Description
These Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are a delicious, guilt-free snack combining wholesome oats, whole wheat flour, and fresh strawberries. Naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup and enhanced with a touch of coconut oil, these bars offer a perfect balance of texture and flavor while keeping it nutritious and easy to make. Ideal for breakfast on-the-go or a tasty treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Base and Topping
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour (or all-purpose)
- 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
Strawberry Filling
- 1 ½ cups diced fresh strawberries
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy removal of the bars.
- Prepare Oat Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine rolled oats, whole wheat flour, honey or maple syrup, melted coconut oil or butter, vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt. Stir thoroughly until the mixture becomes crumbly. Set aside ¾ cup of this mixture to use later as the topping.
- Form Crust: Press the remaining oat mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, creating a solid base layer for the bars.
- Mix Strawberry Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the diced fresh strawberries with cornstarch, lemon juice, and sugar if using. This mixture thickens the filling and balances the tartness of the fruit.
- Assemble Bars: Spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the oat crust in the pan.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle the reserved ¾ cup oat mixture evenly over the strawberry layer to create a crumbly topping.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping turns golden brown and the strawberry filling is bubbly and set.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing into 16 bars. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- You can substitute whole wheat flour with all-purpose flour if preferred.
- For a vegan version, use maple syrup and coconut oil instead of honey and butter.
- Make sure the strawberry filling is evenly spread to avoid soggy spots.
- Allow the bars to cool completely for clean slices and better texture.
- These bars keep well refrigerated but can also be frozen for longer storage.
