Description
Delight in these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars, a perfect combination of crumbly oats, sweet strawberry preserves, and fresh strawberries baked to golden perfection. These bars make a wholesome dessert or a grab-and-go snack, blending the hearty texture of oats with the juicy burst of strawberries.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fruit Layer
- 1 1/2 cups strawberry preserves or jam
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow easy removal of the bars.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, packed brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir these together until evenly mixed.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in the melted unsalted butter and vanilla extract into the dry mixture. Stir until the mixture forms a crumbly texture, ensuring everything is well incorporated.
- Form the Crust: Press about two-thirds of the crumbly oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create a firm base layer.
- Add Fruit Layers: Spread the strawberry preserves evenly over the oat crust, then sprinkle the diced fresh strawberries on top for added texture and freshness.
- Top Crumble: Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over the fruit layer to form a crumb topping.
- Bake the Bars: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling bubbles up slightly.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely before lifting them out with the parchment paper and cutting into 12 equal squares.
Notes
- For a healthier twist, substitute whole wheat flour for all-purpose flour and reduce the amount of brown sugar.
- Try different preserves such as raspberry or blueberry for varied flavors.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to one week to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
