Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

These Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are sweet, chewy, and full of gooey strawberry filling. They are super easy to make, freezable, and perfect for an on the go snack.

These Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are all chewy, fruity deliciousness. The oats give them the perfect texture and the strawberry filling is sweet and gooey. The bars are great for snacking or packing into children's lunches. They are a healthy alternative to a lot of the store-bought bars, and they also taste a lot better.

Another benefit of these homemade Strawberry Oatmeal Bars is that they are very versatile so you can make them to your preference. They're also freezable, so you can make a double batch and freeze the extras so you always have some on hand. Let's talk about the simple ingredients used to make these scrumptious oatmeal bars.

Video Tutorial

What you'll need

Oat Base:

• Almond Flour. You can also use oat flour if you prefer.
• Oats. Use old-fashioned oats.
• Sugar. Or the sweetener of your choice.
• Vegan Butter. Or grapeseed oil.
• Baking Powder.
• Salt.

Strawberry Filling:

• Strawberries. Fresh or frozen, either will work in this filling.
• Sugar. Adds sweetness and thickens the filling.
• Cornstarch. A thickener.
• Lemon Zest. Some acidity to balance the sweet.

How to make it

1. Mix the almond flour, oats, sugar, vegan butter, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.

2. In a small food chopper or a food processor, pulse the strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon zest.

3. Spread ¾ of the oat base on the bottom of a medium (9x7) baking dish. Tap in gently to help it set.

4. Pour the strawberry filling on top and spread it out evenly.

5. Sprinkle the rest of the oat base over the top.

6. Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes. Let it cool completely before cutting into squares.

Tips for the best Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

• Use old-fashioned oats. These oats are larger and therefore have more chew to them. They also hold together better in these bars.
• Thaw and dry frozen strawberries. If you're using frozen, then allow them to fully thaw and pat them dry before using. This will keep excess water from thinning out the filling.
• Press the oats into the pan. To keep the Strawberry Oatmeal Bars from crumbling, gently press the bottom layer of the oat base into the pan to get rid of gaps and air bubbles.
• Let the bars cool completely. These must be cool before cutting because when they are warm, the filling and butter in the oat base are too liquid and will not hold until they've cooled and solidified more.

How to Make Oat Flour

If you have a nut allergy, or just don't have any almond flour on hand, you can also make your own oat flour. It's easy! Just process oats in a food processor until they've broken down to the consistency of flour. Use what you need and store any leftovers for another recipe.

Variations to this recipe

• Substitute different fruits. Blueberry, raspberry, peach, and apple are just some of the tasty options for these oatmeal bars.
• Make it gluten-free. Oats don't have naturally occurring gluten, but because of cross-contamination during processing, use certified gluten-free oats for any allergies.
• Try different sweeteners. You can avoid refined sugar by using pure maple syrup, agave syrup, or date syrup in these bars.
• Add a topping. If you want to up the pretty factor, layer slices of fresh strawberries on top of the bars before serving. Or for a bit of sweet, you can make a simple glaze and drizzle it over the cooled bars.

How to Store these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Store any leftover Strawberry Oatmeal Bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can these oatmeal bars be frozen?

Yes, you can also freeze these bars. Allow them to completely cool before wrapping them in plastic wrap or layering parchment paper in between (to avoid sticking) in a freezer ziplock bag. They will last for 3-4 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

These Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are soft, chewy, and sweet. They make a great breakfast on the go or an afternoon snack. I hope you and your family will enjoy these healthy and yummy oatmeal bars as much as we do.

More tasty vegan treat to try:

• Best Vegan Oatmeal Cookies
• Puffed Cereal Bars
• Homemade Nutella
• Chocolate Smoothie Bowl