Easy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
User Reviews
5
Easy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Description
The preparation starts by mixing a dry blend of all-purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. A portion of this mixture is combined with vegan butter to create a crumb topping. The remaining dry mix is combined with applesauce to form a base crust pressed into a pan and baked briefly. After cooling slightly, strawberry jam is spread over the crust, and the crumb topping is sprinkled on before baking again until the filling bubbles at the edges and the topping is golden.
The bars cool before pressing with parchment to help them hold together, resulting in a crumbly yet tender bar with a sweet strawberry center. The cinnamon and brown sugar add warmth to the oat crust, complimenting the jam's fruitiness. The oats provide a chewy texture contrasted by the jam's smoothness and the buttery crumbs on top.
These bars make a convenient make-ahead snack or breakfast option. They hold together best after sufficient cooling and pressing and may benefit from adjusting filling quantity to personal preference between tartness and crust balance.
Substitutions include using mashed banana instead of applesauce if unavailable. If the dough is too dry, adding extra applesauce or plant-based milk one tablespoon at a time helps achieve the right consistency.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup vegan butter room temperature
- ½ cup applesauce unsweetened
- ½ cup strawberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and prepare a lightly greased square 8 x 8 cake pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Remove 1 cup, and place in a smaller bowl. Add the vegan butter to the smaller bowl and using your fingers, thoroughly combine to form crumbs. This will be reserved for the topping.
- In the large bowl, add applesauce and stir to combine. Spread and press into the prepared square pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- Once ready, remove from oven (Leave the oven on!) and let the crust cool for 5-7 minutes. Then spread the jam over the crust and crumble the remaining 1 cup crust mixture over the top and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the filling starts to bubble around the edges.
- Press with parchment paper, putting slight pressure on the bars with the palm of your hand. (This helps form them so they don't crumble out of your hand!) Remove parchment paper after pressing. Cool completely, cut into squares, and enjoy!
Notes
- Substitute applesauce with mashed banana if needed.
- Measure flour by fluffing, spooning into the cup, and leveling with a knife for accuracy.
- If dough is dry and crumbly, add applesauce or plant-based milk gradually until it forms a dough.
- Cool bars fully after baking before pressing to avoid crumbling and to set the shape.
- Adjust the amount of strawberry jam filling to suit personal taste preferences.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 182 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 182kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 34g | 11% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Sodium | 214mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 69mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 3IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 36mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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