If you are looking for an easy way to use those fresh strawberries, these gluten free strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars make a delicious breakfast or snack. Full of fresh fruit, your whole family will love this recipe.
One bite of these fruity oatmeal cookie bars and you will be hooked! (And if you are a huge strawberry fan like me, check out my favorite gluten free strawberry recipes!)
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Our farmer's market is full of fresh local strawberries right now. They are big, juicy organic strawberries that burst with flavor when you bite into them.
We had a busy morning at the farmer's market so I wanted to make a snack for my family that wouldn't take too long to make.
You know how impatient kids can be!
The strawberries in these oatmeal bars are definitely the hero of this snack, and these are healthy enough so your kids can even have two if they want π
How long do fresh strawberries last?
Fresh strawberries will last a day or two on your counter. More like one day if they are from your Farmer's Market. If you don't finish the strawberries the first day, I highly recommend storing them in your refrigerator or freezing them.
And, if you bought too many strawberries, give these Gluten Free Strawberry Muffins, or this Gluten Free Strawberry Tart recipes a try!
Can you use frozen strawberries in this recipe?
You can use frozen strawberries in this strawberry bars recipe, but you will need to prep them so that your gluten free strawberry bars don't turn out super mushy. Thaw the strawberries and pour out a little of the juice out before adding after the oatmeal layer.
Why you must use certified gluten free oats?
One important note for using oats when you are on a gluten free diet. Make sure the oats you use are certified gluten free. Cross-contamination is a huge issue for oats and I don't want anyone to get sick!!
Oats themselves are gluten free but they are often grown next to wheat and they cross-contaminate in silos.
Here are some great certified gluten free oats brands to try.
I hope you are all having a great summer. I updated this post from a July 2016 post and I am glad to say with all of the rain we had, the fire risk in California this summer is very low compared to two years ago!!
Our summer has been busier than most, and our vacation plans fizzled out because of the big LA Sand Fire. (We are praying that nobody else loses their homes, this fire is just horrible.) Our plan was to go to take the kids to Universal Studios, but there is just too much smoke there. The drought in California has made forest fires a real danger.
Luckily, we had a plan B, which includes lots of fun day trips. This is our last hurrah because our kids will be in different high schools next year. Little did we understand that this meant that all of their vacations, except one week, are on different dates! More time to create delicious recipes like these fresh strawberry oatmeal bars :-).
Can you use other fruits?
Yes, this oatmeal bar recipe works with lots of different fruits! Here are some ideas:
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberry Rhubarb
- Peaches/nectarines
Instructions:
Add the crust ingredients to a bowl.
Layer on the fresh strawberries. Again, feel free to use the fruits you have on hand if you don't have fresh strawberries.
Add a few layers so the flavor really bursts through.
Bake it!
Sprinkle on the final layer of the crust and bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until the strawberries are softened and the bars solidify.
More delicious recipes with gluten free oats:
- Gluten Free Chocolate Steel Cut Oats (yes you can have chocolate for breakfast!)
- Simple and delicious, these Grab and Go Gluten Free Oatmeal Breakfast Bars are perfect for a busy morning.
- If you are into big cookies, this Giant Gluten Free Oatmeal Pizookie Cookie is hard to resist.
- Another delicious breakfast recipe, this How to Make Overnight Oats tutorial is great for meal prep.
Tools:
- Certified gluten free oats. Make sure your oats are certified gluten free. Oats are very easily cross-contaminated with wheat so really make sure so you stay safe.
- Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend. It just works.
- 8x8 baking dish. This size pan is perfect for these gluten free strawberry bars.
π Recipe
Simple Gluten Free Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Easy gluten free fresh strawberry oatmeal bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cup certified gluten free oats
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup gluten free flour blend
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray a 7x7 pan with coconut oil.
- In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients. Mix well.
- Add the melted butter and mix. Press 1/2 of the mixed crust to the bottom of the pan.
- Add a layer of fresh strawberries.
- Top with remaining crust and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Notes
Please make sure you use certified gluten free oats if you are Celiac.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Saturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 120mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 2gSugar: 15gProtein: 3g
Mary Toteve
Has anyone substituted honey for the sugar? I'm unable to have any brown, granulated, cane or confectioners sugars. I'm going for it and see how it turns out!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Mary, These bars are moist due to the strawberries so you will want to go easy if you use a liquid sweetener. If you try honey, please come back and let us know how it turned out. Have you tried date or coconut sugar?
Gaby
I just made this recipe following the recipe exactly. The taste is fantastic but it had the consistency of a crispβtoo soft to cut into squares. Any idea what couldβve gone wrong?
Thanks
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Gaby, I am not sure but my first question is what gluten free flour blend did you use? Some are starch heavy.
McKynna
Hello! I'm wondering - the almonds are optional. Do I just add them in with the rest of the dry ingredients?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi McKynna, I usually sprinkle sliced almonds over the top before baking. Enjoy :-).
Amanda R.
I made this with regular flour as we're not gluten-free, it just looked like a great recipe. They are fantastic! Definitely making again.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked it and that you could make it the way you like π
Felicia
Do you refrigerate the leftovers? Made tonight and they were great.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Felicia, The leftovers should keep 2-3 days...you can also freeze them.
