Strawberry Oat Bars

I think we’ve been getting a little too healthy around here! It’s been only a couple weeks and we’ve managed to share recipes for kale salads and zucchini bread… Where is the buttery, the sweet and the gooey?! This is supposed to be a dessert blog!

It’s all right here. These strawberry bars encompass all the gooey, chewy and buttery bliss we all love so dearly. These soft granola bars remind us a little of those really soft, packaged strawberry granola bars you’ll find at your grocery store. The ones that you wish were larger? Maybe with not so much unhealthy sugars or fats? You’ll love these blissful strawberry crumble bars more because you can better control the portion size (a major plus!) and these bars are healthy!

Whenever you want a sweet treat, these fit the bill. If it’s too early in the day for dessert or you are trying to be healthy and avoid the chocolate or you just need something for the road, these are your answer. We added some walnuts for a little extra protein and some vanilla for delicious flavor. Pre-made jam in the center of these bars makes them easy to make, easy to eat and deliciously sweet. Enjoy!

 

Strawberry Oat Bars  (vegan)
Print Recipe

1 1/3 cups Earth Balance Butter
scant 1 cup Coconut Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
6 Tablespoons Crushed Walnuts
1 1/2 cups Oats
1 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
10 to 12 ounces Natural Strawberry Jam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Mix together the first 4 ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add the crushed walnuts, oats and flour and mix until combined. The mixture should be soft and pliable but not sticky. In a small bowl, combine the jam with the vanilla. Scoop out about half of the dough mixture and press into the bottom of the baking dish. Spread the jam over the dough. Gently sprinkle the remaining dough over the jam and slightly press to flatten just a little bit. Bake in the oven for 18-26 minutes or until the top has become a golden color and the jam is bubbling slightly. Let cool before cutting.