Strawberry Bars (Gluten Free + Vegan)

These strawberry bars are so delicious on their own, topped with some coconut whipped cream or with a side of ice cream! Think of the classic strawberry pie with a perfect crumbly and thick crust but in bar form and you’ll have these. The simple strawberry filling can be made with fresh or frozen strawberries so, whatever you have on hand will work beautifully. These bars are also super easy to make and they only have simple ingredients that will leave you feeling great! If you love strawberry pie, I think you’ll love this easy and healthier twist on the classic dessert. Hope you enjoy!

Strawberry Bars

Not only are these strawberry bars beautiful and delicious, they are also paleo, gluten free, grain free, vegan and dairy free.

Interested in More Bars Desserts?

If you’d like to check out some more healthy bars recipes then, feel free to take a look at some of these ones!

1. Apple Pie Bars (Gluten Free + Vegan).
2. Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars (Gluten Free + Vegan).
3. Vegan Oatmeal Fudge Bars (Gluten Free + Dairy Free).

Strawberry Bars Ingredients:

Almond flour: Use blanched almond flour and not almond meal as that will change the texture.

Tapioca starch: This ingredient can also be called tapioca flour and they’re the same thing. This starch works like corn starch to thicken our strawberry filling and create a soft texture for our crust.

Baking soda: This is a rising agent used in the crust.

Sea salt: A little bit of sea salt helps to bring out the delicious flavors of our other ingredients.

Coconut oil: I love using coconut oil in my dessert recipes but, if you want to try using butter in it’s place then, that should work.

Maple syrup: This unrefined sweetener is light with a rich flavor that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients.

Strawberries: There are options to use either fresh or frozen strawberries in this recipe. I’ve tried both and they work well in the strawberry filling.

Lemon juice: This ingredient adds an acid to balance the sweetness in the strawberry filling and adds a light flavor.

Lemon zest: Fresh lemon zest adds a beautiful lemon flavor but, you can leave this out if you prefer.

Strawberry Bars Instructions:

1. Add diced strawberries to a saucepan on medium heat along with maple syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest and sea salt. Let this come to a low boil and cook the liquid out of the strawberries for 5-10 minutes or until the color turns a deep red. Then, stir in tapioca starch and remove from heat.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients then, add in the coconut oil along with the maple syrup and stir to create a firm dough. Set aside 3/4 cup of dough. Press the remaining dough into a lined 9×9 baking dish and poke holes with a fork every inch across the crust. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and then, remove from the oven.
3. Transfer strawberry filling on top of your crust and spread into an even layer using a spoon.
4. Crumble the dough you set aside previously across the top of the strawberry filling to create the top layer. Now, bake the bars for 20-25 minutes and let them completely cool after baking and before slicing.

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Strawberry Bars Recipe (Gluten Free + Dairy Free)

Keyword: Strawberry bars

Author: Adrianne from Bananasaboutlife.com

Serves: 9

Ingredients:

Strawberry Filling:

• 3 cups diced fresh strawberries (to use frozen, allow them to defrost completely and drain off any liquid before dicing)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons lemon zest
• a pinch sea salt (optional)
• 2 Tablespoons tapioca starch (also called tapioca flour)

Crust and Topping:

• 3 cups almond flour
• 2 Tablespoons tapioca starch (also called tapioca flour)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (softened)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

Instructions:

Strawberry Filling:

1. Wash, hull and dice fresh strawberries or let frozen strawberries defrost completely and drain off the liquid before you dice them. Add diced strawberries to a small sauce pan on medium heat along with maple syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest and sea salt. Allow the mixture to come to a low boil and cook stirring occasionally until the liquid has been cooked out of the strawberries (about 5-10 minutes). It should turn a vibrant red color after boiling and now, you’re going to stir in your tapioca starch and remove from heat.

Crust:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9×9 baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine almond flour, tapioca starch, baking soda and sea salt. To the dry ingredients add coconut oil and maple syrup then, stir until a thick dough forms.
3. Set aside 3/4 cup of dough for the topping and press the remaining dough into an even layer in your lined baking dish. Use a fork to poke holes about an inch apart to help the crust bake evenly and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
4. After baking the crust, remove from the oven and spread your strawberry filling in top in an even layer.
5. Use your hands to sprinkle the remaining dough you set aside across the top of the strawberry layer.
6. Place the bars in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden in color. Allow the bars to cool before slicing.

Want More Healthy Dessert Recipes?

For more healthy dessert options, feel free to check out any of these ones!

1. Healthy Carrot Cake Banana Bread (Gluten Free + Dairy Free).
2. Super Fudgy Vegan Brownies (Flourless + Dairy Free).
3. Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (Gluten Free + Dairy Free).
4. Vegan Gluten Free Cookies Stuffed with Homemade Nutella.

Thank You For Coming!

This post is a recipe for strawberry bars which are gluten free, grain free and vegan. If you enjoyed this post then please, feel free to check out any of my other recipes as I have options for many food allergen friendly recipes. If you make these strawberry bars, please leave a comment below so I can know how you liked them. Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a wonderful day!