The perfect snack for Valentine’s Day or any day.
Oh, how I miss a quick stop at a local coffee shop to grab treats for myself and my kiddo. From croissants and cake pops to muffins and oatmeal bars, there’s something special about a sweet afternoon treat.
This recipe was built to satisfy our whole family’s snack time cravings, while allowing mama to feel good about the ingredient list.
Rolled oats, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, strawberries, chia seeds and lemon juice are the main stars in these bars.
And you can substitute your preferred flour, sugar, butter or fruit filling to meet your family’s specific tastes and nutritional needs.
The ‘bar’ part of the recipe comes together in just one bowl. Then you divide the mix into an 8×8 baking pan and use jam as the middle layer. Pressing hard on the bottom layer gives it a chewy crunch, while a lighter touch on the topping provides a crumbly texture.
My family loves this recipe with my homemade strawberry chia jam. I feel good knowing that it reduces the total sugar and adds extra fiber and protein. (Our teens have no clue that chia seeds are in the jam. No one tell them.)
Speaking of sugar, you can cut it to ¾ cup of brown sugar or substitute coconut sugar, though less sugar gives you a dryer, less-sweet bar. (One overly dry batch with only ¼ cup brown sugar is currently my breakfast ‘cereal’ with soymilk.)
Want to simplify the recipe even further? Use your favorite jarred jam instead of making something from scratch.
INGREDIENTS
Bar Base
- 1 stick (8 tbsp) salted butter, softened
- 2 cups rolled oats (not instant)
- 1 cup whole wheat flour (white works too, if you prefer)
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 tsp baking powder
Strawberry Filling
- 2 cups frozen or fresh strawberries
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
Strawberry Filling
- Place strawberries in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Soften for about 5 minutes, then smash with a potato masher or wooden spoon.
- Once mashed strawberries begin to bubble, remove from heat.
- Stir-in chia seeds and lemon juice.
- Cool for 30 minutes. The chia seeds will thicken the fruit and create a jam-like consistency.
Bars
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare an 8×8 baking dish with parchment, non-stick spray, or butter.
- In a large bowl, mix together butter, oats, flour, brown sugar and baking powder. Once incorporated, the ingredients will be crumbly and slightly moist.
- Spoon just over half of the mixture into the 8×8 pan and press down firmly.
- Spread 1 cup (8oz) of strawberry jam over the pressed bar base.
- Sprinkle the remaining mixture from the bowl over the jam layer. Press down lightly, but don’t push through to the jam.
- Bake for 35 minutes.
- Allow to cool for 15 minutes and cut into 2” squares.
- 1 stick 8 tbsp salted butter, softened
- 2 cups rolled oats not instant
- 1 cup whole wheat flour white works too, if you prefer
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 cups frozen or fresh strawberries
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
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Place strawberries in a saucepan over medium heat.
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Soften for about 5 minutes, then smash with a potato masher or wooden spoon.
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Once mashed strawberries begin to bubble, remove from heat.
-
Stir-in chia seeds and lemon juice.
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Cool for 30 minutes. The chia seeds will thicken the fruit and create a jam-like consistency.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-
Prepare an 8x8 baking dish with parchment, non-stick spray, or butter.
-
In a large bowl, mix together butter, oats, flour, brown sugar and baking powder. Once incorporated, the ingredients will be crumbly and slightly moist.
-
Spoon just over half of the mixture into the 8x8 pan and press down firmly.
-
Spread 1 cup (8oz) of strawberry jam over the pressed bar base.
-
Sprinkle the remaining mixture from the bowl over the jam layer. Press down lightly, but don’t push through to the jam.
-
Bake for 35 minutes.
-
Allow to cool for 15 minutes and cut into 2” squares.
