Soft and chewy Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Bars, made with a banana oatmeal crumble topping and crust and filled with a fresh strawberry chia jam. These make for a great option for breakfast on the go.
I know you've heard this many times of how important it is to meal prep, but if you don't believe anything else you read online, believe this. Meal prepping makes it so easy to grab and go, you don't have to think about what your next meal should be, and it keeps you from eating the wrong things!
Planning ahead is key to staying on track with your health goals. Similar to my Banana Oatmeal Bars, these vegan strawberry oat bars are a perfect on-the-go breakfast option. They're much better than store bought granola bars and are made with a banana oatmeal crust and crumble topping and filled with a fresh strawberry chia jam.
This was my first time making chia seed jam, and it turned out so good! Chia seeds are loaded with plant-based protein, fiber, and omega-3's. If strawberry is not your jam, (get it... jam) blueberries or cherries would be a great substitute. You could even use a store-bought jam if you wanted to skip the process of making your own but trust me, it's worth the extra step.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and healthy homemade treat that's perfect as for an on the go breakfast or snack
- Oatmeal can provide many benefits including lowering cholesterol and improving blood sugar regulation.
- The oat flour bars are easy vegan, gluten-free and tasty
- Chia seeds are also rich in antioxidants and are packed with the omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acids (ALA)
- It's great option to include in your weekly meal prep
Benefits of Oatmeal
Oats have numerous health benefits and have become a popular breakfast option for many people. Some may argue that eating oatmeal is just as bad as eating cereal in that it lacks nutritional value to be considered a healthy breakfast.
Oatmeal can provide many benefits including lowering cholesterol and improving blood sugar regulation. Also, since oats are high in fiber it helps keep you full between meals and provides plenty of whole grains, protein, antioxidants and more.
Equipment You'll Need
Here are some helpful kitchen tools you'll need to make these vegan strawberry bars:
- Baking Dish - 8x8 square, prepared with parchment paper
- Mixing Bowl - to mix all of the ingredients in
- Large Spoon - or spatula to mix all of the ingredients with
- Small saucepan - to make the Strawberry Chia Jam
- Measuring Equipment - teaspoon, tablespoon, 1 measuring cup
Ingredients You'll Need
To make these vegan oat bars you only need 6 main ingredients which include some pantry staples that you'll likely already have:
- Strawberries - I prefer using frozen strawberries over fresh strawberries for better consistency.
- Maple syrup - this makes the perfect sweetener in the oat bars. You can substitute with honey, agave syrup or date syrup.
- Chia seeds - Adds antioxidants, minerals, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. These are the chia seeds I like to buy.
- Vanilla extract - make sure to use real vanilla extract to help enhance all the flavors in the recipe, not imitation vanilla.
- Rolled Oats - use rolled oats for strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars. Instant oatmeal or steel cut oats will not work for this recipe. If you prefer, you can also use gluten-free oatmeal.
- Baking powder - only 1 teaspoon is used in these strawberry vegan oat bars
- Bananas - this recipe uses 2 medium-sized ripe bananas. The bananas were soft and had some brown spots on them.
Making the Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Bars
Strawberry Chia Jam:
- Add strawberries and maple syrup to a small pot, set over medium heat. Heat until the berries begin to release liquid, about 5-15 minutes (depending on whether or not they were thawed first.)
- Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until berries begin to break down and thicken, Use your spoon to break them apart further.
- Stir in the chia seeds and vanilla, continuing to cook for another 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow the jam to cool. It will continue to thicken the longer it sits. (You can do this step the night before and chill it in the refrigerator until your ready to use)
Make the Crust and Crumble:
- Place 1 cup of oats in a food processor or blender, and process until they resemble a fine flour. Transfer the oat flour to a large mixing bowl, and add the remaining rolled oats and baking powder, mixing well.
- Add the mashed bananas, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, and mix until everything is well combined and a dough is formed.
- Transfer 2/3 of the mixture into your prepared baking pan, using your fingers or a spatula to ensure that it is pressed down tightly and evenly. Spoon chia jam over the surface, and use a spatula or knife to spread it evenly, making sure to only go within 1/4 of the edge to prevent the jam from burning.
- Sprinkle remaining oat mixture on top, breaking up bigger chunks and pressing down lightly.
- Bake for 30 minutes until the top turns a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to fully cool in the pan before cutting into bars.
Vegan Strawberry Oatmeal Bars Tips
- If possible make the strawberry chia jam the night before. If not, make the strawberry chia jam first to allow it time to cool
- This recipe is best if you use old fashioned oats, not instant oats or steel cut oats.
- Make sure you use ripe bananas with brown spots for a sweeter taste.
How to Store Bars
To store the Strawberry Banana Bars, layer them between waxed paper in an airtight container. They can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 - 5 days. You can eat them straight from the fridge or let them sit at room temperature before serving.
Recipe FAQ
If you use gluten-free rolled oats, these banana oatmeal bars can be gluten-free.
Oatmeal can provide many benefits including lowering cholesterol and improving blood sugar regulation. Also, since oats are high in fiber it helps keep you full between meals and provides plenty of whole grains, protein, antioxidants and more.
Oats have numerous health benefits and have become a popular breakfast option for many people. The oat bars eaten in moderation can make the perfect breakfast, snack or post-workout recovery snack.
Using a lunch size paper bag, place the banana(s) in the paper bag and roll it closed. You can keep the banana(s) in the bag for 1 to 2 days. After day 2 you can remove the banana(s) from the bag and they should be nice and ripe with brown spots.
More Recipes You May Like
Chai Spiced Vegan Oatmeal Bars
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars
Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
Strawberry Chia Jam:
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Banana Oatmeal Bars:
- 2 cups rolled oats divided**
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 bananas medium-sized, ripe, mashed
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Strawberry Chia Jam:
- Add strawberries and maple syrup to a small pot, set over medium heat. Heat until the berries begin to release liquid, about 5-15 minutes (depending on whether or not they were thawed first.)
- Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until berries begin to break down and thicken, Use your spoon to break them apart further.
- Stir in the chia seeds and vanilla, continuing to cook for another 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow the jam to cool. It will continue to thicken the longer it sits. (You can do this step the night before and chill it in the refrigerator until your ready to use)
Banana Oatmeal Bars:
- Preheat oven to 375F and prepare an 8×8 baking dish by lining it with a sheet of parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray/oil and set aside.
- Place 1 cup of oats in a food processor or blender, and process until they resemble a fine flour. Transfer the oat flour to a large mixing bowl, and add the remaining rolled oats and baking powder, mixing well.
- Add the mashed bananas, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, and mix until everything is well combined and a dough is formed.
- Transfer 2/3 of the mixture into your prepared baking pan, using your fingers or a spatula to ensure that it is pressed down tightly and evenly. Spoon chia jam over the surface, and use a spatula or knife to spread it evenly, making sure to only go within 1/4 of the edge to prevent the jam from burning.
- Sprinkle remaining oat mixture on top, breaking up bigger chunks and pressing down lightly.
- Bake for 30 minutes until the top turns a light golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to fully cool in pan before cutting into bars.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Although HalfPastHungry.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on which products you use, the brand that was purchased, or in other unforeseeable ways. HalfPastHungry.com will not be held liable for any reliance on given nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your physician first.
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Michael Adams says
I had only one banana so I used it and added 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to supplement the sweetness.
I will definitely use Briana's recipes again.
Briana says
Hi Michael! I'm happy the recipe turned out great. Thank you so much for your comment. 🙂