These healthy strawberry oatmeal bars should definitely be your next baking project! These sweet oatmeal bars are perfectly crumbly with the best fresh strawberry layer. These make an amazing dessert but I have a feeling you’ll be enjoying these for breakfast and snacks too! They’re made with whole food ingredients and lower in sugar than most classic desserts so, I feel great eating them any time throughout the day. I hope you enjoy these bars as much as my family and I do!
Oatmeal Bars
These healthy strawberry oatmeal bars are not only delicious, they’re also vegan, gluten free, dairy free, soy free and refined sugar free.
Want More Bars Recipes?
I absolutely love making bars because they’re so easy to put together! If you’re interested in more bars recipes, feel free to check out my Lemon Blueberry Oatmeal Bars (Vegan + Gluten Free). Along with my Healthy Oatmeal Fudge Bars (Vegan + Gluten Free). And finally, my recipe for Healthy Apple Pie Bars (Vegan + Gluten Free).
Oatmeal Bars Healthy Ingredients:
Strawberries: Fresh strawberries are ideal for this recipe but, if you only have frozen, you can use those! Just let the frozen strawberries defrost completely and then dump off any liquid before dicing them.
Maple syrup: This is the unrefined sweetener used in the oatmeal mixture as well as the strawberry layer.
Lemon juice: This adds a slight acidity and a light flavor to strawberry layer. It also flavors the oatmeal layers and helps with the rising process.
Lemon zest: This ingredient is optional but, it adds more of that lovely lemon flavor that pairs with the strawberries nicely.
Sea salt: Adding a touch of sea salt brings out the other flavors in the recipe but you can leave it out if you prefer.
Tapioca starch: This starch is a great replacement for corn starch and it works perfectly to thicken the strawberry filling.
Rolled oats: I used old fashioned rolled oats in this recipe and I haven’t tried any other style of oats.
Almond flour: I used this high-protein flour to keep these bars gluten-free. I don’t recommend substituting other flours because they are not going to substitute 1:1 correctly.
Baking soda: This is the rising agent for the oatmeal layer that helps it fluff up perfectly.
Coconut oil: This oil is slightly sweet with a coconut flavor. You should be able to use butter in it’s place although, I haven’t tried this option.
Strawberry Filling Instructions:
- To a small pot on medium heat, add your diced strawberries, maple syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest and sea salt. Bring the liquid to a low boil and allow this to cook the liquid out of the strawberries (takes 5-10 minutes).
- Stir in your tapioca starch.
- Allow it to cook for another 1 minute to thicken completely then remove form heat. Set aside until you’ve prepared your oatmeal mixture and pressed the first layer of the oatmeal into your baking dish.
- On top of the first oatmeal layer of the bars, transfer strawberry filling and spread into an even layer.
Oatmeal Bars Gluten Free Crust
- To a large mixing bowl add rolled oats, almond flour, baking soda, sea salt and stir to combine.
- To your combined dry ingredients add maple syrup, coconut oil and lemon juice. Combine well using your hands or the back of spoon to break up any clumps.
- Set aside between 1/2 cup and 3/4 cup of the oatmeal mixture (for the top layer). Press the remaining mixture into your lined baking dish.
- After adding the strawberry layer, sprinkle the rest of the oatmeal mixture on top however you want. Then bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.
Strawberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Keyword: Oatmeal bars
Author: Adrianne from Bananasaboutlife.com
Serves: 9
Ingredients:
Strawberry Layer:
- 3 cups fresh strawberries (diced) (you can use frozen but let them defrost completely)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1-2 Tablespoons lemon zest
- a pinch of sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons tapioca starch
Oatmeal Layers:
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut oil (solid at room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions:
- To a small pot on medium heat, add diced strawberries, maple syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest and sea salt. Allow this to simmer for 5-10 minutes or until strawberries have released a lot of the liquid. Stir in tapioca starch and let it simmer for 1 more minute. Now, remove from heat and set aside while you make the oatmeal layer.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl combine rolled oats, almond flour, baking soda and sea salt. Once combined, add in maple syrup, coconut oil, lemon juice and combine. It may be easier to use your hands for this or the back of a spoon to break up any clumps.
- Set aside 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup of oatmeal mixture and press the remaining mixture into your lined baking dish in an even layer. Add the strawberry filling on top and spread this into an even layer. Now, use your hands to sprinkle the rest of the oatmeal mixture across the top of the strawberry filling.
- Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges turn slightly golden in color.
- After baking, allow bars to cool completely before slicing.
Want More Healthy Breakfast Recipes?
If you’re looking for more healthy breakfast recipes, feel free to check out my Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Cookies (Vegan + Gluten Free). Along with my recipe for The Best Granola Cluster (Vegan + Gluten Free) and my Caramel Apple Oatmeal (Vegan + Gluten Free). And finally, this Simple Oatmeal Recipe with Easy Candied Walnuts (Vegan + Gluten Free).
Leave a Comment
This post is a recipe for healthy strawberry oatmeal bars which are vegan and gluten free as well. If you enjoyed this post then feel free to check out my other recipes. If you make these strawberry oatmeal bars, please leave a comment below as I would love to know how you liked them! Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a great day!
Healthy Oatmeal Strawberry Bars
Ingredients
Strawberry Layer:
- 3 cups fresh strawberries diced (you can use frozen but let them defrost completely)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1-2 Tablespoons lemon zest
- a pinch of sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons tapioca starch
Oatmeal Layers:
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut oil solid at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- To a small pot on medium heat, add diced strawberries, maple syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest and sea salt. Allow this to simmer for 5-10 minutes or until strawberries have released a lot of the liquid. Stir in tapioca starch and let it simmer for 1 more minute. Now, remove from heat and set aside while you make the oatmeal layer.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl combine rolled oats, almond flour, baking soda and sea salt. Once combined, add in maple syrup, coconut oil, lemon juice and combine. It may be easier to use your hands for this or the back of a spoon to break up any clumps.
- Set aside 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup of oatmeal mixture and press the remaining mixture into your lined baking dish in an even layer. Add the strawberry filling on top and spread this into an even layer. Now, use your hands to sprinkle the rest of the oatmeal mixture across the top of the strawberry filling.
- Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges turn slightly golden in color.
- After baking, allow bars to cool completely before slicing.