I came across this recipe when I was looking for a refined sugar-free dessert/snack to make and pack in my lunch. Oh She Glows is an AMAZING vegan blog that I follow. I have made so many recipes from her site and they are always a hit. These bars did not disappoint. The chewy oat mixture sandwiches a combination of strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. The sweetness comes from the ripe fruit and a small amount of pure maple syrup. I subbed a little of the maple syrup for agave because I ran out of syrup in the process of making these. Still turned out great! I brought these to work for a hearty, but still healthy, mid-morning snack. I think they would also make a really quick and yummy on the go breakfast, or a satisfying and nutritious dessert too. Berries are currently in season, which means the flavors are awesome and they are super cheap, so make these soon! I listed these as gluten-free because they could easily be made gluten-free by using certified gluten-free oats. Store these in the fridge and be sure to eat within a few days.
Active Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 12
Ingredients: 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped 1 ripe banana, chopped ½ cup pure maple syrup, divided 2 tsp pure vanilla extract, divided 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp warm water 3 cups oats, divided (*for gluten free, use certified gluten free oats) 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt ½ cup + 3 tbsp (6oz) unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line an 8 inch square pan with parchment paper.
For the filling: In a small bowl mix together cornstarch with warm water to form a paste. Make sure all clumps are gone. Set aside. In a small saucepan, combine the berries, banana, and ¼ cup of the maple syrup. Bring to a boil and stir well. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp vanilla and the pre-mixed cornstarch. Whisk until all clumps are gone and set aside.
For the base: Place 1.5 cups of oats into a food processor and process until a flour/fine powder forms. Add this processed flour, remaining 1.5 cup of oats, baking powder, and salt into large bowl. Stir. Now add in the wet ingredients (applesauce, ¼ cup maple syrup, water, vanilla) and mix well. Pour 2/3 of the batter into the prepared pan and push down firmly with fingers to smooth out. Grab the prepared berry filling and spread over the top of the oat base until smooth. Crumble the remaining oat base mixture on top.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes until the top is slightly golden brown and firm. Allow to cool at least 20 minutes before cutting into squares.
Nutrition Information per serving:
Calories: 117 Fat: 1g Carbs: 25g Protein: 3g Sodium: 98mg Sugar: 6g
*Nutrition information is based on the products I used personally in this recipe. Different products may yield slightly different information.
Source: Oh She Glows: Berry Bliss Oat Squares
