So it turns out not everyone loves muffins as much as I do. I don’t know why. There is nothing unlovable about good muffins. But I do a recipe column for our local paper and they have repeatedly asked me to find something other than muffins and loaves to past, so it was time to branch out. I confess I have no interest in those “energy bites” I see all over Pinterest, or some of the other weird shapes and items masquerading as snacks, so it was a happy moment when I remembered these Chewy Oatmeal Yogurt Bars.
I first made them a couple of years ago, before I was baking very much, so I thought I’d see if I could make them even better, and make them better I did. Delicious! They were addictive, and since I’d made them a bit healthier along the way, I didn’t have to fret about the fact that they became my go-to for breakfast, snacks, and once even lunch.
First thing I did was reduce the sugars, both of them. I combined those with yogurt, egg, canola oil, milk, and vanilla bean paste.
Separately, I whisked together the dry ingredients, using whole wheat white flour instead of white and swapping some out for wheat germ. Doubled the cinnamon too.
This is such a nice, easy recipe. I combined and stirred.
And then the fun part! I added the oats, lots of them, and half a cup of mini cinnamon chips. And mixed. (You could use dried fruit in these, but I hate dried fruit, so I didn’t.)
That was that! I smoothed it into a pan and then for good luck, I sprinkled a little cinnamon sugar on top. I think I should sprinkle it on everything for good luck. I’d probably use it as a perfume if they made it.
I baked for 25 minutes, then had a look, and gave it another 2 minutes to get crispy around the edges.
It was hard to wait for them to cool, but I managed it, and was well rewarded for my efforts. Delicious! Chewy because of the oats, more than sweet enough with the reduced sugar, with just enough cinnamon to keep things interesting. A lovely breakfast, and an awesome snack. Maybe the idea of bars isn’t such a bad one.
CHEWY OATMEAL YOGURT BARS RECIPE (original)
My version of Chewy Oatmeal Yogurt Bars (adapted from Betty Crocker Wannabe)
ingredients:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (I used coconut palm sugar)
1/3 cup cane sugar
1 (generous) cup low fat vanilla yogurt
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons 1% milk
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
2/3 + 1/4 cup whole wheat white flour
1/3 + 1/4 cup wheat germ
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup mini cinnamon chips (or chips of your choice)
cinnamon sugar, for sprinkling
directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease or spray a 9″ x 13″ baking pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, yogurt, egg, oil, milk, and vanilla. Beat well.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, wheat germ, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the yogurt mixture and stir well. Fold in the rolled oats and cinnamon chips, and mix again.
Pour/scrape mixture into baking pan and spread until even. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar across the top, if desired.
Bake for 35-30 minutes, until light golden brown. Let cool as long as you can, then slice and eat.
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