The Best Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Oatmeal Fudge Bars: A Top-8-Free & Vegan Holiday Treat for Everyone

A cherished Christmas staple from my childhood, these oatmeal fudge bars hold a special place in my heart. For years, I’ve yearned to recreate them in a way that my son, who navigates multiple food allergies, could safely enjoy. The result? Incredibly thick, delightfully chewy oatmeal bars, generously swirled with rich, homemade fudge. Imagine your favorite chocolate chip oatmeal cookie, but elevated – bigger, bolder, and undeniably better, just as all holiday treats should be! This isn’t just a delicious bar; it’s a beacon of inclusivity, designed to grace every goodie plate this holiday season, ensuring more people can partake in the joy. Free from wheat, gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut, and tree nuts, this recipe is not only top-8-allergen-free but also completely vegan!

Please note: None of the products mentioned or linked are sponsored. These links are Amazon affiliate links.

Why These Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Oatmeal Fudge Bars Are a Must-Make

These oatmeal fudge bars aren’t just a recipe; they’re a cherished family tradition, deeply woven into my holiday memories. My mom used to bake them every Christmas, and their comforting aroma and incredible taste instantly transport me back to those joyful times. Even now, they remain a top favorite. In fact, one year for my birthday, I specifically requested my husband make these bars instead of a traditional cake – because why limit such a delectable treat to just December? They’re perfect for celebrating any occasion!

As a huge fan of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, I consider these bars the ultimate upgrade. Imagine taking the best qualities of that classic cookie – the chewiness of the oats, the warmth of the spices – and transforming them into substantial, satisfying bars. Now, instead of scattered chocolate chips, visualize a luscious river of homemade fudge running through the center. This concept elevates the simple cookie into a truly decadent experience, offering a delightful contrast in textures and an explosion of flavor that’s impossible not to love.

I was absolutely thrilled with how perfectly these bars turned out, even after making so many dietary modifications. Achieving that authentic taste and texture while ensuring they are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and more, felt like a culinary triumph. These bars are a fantastic addition to any holiday cookie platter. While cookies are always welcome, a unique bar or two adds variety and a delightful surprise, making your goodie plate truly diverse and memorable. They are also incredibly satisfying to make, watching the layers come together, and then even more satisfying when you see everyone, regardless of their dietary restrictions, enjoying them. I initially thought about sharing some with friends, but my boys devoured them so quickly, there were hardly any left!

Choosing the Best Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips for Your Fudge Layer

The secret to a rich, delicious fudge layer lies in the quality of your chocolate chips, even when opting for dairy-free alternatives. My go-to choice is often the Kirkland bag of chocolate chips. You’ll typically find them in a tall, white bag (be careful not to confuse them with the red, flat bag, which is a different product). These are usually available during the holiday season at most Costco locations. While they don’t explicitly carry a “dairy-free” label, their ingredient list is simple and clear: “Chocolate liquor, sugar, soy lecithin (an emulsifier), and vanilla.” We’ve used these for years without issue, and their bulk availability makes them a cost-effective option for all our chocolate needs.

If the Kirkland chips are out of season or unavailable, there are several other excellent dairy-free options that perform beautifully in this recipe. Enjoy Life chocolate chips are widely recognized and specifically marketed as allergy-friendly, making them a safe and reliable choice for many. You can also look for Nestle Toll House Allergen Free Morsels or Great Value Organic Dark Chocolate Chips. Each of these brands offers a rich, satisfying chocolate flavor that melts smoothly into the fudge layer. Always remember to double-check the ingredient list, as product formulations can sometimes change. For the rich fudge layer in these bars, a good quality dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chip will provide the perfect balance of sweetness and deep chocolate flavor, creating a truly decadent experience.

The Essential Ingredient: Dairy-Free Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk

Discovering dairy-free sweetened condensed coconut milk was an absolute game-changer for this recipe, particularly for achieving the ideal thickness and texture in the fudge layer. Traditional fudge relies heavily on sweetened condensed milk for its creamy consistency and sweet base, and this coconut alternative performs beautifully, creating a fudge that is wonderfully rich and sets perfectly. It’s crucial to use sweetened condensed coconut milk specifically, and not evaporated milk or regular coconut milk, as these will not yield the same fudgy result due to significant differences in sugar content, fat content, and viscosity. The sweetened condensed coconut milk acts as the perfect binding agent and provides that luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth mouthfeel we all love in fudge, ensuring your bars have an authentic, decadent center.

