These high-fiber Zucchini Oat Bars are naturally sweetened with dates. Top them with peanut butter for a quick, kid-friendly breakfast or snack!
*Originally published 5/2019. Updated 6/2025*
Hi friends!
Allow me to introduce you to this Zucchini Oatmeal Breakfast Bars. They’re perfect for breakfast or snack time and my kids gobble them up! I developed this recipe when my youngest needed to add some extra fiber to his diet and found that the moist texture made them a great snack for toddlers and young kids as well.
Why You’ll Love These Zucchini Oat Bars
Here are some of the highlights of these bars:
- Simple ingredient list. You’ll probably have most of them on hand.
- The combination of oats, dates and ground flaxseed give these bars a good amount of fiber per serving.
- I packed a whole cup of zucchini in there so they’re perfect for summer when gardens and farmers markets are overflowing with zucchini.
- This is a one bowl recipe, no mixer required and they’re ready in under 30 minutes!
- Great for baby-led weaning and good for packed lunches as well.
Zucchini Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
Let me just say right off the bat that these bars are not overly sweet. They are soft, moist and lightly sweetened with dates and applesauce – no added sugar except the chocolate chips.
If you’re looking for something more dessert-like, you’re gonna want to add some sugar or maple syrup to this recipe. I like that they’re lower in sugar so I feel good about serving them to my kids for breakfast or at snack time.
They’re fairly low in fat, so you could add a smear of peanut butter to the top, or even mix some peanut butter into the batter for a dose of added fats. And these bars are moist…so definitely store them in the fridge so they don’t get moldy.
Nutritional Benefits of Zucchini Oat Bars
There are tons of nutritional ingredients packed into these bars including:
- Zucchini – Zucchini contains fiber and is a good source of Vitamin C and potassium
- Oats- A good source of soluble fiber as well as some protein, manganese and B vitamins
- Dates – A good source of fiber, potassium, magnesium and antioxidants
- Ground flax – Another good source of fiber and heart-healthy omega-3’s
Zucchini Oat Bars Mix-Ins
Another great thing about these bars are they are easy to customize. You could try adding your favorite mix-ins like:
- Chopped pecans or walnuts
- Chia seeds
- Raisins
- Dried blueberries
- Hemp hearts
- A scoop of peanut butter
- Protein powder
You can also pair it with something like yogurt or a cheese stick to add some protein to your snack or warm up a bar and top with vanilla ice cream for dessert!
Zucchini Bars Recipe
Here’s how you make them:
Zucchini Oat Bars
Print RecipeThese high fiber Zucchini Oat Bars are naturally sweetened with dates. Top them with peanut butter for a quick, kid-friendly breakfast or snack!
Ingredients
1.5 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup medjool dates (pitted and roughly chopped – approx 5–7 dates)
2 eggs
1 cup shredded zucchini (excess water removed)
1/4 cup oil (i use avocado oil)
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or more if desired)
Instructions
- Place the oats and dates in a food processor and process until well chopped.
- Add remaining ingredients (except chocolate chips or other mix-ins) and process until smooth.
- Add chocolate chips (or other mix-ins) and pulse a few times to mix.
- Pour into 9×9 pan lined with parchment paper and bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes.
- Let cool at least 15 min in the pan before cutting. Store in the fridge.
Notes
You could sub raisins, craisins, dried blueberries, shredded coconut etc for the chocolate chips if you want.
You could also mix in some peanut butter or hemp seeds to add some healthy fats.
If your dates are not super soft and squishy, soak them in hot water for 10 min before using.
I’m just so in love with these guys. And the food processor helps chop up the shredded zucchini even further so my kids pretty much just focus on the fact that they’re eating something with a few chocolate chips in it and they’re happy.
Zucchini Oat Bars FAQs
Do I need to peel zucchinis before adding?
Nope! No need to peel, just shred, squeeze and add!
How do I shred zucchini for baking?
You can shred the zucchini by hand using a box or hand grater or use the grater attachment to your food processor.
Can I make zucchini oat bars gluten-free?
These zucchini oat bars are naturally gluten-free. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats and ground flax if needed.
How do I keep zucchini oat bars from being soggy?
Be sure to squeeze the zucchini in a clean towel or paper towels after shredding to remove the excess water before adding to your recipe!
How do I store zucchini oat bars and how long do they last?
Because these bars are so moist, I do recommend storing them in a container in the fridge to prevent rapid spoiling! They should last about 4 days in the fridge.
Can I serve these bars as a healthy dessert?
Definitely! They’re great on their own but would also pair well with vanilla yogurt or ice cream.
What kind of oats are best for baking these bars?
I use rolled oats. You could sub instant oats but I would decrease the amount to one cup.
Can I add protein powder to make these bars more filling?
Yes, feel free to add 1-2 scoops of protein powder to this recipe.
Healthy Bars and Muffins
Want more bars and muffins to try? Find all my healthy bars and muffins recipes here or try one of my favorites:
And if you’re looking for other zucchini bar recipes, here are a few you could try:
- Zucchini Bars with Cream Cheese Icing
- Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars
- The Best Zucchini Bars
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
