Description
The perfect blend of a wholesome snack and a decadent dessert. Featuring a buttery, oat-filled crust made with coconut oil and white whole wheat flour, these bars are packed with fresh, juicy strawberries and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze. A sophisticated flavor profile that isn’t overly sweet.
Ingredients
Oat Base & Topping
- 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour
- 7 tbsp melted coconut oil, 7 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, dash of salt
Strawberry Layer
- 10 oz fresh strawberries (diced)
- 2–3 tsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp cornstarch
Vanilla Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 tsp milk
Instructions
Dough: Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix oats, flour, brown sugar, spices, and salt. Stir in melted coconut oil and vanilla until crumbly.
Press: Reserve 3/4 cup of the mixture. Press the rest firmly into a lined 8×8-inch pan to create an even crust.
Fruit: Scatter half the strawberries over the crust. Sprinkle with cornstarch, lemon juice, and granulated sugar. Add remaining strawberries.
Bake: Sprinkle reserved oat mixture on top. Bake for 40 mins until golden. Cool completely in the pan.
Glaze: Whisk glaze ingredients and drizzle over cooled bars. Slice into squares and serve.
Notes
Why Cornstarch? Strawberries release significant juice when heated. Cornstarch thickens these juices into a jam-like consistency, preventing the bottom crust from becoming soggy.
Patience is Key: Because these use coconut oil and fruit sugars, the bars must cool completely to room temperature to ‘lock’ the structure. Slicing while warm will result in a crumble rather than clean squares.
Flour Choice: White whole wheat flour provides whole-grain benefits with a milder flavor and softer texture, but all-purpose flour works perfectly as a 1:1 substitute.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Snack / Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 45
- Fat: 11
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 2
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: strawberry oatmeal bars, healthy strawberry dessert, coconut oil oat bars, white whole wheat flour recipes, breakfast oatmeal bars