chilled. Feel free to make these bars up to 5 days in advance.
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If wanting to make the dough but not assemble, make the dough ahead of time. Store in an airtight container, then assemble as directed. I do not suggest making the caramel sauce or chocolate sauce ahead of time as it will set and become hard once cooled.
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these no bake chocolate oat bars are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges! So double or triple the batch and hand them out around the holidays! Everyone will love how they are healthier and won’t feel bad about indulging in a couple!
These No Bake Salted Caramel Chocolate Oat Bars come together with only 9 ingredients and are refined sugar-free! They have a cookie dough-like crust, fudge chocolate, salted caramel and sprinkled with sea salt, all for only 150 calories!
30 minPrep Time
3 hrCook Time
3 hr, 30 Total Time
Yields 12
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 1/2 cup gluten-free oats
- 1 cups pitted Medjool dates (168 grams)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 3 1/2 tablespoons almond butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Crust: In a 9x5 loaf pan, line it with plastic wrap. Sticky side attached to pan. This will make getting the bars out when it’s chilled much easier. (I speak from experience.) Set aside.
- In a high-powered blender, add the dates, oatmeal, applesauce, vanilla and cinnamon. Process until the dates start to break down and the mixture starts to come together, like a stiff dough.
- Add the 3/4 of the dough to the lined pan. Press to cover the bottom in an even layer. Set aside.
- Chocolate: In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup. Pour over oatmeal crust. Smooth out evenly. Place in freezer for 30 minutes. Whisk the chocolate filling ingredients in a small mixing bowl until smooth. Pour over crust.
- Caramel: Meanwhile, add the coconut oil, almond butter. And maple syrup to a blender. Process until smooth. Once chocolate filling is somewhat set, pour the caramel evenly over crust. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture. Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Place in freezer and chill for 2 or more hours. Cut into 12 bars and enjoy!
Notes
*The cook time refers to the chill time needed for the bars to set. *Best if stored in fridge. *Base modified from my Toffee Caramel Ice Cream Cake *Bars inspired by Pinch of Yum
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