These Blueberry Oat Bars are so yummy! Oil-free, refined sugar free, and whole grain – they are so healthy you can eat them for breakfast!
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I’ve been feeling blue lately, but in a happy way.
For the last few weeks I’ve been getting a wonderful harvest from my blueberry bushes. The first few days of picking, I had a garden friend who was not a bluebird of happiness.
It was a bluejay who was anything but happy with me. This little guy would perch on the fence near the blueberries and squawk loudly at me. Then move to the nearby pear tree, followed by the raspberry trellis, and the apple tree, rotating around me squawking from every angle.
He definitely wanted to let me know that I had no business picking his berries!
In the end, I think we came to an understanding. There were enough berries for me to pick and put up for the season, with a few extra for my bluejay buddy and his bird friends to enjoy.
I love using these berries in so many ways, and fortunately I have enough to enjoy some fresh and also freeze plenty to get me through the year.
They find their way into muffins, pancakes, smoothies, oatmeal, berry sauce, and now these blueberry oatmeal bars.
Ingredients in these blueberry bars
For the oatmeal bars:
- Oatmeal – I used regular oats, but quick oats can be used
- Whole wheat flour – for gluten free bars, use a gluten free flour blend
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Maple syrup
- Applesauce
- Vanilla
For the filling:
- Blueberries – fresh or frozen
- Maple syrup
- Lemon juice
- Cornstarch
- Vanilla
- Water
For the optional lemon glaze:
- Powdered sugar – this does add a small amount of processed sugar to the recipe
- Lemon juice – the lemon flavor perfectly complements the blueberries
How to Make These Blueberry Oat Bars
Step 1:
Combine the blueberries, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a medium sized saucepan. Bring the berries to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to simmer, and stir in the vanilla extract and the cornstarch/water mixture. Stir briefly until the filling thickens. Then set aside.
Step 2:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the oatmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt.
Step 3:
In a separate small bowl, stir together the applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir the applesauce mixture into the oatmeal mixture, and combine well.
Step 4:
Spread half of the oatmeal mixture evenly onto the bottom of a parchment lined 9″ x 13″ baking pan. Pour the berry filling on top of this oatmeal layer and spread evenly. Take the remaining oatmeal mixture and crumble it on top of the berry layer.
Step 5:
Bake the berry bars at 350° F for 30 minutes.
After baking, let them cool to firm up.
If using the optional lemon glaze, wait until the bars are completely cool before drizzling the glaze over the bars.
Since these bars are sweetened with maple syrup, they are refined sugar free. My husband and I enjoy the lightly sweetened taste of these bars, but if you want them to be a little sweeter, the glaze is perfect and only adds a small amount of sugar per bar. The glaze is flavored with lemon juice, which is a perfect complement to the blueberries.
These make perfect breakfast bars, can easily be packed in a lunch, or enjoyed for an afternoon snack.
For a special treat, these blueberry oat bars would be amazing topped with my vanilla ice cream or a dollop of vegan whipped cream! And if you have a nice harvest of strawberries (or even some frozen strawberries) be sure to try out my strawberry ice cream!
Explore our Plant-Based Handbook
Here are more delicious vegan desserts:
- Vegan Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- Chocolate Mug Cake
- Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
- Oil Free Vegan Donuts
- Vegan Chocolate Pudding
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Blueberry Oat Bars
Ingredients
Berry Filling
- 3 cups blueberries fresh or frozen
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Oat Bars
- 3 cups oats (regular rolled oats, not quick oats)
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup applesauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
Lemon Glaze, optional
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
Berry Filling
- Place the blueberries, maple syrup, and lemon juice in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Mix together the cornstarch and water.
- Add the cornstarch mixture and the vanilla to the berries, and stir until the filling thickens.
- Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
Oat Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, stir together the oats, flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a small bowl, mix together the applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together until well combined.Spread half the oatmeal mixture into a parchment lined 9” x 13” baking pan. Use your hands to press it evenly into the pan.
- Pour the berry mixture onto the oatmeal layer and spread it evenly.
- Take the remaining oatmeal mixture and crumble it on top of the filling.
- Bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes.
Lemon Glaze, optional
- For the lemon glaze, combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice, and stir until there are no lumps. Add additional powdered sugar or lemon juice to achieve your desired consistency.
- Drizzle the glaze over the completely cooled bars.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition calculations are approximate.
