Vegan Oat and Yogurt Bars with Berries and Chocolate

Many years ago (18 to be exact), while I was traveling in India, I experienced an epiphany.

I didn't think I was a hedgehog or the Buddha.

I didn't think I needed to get rid of all my money (not that I had much left after a six-month trip to the Far East).

But I realized that to become a better person, I had to stop eating animal products.

I don't even want to start telling you what a culinary wasteland the vegan scene was back then in Israel.

Aside from falafel, tahini, and some vegetables, there wasn't much to eat outside the house. Certainly no vegan products in the supermarket.

Today, 18 years later, look at how much vegan goodness and abundance surrounds us.

Strauss recently launched a vegan treat called Only, which was developed in "The Kitchen" technological incubator with their support.

It’s a wonderful initiative, well worth mentioning and supporting.

The treat is based on oats, legumes, seeds, and fruit. And that’s pretty much it. No additives like stabilizers, food coloring, or artificial flavors and aromas.

You have to take your hat off to such an important venture.

Isn't it perfect for an oat and yogurt bar?

My goodness, it's good!

A bit about the recipe

I thought for a long time about what recipe to create with this wonderful probiotic treat.

I didn't want to bake a cake or muffins, so as not to destroy the colony of probiotic bacteria this treat contains (even though it can be a perfect egg substitute in baking).

Therefore, I decided to make a no-bake oat and yogurt bar containing chocolate, berries, and of course, the Only treat.

I used coconut oil in the recipe; if you don't like the taste (it's very subtle, I promise), you can replace it with any vegetable oil you like.

To make the middle layer of the bar surprising, I added relatively small frozen berries (like cranberries and raspberries). I removed the strawberries to avoid bumps that would interfere with the top chocolate layer.

I used thick rolled oats to give it a good bite — you can also use thin instant oats. It will still be delicious.

How to eat it?

One bar can be an energy snack before a tough workout (just make sure you don't eat it right before the workout, otherwise you might feel some stomach discomfort during exercise).

Nutritional values by fitness coach and clinical dietitian Noam Bachar:

One bar weighing 50g contains:

200 calories

4g protein

25g carbohydrates

6.5g fat

Want another layered chocolate bar? Click here

Oat and Yogurt Bar

Prep time 20 minutes

Servings 10 bars

Calories 200 kcal

Ingredients

For the base

• 50 g dark chocolate
• 1/2 cup thick rolled oats 80g
• 3 tbsp coconut oil liquid

For the middle layer

• 1 container Only with berries treat 125g
• 1 cup thick rolled oats 160g

For the top layer

• 100 g dark chocolate
• 3 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

Base

1. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second pulses 

2. Add the oil and mix well until the chocolate is smooth and liquid

3. Add the oats and mix until the chocolate coats the oats thoroughly  

   

4. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper, making sure the paper also covers the sides of the pan so we can easily remove the bars later 

5. Flatten the oat mixture onto the pan using the back of a spoon 

   

Middle layer

1. In a deep bowl, mix the oats with the Only treat and berries until you get a uniform mixture 

2. Make sure there are no very large berries in the mix - aim for a balanced texture 

3. Spread the mixture over the base layer and flatten it using the back of a spoon 

   

Top layer

1. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second pulses 

2. Add the oil and mix until smooth

3. Pour the chocolate over the middle layer 

   

4. Ensure the chocolate evenly coats the entire surface 

5. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving 

6. Slice into bars and enjoy!