Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

Summery Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars! Made with a fresh, jammy, just sweet strawberry filling that’s layered between a tender crisp, buttery oat crumble. A delectable way to start the day.

All There is to Love About Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

These breakfast bars are a little indulgent yet also include nutritious ingredients including whole wheat flour or oat flour, whole oats, and fresh berries making them more fitting for a fun weekend breakfast. Especially when served with options like a side of greek yogurt and veggie dotted egg muffins.

They also make for a welcoming a holiday brunch, or even a decadent dessert when topped with a fair scoop of vanilla bean ice cream!

We love these both ways, using either whole wheat pastry flour or finely ground oat flour. And we also enjoy them as blueberry oatmeal crumb bars too, by simplying replace the strawberries with equal parts fresh blueberries.

If you are lucky enough to have a few extra left, you may even find you like them cold right from the fridge the next day for a refreshing chilled breakfast.

Treat yourself to these delightful breakfast treats soon. It’s a delicious way to celebrate in the summer season!

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe Ingredients

Rolled oats: Use “old fashioned rolled oats” not steel cut or quick oats.

Whole grain flour: This recipe works well with whole wheat pastry flour or oat flour.

Brown sugar: Coconut sugar could be used in place of brown sugar.

Baking powder: This adds a little lift to the crumble for a more tender bite.

Salt: This will enhance all the flavors of the bars.

Butter: Substitutes included vegan butter or coconut oil.

Vanilla extract: This adds some sweet background flavor to the bars.

Strawberries: Use fresh strawberries for best results. In a pinch frozen and thawed should work as well, just thaw and drain excess juices.

Cornstarch: A key ingredient that helps thicken the fruit filling. Tapioca starch will work great too, use 2 Tbsp.

Honey: This is added to sweeten the strawberries and enhance their flavor.

How to Make Strawberry Oat Breakfast Bars

Heat oven and prepare pan: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 by 9-inch baking dish, optionally you can also line with parchment paper to more easily remove bars.

Mix crumble: In a mixing bowl using your fingers toss together oats, wheat pastry flour or oat flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Break up any small clumps of brown sugar as you toss.

Stir vanilla into dish with melted butter then pour into oat mixture, toss with a spatula to evenly coat mixture.

Press crumble into pan: Press nearly 2/3 of the oat mixture into pan it should barely be enough to cover (reserving nearly 1/3 or 180g specifically for the top).

Add strawberry layer: In a separate mixing bowl toss together strawberries with cornstarch and honey. Spread strawberry mixture over bottom oat layer in pan.

Sprinkle remaining crumble over: Top strawberry layer with the remaining oat crumble mixture dotting it over the top (you can press pieces together slightly for more chunky crumble).

Bake to set: Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and juices are bubbling, about 35 to 40 minutes.

How to serve: You can spoon it out warm but if you want more uniform bars wait 20 to 30 minutes to cut into squares.

Other Types of Fruit to Use for Filling

In place of strawberries try these breakfast bars with:

• Fresh blueberries
• Fresh raspberries
• Peeled and chopped peaches or nectarines
• Peeled and grated apples
• Pitted cherries, quartered

How to Store Fruit Filled Breakfast Oat Bars

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days, freeze for 3 months.

Rewarm single servings in the microwave on a microwave safe dish, or reheat in a 350 degree oven on a baking sheet until warmed through. Note that the bars wont be as crisp after the first day.

Why Use Whole Wheat Pastry Flour vs. Regular Whole Wheat Flour

You may be wondering if regular whole wheat flour is an option for this recipe and while it is, it will yield a more dense and coarse crumb. Whole wheat pastry flour produces a lighter more tender crumb that is more similar to that of white flour.

Making Thicker Bars

For thicker crumb bars you can use an 8 by 8-inch baking dish for this recipe.

Making Gluten Free Oatmeal Bars

• To make these gluten free omit whole wheat pastry flour and use gluten free oat flour only.
• Use certified gluten free rolled oats and also gluten free baking powder.
• And as always ensure other ingredients are produced in gluten free facilities with no cross contamination.

More Crumb Bars Recipes to Try

• Apple Pie Bars
• Crumb Cake
• Blueberry Crumb Bars
• Lemon Creme Crumb Bars
• Peach Crumb Cake
• Raspberry Crumb Bars (made with jam filling, no fresh fruit needed!)