Coconut Chia Oatmeal bites are a versatile little addition to your healthy breakfast menu. Add them to yogurt bowls, pair them with milk and fruit, or make a little parfait in a glass mason jar for breakfast on the go. Also great for snacking all on their own. Packed with chia seeds and almond butter, they will give both you and the little ones a good start to the day. Way better than store-bought cereal.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Sick of toast or cereal that tastes like cardboard for breakfast?
These crunchy little oat bites will get you out of that breakfast rut in no time!
They are:
- Easy to make
- Freezer friendly, making it the perfect recipe to double and have on hand
- Full of wholesome ingredients to keep you feeling fuller for longer
- Perfect for enjoying breakfast on the go
- Naturally sweetened
- Perfect for meal prepping as it will last a couple of weeks in the fridge, make a large batch and put some away for next week
- A good source of protein, with about 5 grams of protein per serve (pair with a high-protein yogurt and you will be hitting your protein goals in no time).
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and these are up there with one of my favorite meal prep brekkie items, along with this Chia Overnight Oats recipe, this Winter Porridge, and my absolute favorite way of clearing out the veggie drawer, with this Veggie Omelette.
Ingredients
We are sticking with really simple ingredients here, stuff you will most likely already have in the pantry.
Our main ingredients include:
- Almond butter: I make my own, but you can use store-bought almond butter, or any other nut butter you prefer or have on hand. I have used peanut butter and it was just as delicious;
- Old-fashioned oats: look for rolled oats, not quick oats;
- Toasted coconut flakes: I buy the unsweetened version;
- Honey: this can be swapped out for maple syrup or agave syrup;
- Pure vanilla extract: or make it more indulgent by using scraped vanilla beans;
- Chia seeds: these are full of fiber and add a great crunchy texture to the oatmeal bites.
Now let's make an easy breakfast!
Storing Suggestions
Allow the bites to cool completely before storing.
Once cooled pop them into a glass mason jar and store them in the fridge for about 2-3 weeks.
They also freeze well and can be kept in a freezer-friendly container for about 6 months.
I tend to store mine in a vacuum-sealed pouch in the freezer to prevent them from taking on other smells that may be in there.
Serving Suggestions
These are versatile little bites.
Enjoy them:
- as a breakfast cereal paired with milk
- as a topping in a Greek yogurt breakfast bowl paired with some fresh fruit and your other favorite toppings, like in these mason jar yogurt parfaits
- cut slightly larger and enjoyed as thin and crispy granola bars
- as a crispy breakfast on the go eaten by themselves
- as a crispy topping with some ice cream
- drizzled with some melted dark chocolate before being broken into pieces, for more of a sweet treat.
Tips, Tricks and Substitutions
I always make a double batch and keep one batch stored in a glass mason jar in the fridge to be added to yogurt bowls or eaten as a breakfast cereal during the week.
The perfect make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings.
To change things up you can also try adding:
- a scoop of your favorite protein powder;
- some chopped dried fruit;
- a couple of drops of coconut extract, for more coconut flavor.
With the second batch, I cut them into slightly larger squares and the kids eat them as cookies/granola bars.
I hope you love these crispy coconut chia oatmeal bites as much as we do!
Happy eating
xx
Recipe
Coconut Chia Oatmeal Bites
Equipment
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Ingredients
- nonstick cooking spray
- 1 cup regular rolled oats
- ½ cup oat bran
- ½ cup toasted flaked coconut
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup whole wheat flour
- 3 tablespoons almond butter
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- milk and desired fruit optional to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F (165C).
- Coat a 15x10-inch baking pan with cooking spray.nonstick cooking spray
- In a food processor combine rolled oats, oat bran, coconut flakes, coconut sugar, and flour. Process until finely ground.1 cup regular rolled oats, ½ cup oat bran, ½ cup toasted flaked coconut, ⅓ cup coconut sugar, ¼ cup whole wheat flour
- Add the almond butter, water, honey, baking soda, salt, and coconut extract. Process until well combined and transfer to a large bowl.3 tablespoons almond butter, 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon honey, ⅛ teaspoon baking soda, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add the chia seeds and mix well to combine (the mixture will be crumbly).2 tablespoons chia seeds
- Using the bottom of a measuring cup, press the oat mixture firmly into the prepared baking pan until evenly spread out.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. The mixture will crisp as it cools.
- Using a table knife or small metal spatula, release the oat mixture from the pan. Break it into small bite-size pieces if using for cereal, or larger pieces for granola bar bites.
- Store at room temperature for up to 1 week. If, or in a mason jar in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Serve with milk or yogurt, and fruit. Can also be enjoyed by itself.milk and desired fruit
Amanda says
I would absolutely love these coconut chia breakfast oat squares with a bowl of greek yogurt and fruit for breakfast! So satisfying and they sound so easy to make. I'll have to get a copy of the new Better Homes and Gardens cookbook for my collection! They always have great recipes.
Donna says
They do don't they!
Courtney says
I love all the whole grains! We're always looking for fun snacks that are healthy and delicious!
Lynn says
This was amazing! My kids loved these bars! I made them and we enjoyed them throughout the week for breakfast. I even had some as a snack in the afternoon. I'll be making these again!
Donna says
Thanks Traci, straight from the oven they are just perfect!
Donna says
Thanks Tina!
Donna says
Mine get so excited about being able to add their own to yogurt in the morning 🙂
Donna says
Ooh yum, good idea!! I have like 6 jars of this stuff in the fridge from recipe testing so I needed a way to use up lots all at once 🙂
Donna says
Haha cookbooks are my friends too, I have way too many!
Donna says
This is my first one and I am amazed at how many recipes they can fit in one book, plus all the cooking tips and step-by-steps, it's quite impressive!