Description
Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are a delicious and nutritious snack combining wholesome oats, whole wheat flour, and a vibrant homemade strawberry filling. These bars are sweetened naturally with honey or maple syrup and enhanced with warm cinnamon, making them a perfect on-the-go treat or a wholesome dessert option.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Oatmeal Bars:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Strawberry Filling:
- 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Prepare Strawberry Filling: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the chopped strawberries, 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
- Cook Filling: Cook the strawberry mixture for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until the strawberries break down and the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let it cool.
- Mix Oatmeal Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup, unsweetened applesauce, almond milk, vanilla extract, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Form Base Layer: Press half of the oatmeal mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Add Strawberry Filling: Spread the cooled strawberry filling evenly over the oat base layer.
- Top Layer: Crumble the remaining oatmeal mixture over the strawberry filling, distributing it evenly.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool in the baking dish for about 10 minutes before slicing.
- Cool Completely: Let the bars cool completely for the best texture before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen strawberries depending on availability; frozen should be thawed for best results.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of honey or maple syrup in both the filling and base.
- For a nut-free option, substitute almond milk with oat or soy milk.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- These bars can be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw before serving.
