Iron-Rich Gingerbread Oatmeal Bars {vegan}

These healthy gingerbread bars feature iron-rich ingredients like molasses, oats, hemp hearts and cashew butter. They’re perfect for breakfast or a snack! 

Growing up, one of the traditions in my house was decorating gingerbread houses every holiday season. I didn’t even like the taste of gingerbread and mostly lived for sneaking a taste of the icing or a bite of the candy that I was decorating the house with. But I loved the creativity of it, and it was something fun that we did with my mom every Christmas.

These days, my mom is continuing the tradition onto the next generation, as she now decorates gingerbread houses with my nephews this time of year.

As an adult, the taste of gingerbread is something that has started to grow on me. It’s still not my favorite thing ever, but as my tastebuds have changed with age, I’ve started to like it more. Hence the focus of today’s post… my very first gingerbread recipe!

The idea for gingerbread oatmeal bars first came to mind when I was brainstorming ways to get more iron in my diet. I track my eats on the MyFitnessPal app most of the time, which allows me to see not only my macros, but also the nutrients that I take in. I’ve noticed that I often fall short of the daily recommended amount of iron, so I’m trying to be more conscious of eating plant-based iron-rich foods and recipes.

The iron-rich ingredients featured in these bars include:

• Molasses, a main ingredient in most gingerbread recipes
• Oats
• Hemp hearts
• Cashew butter
• Whole wheat flour

These bars are a fun replacement for your morning bowl of loaded oats, and they also make for a great snack when you want something a bit sweet but also healthy. One gingerbread bar contains 22% of the daily recommended amount of iron.

I like to toast a bar, slather a bit of cashew butter on it, and enjoy it with a cup of tea. They aren’t overpowered by a gingerbread flavor; they have just a nice mild hint of it. I hope that you give this recipe a try!

Iron-Rich Gingerbread Oatmeal Bars

Foodie Loves Fitness

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Servings 9 -12 bars

Calories 245 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 1/4 cup dry old fashioned oats
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup unsulphured blackstrap molasses
• 1/3 cup creamy cashew butter
• 1/4 cup hemp hearts
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 2 TSP vanilla extract
• 2 TSP cinnamon
• 1 TSP baking soda
• 1/2 TSP salt
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Pinch of ground ginger

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x9 square pan with cooking spray.
• Combine the oats, flour, hemp hearts, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, ginger and baking soda in a mixing bowl.
• In a small saucepan, combine the maple syrup and cashew butter over low heat. Warm the mixture, stirring often.
• Add in the vanilla and molasses. Stir to combine.
• Pour the molasses mixture into the mixing bowl. Add in the almond milk and apple sauce, and stir with a wooden spoon to combine all ingredients together.
• Transfer the batter into the pan, spreading evenly throughout.
• Bake for 22-27 minutes, or until the mixture is mostly firm. Allow to slightly cool before cutting into squares and enjoying.

Notes

*Each bar contains 22% of iron DV.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 5.5gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gFiber: 3gSugar: 19g

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Tell me… What’s one holiday season tradition you had growing up? What are your feelings about gingerbread?