Having breakfast prepped in advance so that it’s easy to grab and go is one of my favorite things. Whether you’re headed right out the door or just have a busy morning at home, not having to cook breakfast makes mornings easier. These Dark Chocolate and Almond Breakfast bars are full of nutrients and antioxidants and are easy to make! They also store well in the fridge or freezer so they’re ready for you when you need them. They also work really well as an afternoon snack.
Ingredient Notes and Health Benefits:
Old fashioned oats: High in fiber and antioxidants, oats are a great ingredient to add to any recipe.
Brown sugar: Slightly less refined and lower in calories than white sugar, I love using brown sugar in baking.
Dark chocolate: I love dark chocolate because they are a little bit less sweet and also provide a bunch of health benefits because of the high % of cacao in comparison to milk chocolate! Cacao is high in antioxidants, minerals. It also may reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure and cholesterol and also contain anti-inflammatory properties.
Almonds: High in healthy fat, fiber, magnesium and vitamin E. Almonds help to lower blood sugar, cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. How great is that?!
Coconut or almond milk: Perfect for those limiting dairy, however cows milk will work just fine in this recipe, too.
Cinnamon: I love the flavor of cinnamon! It’s loaded with antioxidants and is also an anti-inflammatory. Bam!
Cinnamon apple sauce: I buy my apple sauce from Trader Joe’s and they have one that has cinnamon already in it! You can use any apple sauce.
How to Make Dark Chocolate and Almond Breakfast Bars
Place all dry ingredients (except chocolate and almonds) in a large mixing bowl and combine. Place all wet ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl and whisk together. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix to combine evenly. Set aside for 10-15 minutes to let the mixture set. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 350. Place a large piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet (one that is larger than the sheet) and set aside. Add chocolate and almonds into bowl and combine.
Pour mixture onto parchment paper and spread out evenly using a large spoon. Place in oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven, pull up on parchment paper and place on wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Transfer parchment paper to a cutting board and cut into squares.
Storage of Dark Chocolate and Almond Breakfast Bars
Place the bars in an air-tight container and place in the fridge or freezer. They will last for 5-7 days in the fridge and up to 2 months in the fridge. When removing from the freezer, let the bars thaw for 5-10 minutes before eating.
2 cup old fashioned oats
Ingredients
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup coconut or almond milk
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup cinnamon apple sauce
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup dark chocolateInstructions