You have a couple of excellent brands to choose from that I’ve personally tested and recommend. Andre Prost Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk and Nature’s Charm brand are both fantastic options for this recipe. While there might be a slight difference in can size (e.g., 11.6 oz vs. 11.25 oz), they are generally interchangeable for this recipe, and I haven’t noticed any significant impact on the final outcome. You might be surprised at its availability – I’ve successfully found sweetened condensed coconut milk at major retailers like Walmart (yes, even in Idaho!), as well as specialty stores like Natural Grocer and Sprouts, and of course, it’s readily available on Amazon, making it quite accessible for your allergy-friendly baking.

If you happen to have extra cans of this wonderful ingredient on hand after making your oatmeal fudge bars, I highly recommend exploring other delightful dairy-free treats. It’s the key to making my incredibly chewy dairy-free caramels or my classic dairy-free fudge, both of which are perfect for holiday gifting, dessert platters, or simply indulging your sweet tooth with safe and delicious options.

Selecting the Right Gluten-Free Flour for Perfect Fudgy Oatmeal Bars

For these fudgy oatmeal bars, an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend is your best bet to achieve the ideal texture and structure. I’ve had great success with blends like Great Value Gluten Free Flour (Walmart’s brand) and Divided Sunset Gluten Free Flour. The key is to look for a blend that combines rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca starch. Each component plays a vital role in replicating the characteristics of traditional wheat flour: rice flour provides a strong structural base, potato starch contributes tenderness and lightness, and tapioca starch adds a desirable chewiness and helps with browning. A touch of sorghum flour in the mix can also enhance the flavor profile with a slightly nutty note and further improve texture without detriment.

It’s important to check your chosen gluten-free flour blend carefully, as not all blends are created equal. Many high-quality gluten-free blends already include xanthan gum, which is crucial for replicating the elasticity and binding properties that gluten provides in traditional baking. If your blend does not explicitly list xanthan gum as an ingredient, I highly recommend adding 1 teaspoon to the recipe. This small but significant addition will prevent your bars from being too crumbly or falling apart, ensuring they hold together beautifully and giving you that satisfying, chewy bite you expect from a well-made oatmeal bar.

Understanding Gluten-Free Oats and Their Importance

The topic of oats in gluten-free baking can sometimes be a point of discussion due to potential cross-contamination risks during processing. However, for our family, certified gluten-free oats have always been a safe and delicious ingredient that we incorporate into many recipes. The “certified gluten-free” label is critical because it ensures that the oats have been processed in dedicated facilities or under strict protocols to prevent contact with gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley, and rye. This distinction is vital for individuals with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivities, providing peace of mind. As long as they’re certified gluten-free, I feel just as confident using them as I do with my beloved black bottom oatmeal recipe.

For this specific recipe, I typically use Bob’s Red Mill Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, primarily because they are consistently high quality and readily available at my local Walmart. It’s crucial to select “old fashioned rolled oats” over “quick cooking oats” or “instant oats.” Old fashioned oats retain more of their texture and integrity during baking, which is essential for contributing to the desirable chewiness and hearty structure of these bars. Quick oats, on the other hand, are cut thinner and process faster, meaning they can become mushy and alter the overall consistency, detracting significantly from the satisfying, wholesome appeal of a classic oatmeal bar.

Choosing the Ideal Dairy-Free Butter for Baking

For achieving the rich, buttery flavor and tender crumb in these oatmeal fudge bars, selecting the right dairy-free butter substitute is absolutely key. My personal preference, and one that yields consistently excellent results, is using Crisco shortening sticks with butter flavor. The shortening provides a wonderful richness and helps create that chewy, yet slightly crumbly bar texture that’s so satisfying and reminiscent of classic baked goods. The butter flavoring further enhances the overall taste, making it incredibly hard to tell these bars are dairy-free!

