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Healthy Strawberry Oat Bars

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Serves

6

Ingredients

For the Base & Topping:

  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
  • ¾ cup white whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (or melted coconut oil for a dairy-free version)

For the Strawberry Filling:

  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, diced (about 10 ounces)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Steps

  1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan:
    • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal.
  2. Make the Oat Crust:
    • In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
    • Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture forms clumps.
    • Reserve ½ cup of this mixture for the topping.
    • Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even crust.

Prepare the Strawberry Filling:

  • In a separate bowl, toss the diced strawberries with lemon juice and granulated sugar.
  • Sprinkle the cornstarch over the strawberries and mix gently to combine.

Assemble the Bars:

  • Spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the oat crust.
  • Sprinkle the reserved oat crumble topping evenly over the strawberries.

Bake:

  • Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the strawberries are bubbling at the edges.

Cool & Serve:

  • Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes.
  • Lift the bars out using the parchment paper overhang and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Once cooled, slice into 9 squares and serve.

Tips & Variations

  • Sweetness Level: Adjust the amount of granulated sugar in the strawberry filling to your taste preference.
  • Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezing: To freeze, wrap the cooled bars individually in plastic wrap and place them in a zip-top bag. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

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