Who doesn’t love waking up to a delicious, homemade treat? These Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars are the perfect start to your day! Not only are they incredibly tasty, but they’re also packed with wholesome ingredients. Whether you’re rushing out the door or enjoying a lazy Sunday morning, these bars will quickly become a breakfast favorite.
Method
Prep
To start, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your baking pan. I recommend using an 8×8 baking pan lined with parchment paper to ensure that the bars don’t stick and are easy to remove later. This step is crucial because the parchment paper will make it simple to lift out the baked bars without breaking them.
Mix Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe banana using a fork or a potato masher. Make sure it’s completely smooth with no large chunks left. The banana should be well mashed because this contributes to the moist texture of the bars. Next, add the egg, honey (or maple syrup), melted coconut oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Using a whisk or a fork, mix these ingredients thoroughly until they are well combined. The mixture should be smooth and slightly frothy, indicating that the egg and other ingredients are well integrated. Proper mixing at this stage ensures that the bars have a consistent flavor throughout.
Add Dry Ingredients
Once the wet ingredients are combined, it’s time to incorporate the dry ingredients. Add the rolled oatmeal, oat flour, cinnamon powder, and baking powder to the mixture. Use a spatula to fold the ingredients gently, ensuring everything is well combined but not overmixed. Be cautious not to overwork the batter, as this can make the bars dense. The mixture should look thick but not dry, with the dry ingredients fully incorporated.
Fold in Strawberries
Now, gently fold the diced strawberries into the batter. The strawberries add a burst of freshness to each bite, so be gentle during this step to maintain their shape. Use a soft folding motion to avoid crushing the strawberries, distributing them evenly throughout the batter. This ensures that every bar will have a balanced amount of fruit.
Bake
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Use the spatula to spread the batter evenly across the pan, ensuring a uniform thickness. Smooth out the top to make sure the bars bake evenly. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 38-40 minutes. The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so start checking at around 35 minutes. You’ll know the bars are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating that the batter has cooked through.
Cool and Serve
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack. It’s important to let the bars cool completely before slicing to prevent them from crumbling. Once cooled, lift the bars out using the parchment paper, and slice them into squares. Store the bars in the refrigerator in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to a week. These bars are great chilled or slightly warmed!
Necessary Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk or fork
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Spatula
- 8×8 baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Oven
- Toothpick
Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars Recipe
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy9
servings10
minutes40
minutes50
minutesIngredients
1 large banana, mashed
1 large egg, room temperature
1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk of choice
1 1/2 cups rolled oatmeal
1 cup oat flour
2 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup strawberries, diced
Directions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Mash the banana in a large mixing bowl. Add the egg, honey (or maple syrup), melted coconut oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the rolled oatmeal, oat flour, cinnamon powder, and baking powder. Stir until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Fold in Strawberries: Gently fold the diced strawberries into the batter.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for about 38-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely before slicing. Store in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
- Make sure your banana is fully ripe; this will ensure the bars are naturally sweet and moist.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding the dry ingredients; it can make the bars dense.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing to prevent them from falling apart.
Serving Suggestions
These bars are delicious on their own, but you can also dress them up! Try topping them with a dollop of Greek yogurt, a drizzle of extra honey, or a sprinkle of granola. They’re also great crumbled over a smoothie bowl for extra crunch!
Fun Fact
Did you know that oats are naturally gluten-free? However, they’re often processed in facilities that handle wheat, so always check the label if you have a gluten sensitivity.
Conclusion
These Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars are the perfect way to kickstart your day with a wholesome, delicious bite! Easy to make and packed with natural sweetness, they’re a surefire way to make breakfast a little brighter. Happy baking!