Alternatively, you can opt for dairy-free buttery sticks, such as those made by Earth Balance. These sticks are a popular and reliable choice in allergy-friendly baking, offering a good substitute for traditional butter in terms of texture and workability. For those needing a soy-free option in addition to dairy-free, Earth Balance also offers specific buttery sticks that are explicitly soy-free. By carefully choosing their soy-free version, these delicious oatmeal fudge bars will then be entirely top-8-allergen-free, making them accessible and safe for an even wider audience, ensuring that almost everyone can enjoy a bite of holiday cheer!

The Best Milk Substitute for Oatmeal Fudge Bars

When it comes to milk substitutes in baking, finding one that doesn’t impart an unwanted aftertaste is crucial for preserving the intended flavor profile of your dessert. In most of my baking endeavors, I consistently gravitate towards rice milk for this very reason. It offers a wonderfully neutral flavor profile that allows the other delightful ingredients, like the rich fudge and warm oatmeal, to shine through beautifully, ensuring the pure, comforting taste of the bars comes through. Its light and consistent texture also integrates seamlessly into recipes without altering the delicate balance of moisture.

However, if rice milk isn’t readily available in your area or you simply prefer another alternative, I’m quite confident that most common milk substitutes would work well in this recipe. Options like oat milk (which, incidentally, would likely be a fantastic complement to the oats already in the bars), almond milk, or soy milk are generally good contenders. Just ensure you choose an unsweetened variety to maintain control over the overall sweetness of the bars, as sweetened versions could make the final product overly sugary. Always feel free to experiment with what you have on hand or what best suits your family’s dietary needs, as the overall liquid content and consistency are often more critical than the specific type of milk substitute for this particular recipe.

Navigating Egg Substitutes for Your Vegan Bars

For baked goods that benefit from added moisture, structure, and binding properties, like these wonderfully chewy oatmeal fudge bars, flax eggs are my go-to egg substitute. A flax egg is incredibly simple to make: it’s merely a combination of ground flax seed with warm water, allowed to sit for a few minutes until it forms a thick, gel-like consistency. This natural binder beautifully mimics many of the functions of an egg, helping to hold the bars together, contributing to their soft, moist texture, and ensuring they don’t crumble apart, all without introducing any unwanted eggy flavor.

If you don’t require an egg substitute and are simply making these dairy-free and gluten-free, you can easily use two regular large eggs in place of the flax eggs. The recipe is quite versatile in this regard, offering flexibility based on your specific dietary needs. While I haven’t personally tested this recipe with other commercial egg substitutes (like applesauce, mashed banana, or various powdered egg replacers), I encourage adventurous bakers to try! If you do experiment with different egg replacers, please share your results in the comments section below; your feedback would be incredibly valuable for future readers and our growing allergy-friendly community, helping us all discover even more safe and delicious baking options!

Explore More Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Christmas Treats!

Watch How Easy It Is: Gluten-Free Vegan Oatmeal Fudge Bars Video!

Curious to see these incredible oatmeal fudge bars come to life right before your eyes? I’ve put together a quick and engaging TikTok video that highlights the simplicity and ease of this recipe. I love TikTok for its ability to convey detailed information concisely and visually, giving you a fantastic overview of just how straightforward it is to whip up these delicious gluten-free vegan oatmeal fudge bars. Watch it to gain confidence, get a clearer picture of each step, and see the beautiful layers come together – it’s often much easier to follow along with a visual guide!

@allergyawesomenessGluten free vegan oatmeal fudge bars. Thick chewy oatmeal bars with a river of fudge running through it! Perfect for goodie plates. ##glutenfreeveganbaking ##glutenfreedairyfreebaking ##glutenfreedairyfreedessert ##glutenfreechristmas ##veganchristmas♬ original sound – Megan Lavin

Gluten Free Dairy Free Oatmeal Fudge Bars

Yield:
15

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
30 minutes

Additional Time:
2 hours

Total Time:
15 minutes

Thick chewy oatmeal bars with swirls of thick, homemade fudge running through it. It’s like a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie on steroids–like all holiday food should be. It’s gluten free and dairy free too (even vegan!).

