Gluten-Free, No-Bake Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Oatmeal Walnut Bars

In my article dealing with 4 High-Fat, Low-Carb Snacks That Your Kids & Their School Will Love I mention that portability and convenience are important elements in the ideal snack.  That is why chips, crackers, raisins, and even the toxic made-1-year-ago Lunchables are so popular.  But let’s think outside the S.A.D. diet prism for clean eating/paleo snacks that are high in nutrition but low in sugar and toxins.   Another addition to this veritable Hall of Fame are dark chocolate pumpkin seed oatmeal walnut bars!  Check out our other recipes!

We at Naturopathic Earth created this recipe to optimize nutrition and taste.  Who doesn’t love granola bars?  They are convenient, tasty, and chewy.  If properly prepared they can last for months.  Great for hiking trips or school ones.  So try it out!

Gluten-Free No-Bake Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Almond Bars

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Serves: 8 Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Ingredients

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup of pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips (or cocoa nibs)
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1/3 cup of coconut oil
• 1/3 cup of honey
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. chia seeds
• 3/4 cup almond butter (any nut butter is fine)
• 1/8 cup of coconut shavings (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, walnuts, chia seeds, dark chocolate, and cinnamon.  Stir well.
2. In a smaller bowl, combine the coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract, and almond butter over medium heat. Stir constantly and warm to the point where all the ingredients have mixed well.  DO NOT BOIL!
3. Pour the heated mixture into the larger mixing bowl and mix well to completely coat the oats, chocolate, and almonds.
4. Press mixture into an oiled or parchment-lined baking dish.  It is up to you how thick you want the bars.
5. Cover and Freeze for 90 minutes.
6. Cut bars into the size you want.  Enjoy!!

Notes

You can also throw in dried fruit, cranberries, or raisins.

So why the particular ingredients in this dark chocolate pumpkin seed oatmeal walnut bar?  The dark chocolate, chia seeds, walnut, and coconut oil add loads of beneficial “good” fats and satiety; the oats bring non-gluten fiber; the honey and vanilla bring a subtle sweetness.  Play with the recipe by adding banana chips, raisins, other dried fruit, or sunflower seeds to alter these dark chocolate pumpkin seed oatmeal walnut bars.

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The goal of all good, clean eating recipes is to offer nutrient-dense, tasty treats that are minimally processed or not at all.  Here with these bars you are controlling the ingredients; most importantly,  you are ensuring that these dark chocolate pumpkin seed oatmeal walnut bars are preservative, artificial sweetener, and food dye free.

Try it out and let me know how it goes!

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A. Gregory Luna