I could NEVER go without breakfast. Completely skipping a meal just isn’t an option for me because whenever I do my body simply shuts down. I’m pretty uncoordinated so simple functions like walking and talking (especially at the same time) are hard for me anyway, but when I don’t have anything for breakfast, I become catatonic. Usually it doesn’t matter what I eat in order to snap myself out of the stupor, just so long as I eat something.
But because breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I like for that something to be special. Unfortunately, with the crazy school/work schedule I’ve got going on right now, I rarely have time to make my wonderful big breakfasts in the morning. In fact, I don’t even have time to properly dress myself. Just between you and me, there have been a couple of instances recently when I’ve put my clothes on backwards or inside-out–because I often dress in the dark so as not to wake the hubs–and end up realizing it, undressing, and fixing my mistake in the car. Don’t worry, the corrections are made at stop lights or in parking lots 
At the time, I just pray that those around me aren’t taking pictures of the half-dressed crazy lady (me) in the car next to them.
So since I’m obviously a big mess in the morning, I decided to prepare a yummy, healthy, and portable breakfast that I can simply grab from the fridge to take with me on those hectic mornings. That’s how these Healthy Oat Bars were born.
And because chocolate just makes everything better and I’ve become OBSESSED with Nutella lately (since making my own Healthy Nutella), I decided that some of these Oat Bars just needed to be topped with Nutella frosting and chopped hazelnuts. I truly believe that the best breakfasts are the ones that are made with healthy, whole ingredients, but still taste truly decadent. Who doesn’t want dessert for breakfast?!?! (On that note, I’ve got another amazing dessert-like breakfast recipe to share soon–I’m so excited!)
Back to these delicious breakfast bars…The whole idea for them began when I was trying to come up with an excuse to make and eat more Healthy Nutella and to use my puffed millet cereal.
I love milllet and I love cereal, but after eating a bowl of this stuff, I decided that it’s way too boring on its own. At first, I tried making bars without the oats and honey, but with a lot more puffed millet and almond butter. They were tasty, but they quickly crumbled into tiny pieces (which I proceeded to eat off of the kitchen counter). I added a bit of honey on the second try and those were good too, but there was still something missing.
They say the third time’s a charm, and in this case it absolutely was! I finally got the recipe just right! I had to eat a lot of puffed millet, almond butter, and Nutella, but I’m definitely not complaining Now if only I could master getting dressed in the dark….
- 1¼ cups rolled oats
- ⅔ cup puffed millet or quinoa
- ¼ cup oat flour (if you grind your own, measure after grinding)
- ¼ cup flaxseed meal
- ¼ cup almond butter (you may need to add more if your almond butter isn’t very smooth)
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- ¼-1/2 tsp. salt
- ~Optional toppings:
- 1 cup Nutella (homemade or store-bought) mixed with 2 Tbs. melted coconut oil
- OR melted dark chocolate, OR 1 cup melted coconut butter
- 1 Tbs. chopped hazelnuts, cacao nibs, or chocolate chips
- Combine the first four ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the almond butter, honey or maple syrup, and salt. Mix with a spatula until everything has been evenly distributed and the mixture clumps together.
- Line an 8×8 baking dish or pan with parchment paper. (I like to use two long narrow pieces of parchment so the mixture is easier to remove when it’s hardened).
- Firmly press the mixture down into the baking dish using your hands. Place the dish into the freezer for at least 30 minutes to allow the mixture to harden.
- Optional toppings: Once the mixture is in the freezer, whisk together Nutella and melted coconut oil OR melt a dark chocolate bar and spread evenly over the top of the oat mixture. Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts and gently press them into the chocolate. Place back into the freezer until set.
- When the oat mixture and topping have had time to harden, remove the baking dish from the freezer and use a sharp knife to cut into bars.
- Store in a sealed container in the fridge.
- Enjoy!
*You can find my homemade Healthy Nutella recipe here
**On a side note, this was the first time I’ve had sugar in a month and a half! I started small–taking a single bite–to see how my body would react, and I’m happy to say I didn’t have any issues. It was SO hard not to inhale the entire recipe, but once I knew that the sugar wouldn’t hurt my tum, I ate three of these bars! I just couldn’t resist!
***I’ve submitted this recipe to Healthy Vegan Friday, Gluten Free Fridays, and Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays
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Yum! These look so so delicious! I don’t eat solid breakfasts most mornings. Since I go to yoga basically every day at 9:30, I don’t eat beforehand because I don’t like practicing with a full belly and then by the time I get home, I don’t want a huge breakfast since I will be eating lunch in a bit, usually I just make a quick smoothie. I should really make something like this and then take it for right after class!
I love having smoothies for breakfast (when I have time to make them)! I exercise in the morning, too, but I’m always hungry again not long afterward so I’ve been eating these bars for mid-day snacks, too
Like you–I don’t like having breakfast before any kind of workout bc I can just feel it sloshing around in my poor belly!
These look delicious!
Thank you so much!
Oh wow, this sound fabulous. Hazelnuts are just SO dreamy, aren’t they? This sounds like my kinda breakfast…. great to hear your body responded well to a little sugar – I had some dates the other day, and no adverse effects, either
Woohoo!
Hazelnuts really are dreamy, and making hazelnut butter is so easy!
I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better, too! Dates are my favorite–I think giving them up was harder than anything else. I’m trying (although it’s hard) to reintroduce sugar slowly so that I’ll be feeling well enough to indulge a bit when the holidays roll around
wow, these look GREAT! Thank you so much for linking up with us at Gluten free fridays!
Thank you so much! I love GFF–I always browse the recipes and end up drooling and running to the kitchen
Is there anything that can be substituted for the puffed quinoa? I was not able to find any in my local stores!
You could use puffed rice or millet
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