Can I use frozen strawberries?

Yes. However, thaw them first and drain excess liquid so the filling stays thick.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes. Simply double the ingredients and bake the bars in a 9×13 inch pan.

Why do my bars fall apart when slicing?

They likely need more chilling time. Refrigeration helps the bars firm up.

Can I reduce the sugar?

Yes. Because the strawberries provide natural sweetness, you can slightly reduce the sugar in the crumb mixture.

Are these bars good for meal prep?

Absolutely. Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars store well in the refrigerator and freezer.

Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars Amazing Easy Recipe

Name: Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars Amazing Easy Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: PT-492570H15M46S
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups quick oats or rolled oats (150 g); 2/3 cup flour such as spelt flour, white flour, or oat flour (80 g); 1/2 cup sugar or granulated sugar substitute such as xylitol (100 g); 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup oil or melted butter such as sunflower oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, or plant based butter (100 g); 2 1/2 cups diced fresh strawberries (300 g); 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch or arrowroot (7 g); 1 tablespoon maple syrup or other sweetener (15 g)

Description

Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are chewy oat crumble bars filled with sweet strawberries. They are easy to make with simple pantry ingredients and perfect for breakfast, snacks, or a light dessert. Each bar contains about 100 calories and the recipe can easily be made vegan or gluten free.

Ingredients

Scale

1 1/2 cups quick oats or rolled oats (150 g)

2/3 cup flour such as spelt flour, white flour, or oat flour (80 g)

1/2 cup sugar or granulated sugar substitute such as xylitol (100 g)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup oil or melted butter such as sunflower oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, or plant based butter (100 g)

2 1/2 cups diced fresh strawberries (300 g)

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch or arrowroot (7 g)

1 tablespoon maple syrup or other sweetener (15 g)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line an 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Combine oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

3. Mix in the oil or melted butter until the mixture forms a crumbly dough.

4. Firmly press about two thirds of the dough into the prepared pan to form the crust.

5. In another bowl, mix diced strawberries with cornstarch and maple syrup to create the filling.

6. Spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the crust.

7. Crumble the remaining dough over the top and press down gently but firmly.

8. Bake on the center rack for about 45 minutes until the topping is set.

9. Allow the bars to cool completely, then refrigerate until chilled so they firm up before slicing.

10. Slice into bars and serve plain or topped with peanut butter or powdered sugar.

Notes

White sugar produces a crisper crumb topping while brown sugar results in softer bars.

The sweetener in the filling can be sugar, maple syrup, honey, or another preferred sweetener.

For a jam filling variation replace half the strawberries plus the cornstarch and one tablespoon sweetener with 1 cup strawberry preserves.

For an oil free version replace oil with applesauce or mashed banana which creates a softer muffin like texture.

Flavor variations can include rhubarb, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, apples, or blackberries in place of some or all of the strawberries.

Mini chocolate chips can be added to the crumb mixture if desired.

Bars become firmer after chilling in the refrigerator.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 100
Sugar: 7 g
Sodium: 45 mg
Fat: 4 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 2 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg