South African oatmeal bars – they’re nutty, just sweet enough, crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle, made with sliced almonds, coconut and spices – such treasures! Inspired by my Gran’s wonderful recipe that’s been passed down through generations, these Gluten-Free Healthy Almond Crunchies are SO SO GOOD!
When I very first started my blog, my Gran’s Golden Tea Time Crunchies were one of the first recipes I shared, and they’re still one of the most searched for recipes on the blog!
As much as I love her crunchies, I needed to figure out a healthier version (sugar-free, gluten-free) that we could enjoy any old day of the week and that were equally delicious.
We absolutely ADORE this healthy version…And I know you will too.
Gluten-Free Healthy Almond Crunchies are:
- Free of refined sugar
- Gluten-free (obviously)
- Made with:
- Rolled oats (must be G-Free)
- Almond flour
- Sliced almonds
- Desiccated coconut
- Coconut sugar or xylitol
- Butter
- Cinnamon and nutmeg for a little spice
This recipe is EASY.
Even your non-baker aunt’s cousin’s nephew could make these!
They take 10 minutes to prep and 30 minutes to cook.
The hardest part is allowing them to cool for half an hour before slicing them into squares.
If you’re really well behaved, you’ll allow them to cool completely before devouring, but hey, no judgement here if you can’t cut the mustard on that one.
Here’s how to make Gluten-Free Healthy Almond Crunchies:
- Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl
- Stir in melted butter
- Pile into greased baking dish and press down to form an even layer
- Bake 30 minutes until golden
What did I tell you – EASY HUH?
If you’re not worried about gluten, you can make these with ordinary cake flour or all-purpose flour if you like.
You can also leave out the almonds if you can’t eat nuts, and sometimes I like to add a handful or two of raisins or diced dried fruit for some extra sweetness and interest.
I’ve also been known to smother these in my Healthy Homemade Chocolate Sauce which appears in my eCookbook GOOD AND SWEET – Go check it out! You’ll love all 40 healthy breakfast, snack and dessert recipes in there!
Store Gluten-Free Healthy Almond Crunchies in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
They’re so good for you, you can have these for breakfast – and that’s just what I plan to do right now. Best served with a hot beverage of your liking, or a glass of milk.
I really hope you try this recipe soon, and let me know what you think of it in the comments!
South African oatmeal bars – they’re nutty, just sweet enough, crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle, packed with coconut and spices – such treasures!
- 2 cups rolled oats (gluten-free)
- 1 cup almond flour , or plain flour
- 3/4 cup desiccated coconut
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar , or xylitol
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup butter , melted
- 2 tbsp raw honey
-
Preheat oven to 170°C (338°F) and grease an oblong or square baking tray. (Use a larger tray for thinner and crunchier and a smaller tray for chunkier and softer in the middle)
-
In a large bowl, mix together, oats, flour, coconut, coconut sugar, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking soda. Stir in melted butter and honey very well until combined and when pressed down, sticking together nicely. (If necessary, add 1 – 2 tbsp extra melted butter)
-
Press into baking tray and pack down to form an even layer.
-
Bake for 30 mins. They’re done when they’re golden brown and you can really smell the oats cooking, they’ll be soft when you take them out but will crisp up as they cool.
-
Cool for 30 minutes in baking tray until only slightly warm, cut into squares with a sharp knife, remove from dish and cool completely on wire rack before devouring with a nice cup of tea or coffee!
If you’re not worried about gluten you can make these with ordinary cake flour or all-purpose flour.
You can add a few handfuls of raisins or diced dried fruit, and swap the almonds for cashews or walnuts if you like.