Kaye
Have you tried dates instead of the brown sugar? We use dates a lot in granola and oatmeal. Just wondering how they would hold up in something this?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Kaye, I haven't but it sounds like a great idea. If you try dates in this recipe, please come back and let us know how they turn out.
Angela
These are amazingly delicious! I made 2 dishes to ensure I had some to bring back home from a get-together, but just barely had any to bring back! My only question would be if anyone else has needed to make these as a dairy free option? My daughter needs both dairy and gluten free. I used a dairy free "butter", but since it was mostly oils, the crust didn't want to hold together as well as I would have liked. I'm hoping there might be someone with a suggestion as to what else can be used or done, if anything, to help.
Thanks in advance!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked this recipe Angela. Thank you so much for stopping back to tell me, you made my day. As for a dairy free version, I would use coconut oil, but less. I haven't tested this recipe with it, but I would maybe start with 1/2 the amount of oil and see how the texture is. Please let us know how it goes :-).
Kristin
I just made these using coconut oil instead of butter and coconut sugar instead of regular brown sugar. They turned out great! I will definitely be using this recipe again. Thank you so much!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so happy to hear this Kristin. Thank you for letting us all know it works with these healthy options!!
Jill
Delicious flavor but I had to bake for an hour for strawberries to get to a nice softness and it never formed bars, but a crumble to eat with a spoon.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Jill, what gluten free flour blend did you use?
Jaci
Hey can I use steel cut oats or will it not come out the same?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Jaci, I don't think steel cut oats would work because of how thick and dense they are. That being said, go for it and let us know how they turn out.
Lilly Mcguire
How long do they last (if I bake Friday or saturday.will they be good for Monday delivery to teachers?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Lilly, honestly, I am not sure how long. I would try to bake them the night before so they don't get too soggy.
Monica Porter
So I made this with blueberries and it was FANTASTIC. I am gluten and dairy free so I simply subbed the butter for earth balance and it turned out incredible. It's probably considered more of a dessert but I'm planning on using it for my breakfast to couple with eggs; I struggle with finding yummy go-to's to get my morning going. This is so yummy and I was pleased with how it turned out using blueberries.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked this recipe Monica. I love that you used blueberries. Thank you for writing, you made my day :-).
ShantΓ©
Could I use rice flour with this? I'm pretty new to gluten free baking...
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Shante, thank you for your note. You will want to use a gluten free flour blend for gluten free baking. (And if the one you have doesn't include xanthan gum, you want to add 1 teaspoon. This is like the glue that helps hold things together.) Rice flour by itself doesn't hold together, it is always best to combine a couple of gluten free flours with a starch like tapioca. If you want to send me an email at [email protected], I am happy to answer any questions you have :-).
Elva
They were delicious....especially a la mode! I added vanilla ice cream to it while still a little warm.....will definitely do it again. I didn't have the size pan, so made them into little round tart pans I had. Came out good actually, could only eat one. I'm gluten sensitive, so that's all I could have. And my family even liked them, which that's a miracle finding something gluten free they like.
Sandi Gaertner
You made my day Elva. I am so glad your family loved these bars. You can make them with any fruit. The tart pan is a great idea for portion control...I tend to eat a lot more of this than I need π Thank you for taking the time to write and tell me about your experience.
Sue
These are amazing!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you enjoyed these Sue. You made my day π
carrie @ frugal foodie mama
Oh, these bars look perfect! Since they have oatmeal in them, that means I can totally have one or two for breakfast, right? π
Sandi Gaertner
Of course Carrie π
Lyn
These look fabulous! Do you think strawberries that have been frozen can be used in the winter months?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Lyn, I think previously frozen strawberries will be fine. They will have more water...so you may need to adjust the crust a bit.
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life
Those are going to be perfect for back to school! I'll be tempted to stash some in a hiding spot for myself though!
Sandi Gaertner
That is a fabulous idea π
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
This looks like a great way to use all the strawberries we have growing in our garden. They look delicious!
Sandi Gaertner
I am jealous you have a garden filled with strawberries! Our squirrels are greedy here.
Sara | Belly Rumbles
I love the simplicity of this recipe and can imagine how tasty it is with those gorgeous strawberries. I don't think I could stop at just one slice.
Sandi Gaertner
LOL, I feel the same way π
Brian Jones
I am always looking for ways to use up strawberries, despite having a new plot this year and turning over the old plot we still have a glut which will only get greater in the next few years... These look fantastic, I love oaty sweet treats!
Sandi Gaertner
Your plot sounds incredible Brian π
Sandra Shaffer
MmmMmm! These oatmeal bars sure look delicious! Love that you used fresh strawberries instead of a prepared jam! The fires are terrible! SoCal and the Coast are getting pretty beat up π Enjoy your family time!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Sandra π
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook
Yes! The strawberries have been fantastic at our farmers market, too. These oatmeal bars look incredible.
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you Lauren π
swayam
This looks delicious Sandi. LOVE strawberry anything.. wishing we were still getting them here. Kids must have loved it! Pinning
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you Swayam π