These Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are a wholesome breakfast made with whole grains, fruit and healthy fats. Gluten-free and great for meal prep!
These strawberry oatmeal bars are a fun, berrylicious twist on my peanut butter banana oatmeal bars. You can make them with fresh or frozen strawberries and come together with only 5 minutes of prep, making them an awesome addition to your meal prep routine. Bonus: they're gluten-free for my Celiac or gluten-intolerant friends!
These oatmeal bars are already delicious on their own, but I love enjoying them with extra diced strawberries, Greek yogurt, and an extra drizzle of peanut butter. If you want to get really fancy, top with my 5 minute healthy vegan caramel.
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Super fast. Only 5 minutes of prep required for these strawberry oatmeal bars.
- Nourishing ingredients. There's only 8 simple ingredients and they're all pantry staples you probably already have.
- Source of fibre. These oatmeal bars are a good source of whole grains, which have soluble and insoluble fibre that supports gut health.
Ingredients
Peanut butter. Look for a natural peanut butter that only has 1-2 ingredients just- peanuts (and salt). This is a key ingredient to help hold the bars together so we want to ensure the peanut butter is runny. If yours is stiffer, microwaving it in 15 second increments may help loosen it up.
Honey. For natural sweetness! Maple syrup also works.
Milk. Any milk of choice will work great here. I typically like to use dairy or soy milk for a little protein boost.
Vanilla extract. For a nice flavour addition. Artificial or pure vanilla extract will both work fine in this recipe.
Egg. To help hold everything together and provide some fluffy rise. I have not tested this recipe using just egg whites, though I believe it should work.
Oats. Quick, minute or rolled oats can all be used in this recipe. The only difference will be the overall texture: rolled oats tend to yield a bit more of a soft texture, while quick and minute oats will create slightly more dense bars. If you're gluten-free, ensure you are using certified gluten-free oats.
Strawberries. Berries are a great source of vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants. Fresh or frozen berries will both work great. I recommend dicing up the berries before adding for best results.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 9x9 baking dish.
- In a large bowl combine peanut butter, honey, milk, vanilla extract and egg. Mix well.
- To the bowl add oats, salt, baking powder and stir. Gently fold in strawberries.
- Add the oat mixture to the greased baking dish and spread it out to ensure it is in an even layer.
- Bake for about 25 minutes. Once cool, drizzle with softened peanut butter or my easy caramel sauce.
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: use certified gluten free oats.
To make vegan: use a dairy-free milk and replace honey with maple syrup. To replace the egg, I recommend using 1 flax egg (combining 1.5 tablespoon ground flax seed with 3 tablespoon of water).
To make nut-free: I have not tested this option, however you can try substituting the peanut butter with sesame seed butter or another nut-free spread of choice (or even bananas) if you desire. If you try a nut-free option, let me know how it turns out!
Equipment
- 9x9 pan
- Mixing bowl
Storage
These strawberry oatmeal bars can stay in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week. If you are looking for longer storage, individually wrap the bars stored in a large plastic bag or container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Top Tips for Success
After testing multiple times, I recommend finely dicing the strawberries up before adding them to the oat mixture creates the firmest oatmeal bars. The larger the pieces, the more likely the bars are to fall apart as the strawberries will release moisture.
Another great option is to blend the strawberries with the milk prior to adding to the bowl. This will make a more smooth, even consistency to avoid chunks of berries if you have trouble with texture (or are making this recipe for little mouths). Bonus: blending the strawberries creates a beautiful pink colour.
Ensure your peanut butter is a smooth and runny consistency. If you are nearing the end of the jar and find it’s pretty dry, add it to a bowl with a little neutral tasting oil, stir and microwave for about 15 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can replace the strawberries with any berries of choice. You can even get creative and use a mixture of mix-ins like diced apples, mixed berries, chocolate chips, chopped nuts etc.
I wouldn't recommend it! The honey provides a nice amount of sweetness to this recipe as well as some liquid to help create the perfect taste and texture in these bars.
More Meal Prep Breakfast Recipes
Try these recipes next:
- Apple Oat Breakfast Cake
- Strawberry Chocolate Baked Oats
- Baked Oats without Banana
- Blueberry Oat Crumble Bars
See you in the kitchen!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these strawberry oatmeal bars, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 cups gluten-free oats rolled, quick or minute
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ cup fresh or frozen strawberries chopped or diced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 9x9 baking dish.
- In a large bowl combine peanut butter, honey, milk, vanilla extract and egg. Mix well.
- To the bowl add oats, salt and baking powder. Stir. gently stir in strawberries.
- Add the oat mixture to the greased baking dish and spread it out to ensure it is in an even layer.
- Bake for about 25 minutes. Once cool, drizzle with softened peanut butter.
Julia says
Yummy healthy breakfast . I tried it with jam instead of honey. Worked really well too!
Marley says
This was super easy recipe for a quick snack/ breakfast! I like the taste but I’d probably add a little more honey next time for my sweet tooth LOL! Overall a good dish.
K says
These satisfied my peanut butter craving and were a great meal prep breakfast for the week!
Jessica says
My family loved these!!!
Nicole Addison says
The PERFECT way to use up some frozen berries for a fresh breakfast or snack during the colder months!