Ingredients

OATMEAL BARS:

• 1 cup dairy free butter (see post for options)
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup rice milk
• 2 flax eggs (2 Tablespoons ground flax seed + 5 Tablespoons warm water)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 and 1/2 cups gluten free flour (see post for options)
• 2 and 1/2 cups gluten free old fashioned rolled oats

FUDGE LAYER:

• 1 can (11.6 oz) sweetened condensed coconut milk (see post for options)
• 1/3 cup dairy-free butter
• 2 cups dairy-free chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature for even baking from the start.

2. In a large mixing bowl (or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), add your 1 cup dairy-free butter and brown sugar. Cream these ingredients together on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, typically for 2-3 minutes. This step incorporates air, making the bars tender.

3. Add the remaining wet ingredients: 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, the prepared flax eggs, and 1/3 cup rice milk. Mix thoroughly until all wet ingredients are well combined with the butter and sugar mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

4. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 2½ cups gluten-free flour, and 2½ cups gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients in the larger bowl. Blend on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can result in tough bars.

5. Grease a 13×9 inch baking pan thoroughly to prevent sticking. Scoop approximately 3/4 of this oatmeal dough mixture into the prepared pan and press it evenly across the bottom to form the base layer. Set the remaining 1/4 of the dough aside for the topping.

6. Next, it’s time to prepare the luscious fudge layer. Place a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the 1 can (11.6 oz) sweetened condensed coconut milk, 1/3 cup dairy-free butter, and 2 cups dairy-free chocolate chips to the saucepan. Stir continuously with a spatula or wooden spoon until all ingredients are completely melted and smoothly combined, forming a rich, glossy fudge sauce. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for added flavor.

7. Carefully pour the warm, decadent fudge sauce evenly over the pressed oatmeal dough base in the 13×9 pan. Use a spatula to spread it to the edges if necessary.

8. Take the remaining 1/4 of the oatmeal dough and carefully crumble or scoop it onto the fudge layer, distributing it as evenly as possible. Gently flatten the dough on top of the fudge as much as you can with your hands or the back of a spoon. This ensures more even baking and prevents tall mounds of dough from forming, which could undercook or burn.

9. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top oatmeal layer is lightly browned around the edges and cooked through. The chocolate fudge layer beneath will still appear bubbly and liquid-y while warm – this is completely normal and expected.

10. Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, undisturbed, for at least 2 hours (or longer). This cooling process is crucial, as the fudge layer will set and firm up significantly as it cools, making the bars easier to cut and ensuring they hold their shape for that perfect, layered texture. Rushing this step will result in a messy, unset fudge layer.

11. Once fully cooled and set, cut into neat squares, serve, and most importantly: enjoy these delightful allergy-friendly treats! Keep any leftovers tightly covered at room temperature; they will stay fresh and delicious for 3-4 days, or can be refrigerated for longer storage.

Notes

Recipe credit goes to my dear mother, though I’m not sure of its original source – perhaps it truly is a gift from heaven!

For detailed substitution ideas and in-depth discussions about each ingredient, please refer back to the full blog post above this recipe card. It contains valuable information for customizing these bars to your specific needs.

Don’t forget to explore my other fantastic allergy-friendly Christmas treats for more festive inspiration and delicious baking ideas that cater to various dietary restrictions.

*Important Note on Allergies: Our family’s allergies, while severe and re-tested yearly, allow us to strictly adhere to product labels for safety. I do not contact companies to inquire about ingredient derivations or potential cross-contact during manufacturing processes. If your specific allergies necessitate these additional precautions, please conduct your own thorough research. I cannot guarantee the safety of any ingredient for your individual needs; only you can make that determination based on your personal comfort level and allergy severity. I simply share what works safely for our family.

**Guidance for Allergy-Conscious Bakers: If you plan to prepare these bars for someone with food allergies, and you do not personally manage food allergies on a regular basis, I HIGHLY recommend consulting with them. Ask them to verify every single brand and ingredient you intend to use to ensure it aligns with their safety requirements. Furthermore, discuss with them strategies to prevent cross-contamination in your kitchen during preparation and serving, as even tiny traces of allergens can be problematic.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 446Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 387mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 3gSugar: 37gProtein: 4g

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