Who doesn’t love a great cookie bar? They are easy to make, easy to bake, and especially easy to take…bbq’s, parties, school bake sales, you name it. My Dairy, Egg and Nut Free Chocolate Chip Oat Bar is the perfect cookie bar; it’s delicious AND healthy. I love that it is full of whole grain oats. You could even add 1/2 c. chopped cranberries to make it more of a granola bar. Whatever way you like, it will be your next favorite snack to make on a hot summer afternoon with your kids.
Happy Baking!
DAIRY, EGG AND NUT FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS
1/3 c. dairy free shortening ( I use plain Crisco)
2/3 c. light brown sugar
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. good quality vanilla
1 c. unbleached all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 c. quick cooking oats (not instant)
1 c. dairy free chocolate chips ( I use Divvies or Enjoy Life)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 inch glass Pyrex pan with foil and spray with dairy free baking spray.
In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the shortening, brown sugar, vanilla and applesauce. In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk. Add to shortening mixture. Stir in oats and chips. Spread mixture into prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Cool slightly and cut into bars.
Thanks! They look yummy! I just got some more Divvies recently and will have to give this a try. Should the oats be 1 1/4 cups?
If you don’t have a problem with dairy, can you use butter or margarine instead of shortening?
lol…thanks so much for the error catch cathy!! that is the result of trying to write when i literally have my 5 kiddos running circles around me at the table!
Linda, no, you really need to use shortening for this recipe. so many of my recipes call for shortening because i love the results it produces. good luck!
That looks delicious! I can’t wait to make some.
I recently bought a copy of your book, too. Thank you for sharing these recipes.
Thanks so much for the recipe. We are going “camping” (in a cabin) next week and these look like the perfect snack to take on the road.
My son is also allergic to wheat. Have you tried this with a wheat/gluten free flour?
Thanks Jennifer! It’s definitely a perfect road trip snack! Great idea! Andrea, although I didn’t test the recipe with a gluten free flour mix, I’ve had so many readers write me to say that their favorite gluten free flour mix is totally interchangeable for the regular flour in my recipes. I wouldn’t be able to say for sure without testing it a few times, but by all means please give a shot and let me know…I’d love your feedback!
Does the vanilla go into the wet mixture? I’m assuming so – and I’m making them now!
ok, that’s two mistakes i made! note to self: don’t write a blog post with all my little children running around my feet at 5pm! lol….thanks susan for the catch!
Hi Kelly! Just wanted to say that my family LOVES your recipes. Unfortunately, my son and I have a few life-threatening allergies. We are so grateful how this website has afforded us the opportunity to eat well! (We just ordered the cookbook!) Well, the bars are in the oven, as I type this, but realized that the recipe never mentioned where to add the vanilla? I assumed it was in the shortening mixture??? Thanks so much for all the delicious recipes. My friends and family cannot believe my desserts aren’t made with dairy, nuts or eggs! You are wonderful.
They turned out great! I used an 8×8 glass pan. This is keeper for us. Thanks!
These sound great – plan to try them soon!!! If you don’t mind, I have a question. With summer in full gear now, I’d love to make some homemade ice cream… I’ve heard you can use coconut milk… do you (or anyone) have a good dairy-free homemade ice cream recipie??
I made these on Thursday, and they were such a hit, they are already gone! Thanks so much for your great recipes and tips. I have two boys with several food allergies. It’s a treat for me to get your newsletter in my email box, and reminds me that I am not alone trying to manage my children’s food allergies. Thank you!
Can’t wait to try these — they look delicious! Just made your chocolate chip banana cake again — we NEVER have any left the next day
Love all these recipes!!!
Can you use butter instead of shortening?
I used Oat Flour instead of all purpose flour, but addded at extra 1/2 cup and it was AWESOME… great if you have a wheat allergy! Thanks
I have an egg, wheat, soy, and dairy allergy LOVE you recipes!
Love the idea Karen! Thanks so much for the Oat Flour Tip! Do you use Oat flour for everything, or do you use different alternatives?
Thanks so much Kathy! In the recipes that I have indicated shortening or margarine, it is because after testing those were my “fat” preferences.
Missy- I have made several soy based ice creams from recipes I found on http://www.vegweb.com The chocolate recipe is especially good! It calls for chocolate syrup in the recipe and I use Hershey’s Special Dark. I also add crushed up Oreos the last five minutes for an extra treat. If you google soy ice cream recipes, you’ll be amazed how many there are. Good luck!
We loved these. They were great to make with my toddler & preschooler. Thanks again!
so glad you enjoyed them katie!! thank you!
I just recently started using your recipes from your book. My 14 month old is allergic to eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, and wheat. Its so hard to find him food for snack time at his school but your recipes make it so much easier. He’s having zucchini bread this week which he loves. Since he is allergic to wheat, i use Oat Flour for everything. It works great, and I don’t have to add any extra compared to the all purpose flour in your recipes. Thank you so much for your time and effort helping parents with their kids food allergies!
We love these oatmeal bars! We make these and your raspberry cereal bars every week!
What can i use as an alternative to crisco? My son has a dairy and soy allergy?
Hi. I’ve made these a couple times and they seem to come out hard/crunchy rather than fluffy/cakey. Is that intended or am I doing something wrong?? Thanks!