Description
These Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars combine wholesome ingredients like oats, whole wheat flour, and fresh strawberries to create a delicious and nutritious dessert or snack. Perfectly chewy with a fruity filling and a crumbly oat topping, they are baked to golden perfection and are a great option for a healthy treat any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil or unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fruit Filling
- 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh strawberries
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8 by 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the oats, whole wheat flour, coconut sugar, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon, mixing well to distribute all ingredients evenly.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, honey, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly until fully combined; reserve about 3/4 cup of this mixture to use as topping later.
- Form the crust: Press the remaining oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust base.
- Prepare strawberry filling: In another bowl, toss the chopped strawberries with cornstarch and lemon juice until the fruit is evenly coated, which will help thicken the filling as it bakes.
- Assemble the bars: Spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the crust, then sprinkle the reserved oat topping mixture on top to cover the fruit layer.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the strawberry filling is bubbly.
- Cool and slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan so they set properly before slicing into 9 squares for serving.
Notes
- Frozen strawberries can be used as a substitute if thawed and thoroughly drained to avoid excess moisture.
- For a vegan version, replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water) and use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to keep them fresh.
