Skip the store-bought snacks and make your own Heavenly Hunks oatmeal dark chocolate recipe at home! These dietitian-formulated bites have less sugar and more fiber than the storebought version to support your healthy lifestyle. Don’t worry – they’re just as tasty as the real deal and are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth!
Table of Contents
DIY Heavenly Hunks Recipe
Have you tried the Heavenly Hunks from Costco yet? They’re not quite granola bars or cookies; they’re more like oatmeal cookie bars. They have a tender, chewy texture with lots of chewiness from the oats and coconut shreds, with little pops of chocolate chips for crunch and flavor. Sounds delicious, right?
Although they’re definitely better for you than many of the snacks at the grocery store, it’s always better if you can make your own snacks from scratch when possible so that you can control exactly what’s going into them.
Fortunately, I created this copycat Heavenly Hunks recipe to be naturally sweetened, high in fiber, and completely free from preservatives, flavorings, stabilizers, etc. They’re a better-for-you snack that you’ll be glad to feed your family (and yourself)!
Why This Snack is Dietitian-Approved
- Healthy alternative: While the original Heavenly Hunks are better for you than most store-bought granola bars and treats, this homemade version is even better! Instead of sweetening the bars with organic cane sugar, brown sugar, and brown rice syrup like the original version, keep it simple with some honey and maple syrup. I also replaced the palm oil with a mixture of coconut oil and almond butter, while skipping the sunflower lecithin, and natural flavors completely.
- Family-friendly: As a Registered Dietitian, I prefer to make healthy recipes the whole family can enjoy. This Heavenly Hunks oatmeal dark chocolate recipe is great for kids and adults alike, and a great portable option!
- Make ahead: The best snacks are the ones that can be made ahead of time and frozen for later. These almond butter chocolate hunks can be stored in the fridge for two weeks, or you can freeze them for months at a time! They’re the perfect size for stashing in your lunch box or keeping in your fridge for a quick after school or pre-workout snack!
Ingredient Notes
- Rolled oats: Stick with regular old-fashioned oats! I like to use whole oats and homemade oat flour for two textures. Use regular rolled or old-fashioned oats.
- Coconut flakes: Make sure to use unsweetened flakes to lower the sugar content.
- Tapioca flour: To keep these bars really soft and tender, you need something to absorb excess moisture. Tapioca flour is the best option.
- Sea salt: Adds a pop of flavor.
- Honey & maple syrup: These two sweeteners balance each other well. Feel free to use regular or organic brown rice syrup instead.
- Coconut oil: This replaces the cocoa butter and palm oil in the original recipe.
- Almond butter: The almond flavor works really well with the oats. Peanut or cashew butter work great, too.
- Mini chocolate chips: Use regular or organic dark chocolate chips. You can use also use stevia-sweetened chips for a lower sugar option.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Grind 1/3 cup of oats in your coffee grinder, food processor, or high speed blender until it resembles flour.
- Add the dry ingredients, including ground oats, remaining oats, coconut shreds or flakes, tapioca starch, and salt, to the bowl of a stand mixer. Use the whisk attachment and mix the ingredients together.
- Pour in the melted coconut oil, honey, maple syrup, and almond butter. Stir until fully combined.
- Remove the mixing bowl from the stand mixer base. Use a wooden spoon to stir the chocolate chips into the mixture.
- Prepare a loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper. Use your fingers or a spatula to press the oatmeal mixture into the pan. Freeze for 1-2 hours or until solidified. Then, cut the mixture into small rectangles. For storage, place the bites in a sealed container in the fridge for a maximum of 2 weeks.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe Tips:
- The oatmeal mixture can be hard to stir. If you’re struggling to add the chocolate chips, gradually sprinkle them into the mixture as you’re pressing it down in the pan.
- If the mixture is too sticky to press, dip the spatula or your hands in water to keep the mixture from sticking to you.
- If you don’t want to grind the oats, use 3 tablespoons of oat flour and 2 cups of whole oats.
Recipe FAQs
Rolled oats absorb moisture differently than instant oats, so they’re best for this copycat Heavenly Hunks recipe.
Yes! The original Heavenly Hunks recipe uses organic brown rice syrup, cane sugar, and organic brown sugar in addition to the chocolate chips. For this recipe, we’ve subbed in some honey and maple syrup.
The coconut oil in this recipe is solid at cold temperatures, so that makes these homemade Heavenly Hunks firm and hard. Don’t worry! Just let the bites sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, and they’ll go back to being nice and soft.
Storage Guidelines
Store this Heavenly Hunks copycat recipe in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
For longer storage, freeze the bars in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge before serving.
Serving Suggestions
I like to think of these homemade Heavenly Hunks like protein balls. They have just enough calories, fiber, and carbohydrates to give you a burst of energy before or after a workout or as a wholesome snack between meals, but the calories can add up quickly if you have too many. I like to pair 1-2 with some protein, like a cheese stick or yogurt, and some fresh fruit to tide you over!
They also make a great sweet treat after lunch, and travel really well in meal prep containers. Pack them with this Pulled Meal Prep Buffalo Chicken or these Healthy Black Bean Burrito Bowls to end your meal!
Recipe Variations
- Ditch the nuts: For a nut-free treat, replace the almond butter with sunflower seed butter.
- Use peanut butter: Use your favorite natural peanut butter for peanut butter chocolate Heavenly Hunks. So good!
- Try dark chocolate chunks: If you prefer larger pieces of chocolate, use dark chocolate chunks instead of mini chips.
- Use dried fruits: These would be great with some raisins or dried cranberries. You can also add a teaspoon of regular or organic vanilla extract for extra flavor. Try making a cranberry almond version with dried cranberry and almond extract!
- Make it gluten-free: Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they can be contaminated during processing. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats instead.
More Tasty Snacks
- Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Healthy Granola Bar Recipe
- No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars
- No Bake Oatmeal Protein Balls
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Heavenly Hunks Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/3 cups rolled oats, divided
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/3 cup tapioca flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup honey or brown rice syrup
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup almond butter (or natural peanut butter)
- 1/3-1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a small blender, coffee grinder or food processor, grind 1/3 cup of your oats into a flour-like consistency.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the ground up oats, remaining oats, coconut flakes, tapioca flour, and salt. Use the whisk attachment to mix the ingredients together until combined.
- Next, mix in the melted coconut oil, almond butter and the honey (or brown rice syrup) and maple syrup until fully combined.
- Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in the chocolate chips using a wooden spoon.
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Press the oat mixture into the pan with your fingers or a spatula and freeze it for 1-2 hours. Once solidified, remove from the freezer and cut the cookie bar mixture into small rectangles. Once they’ve been cut, store them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- The oatmeal mixture can be hard to stir. If you’re struggling to add the chocolate chips, gradually sprinkle them into the mixture as you’re pressing it down in the pan.
- If the mixture is too sticky to press, dip the spatula or your hands in water to keep the mixture from sticking to you.
- If you don’t want to grind the oats, use 3 tablespoons of oat flour and 2 cups of whole oats.
Leave A Review: