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 🙂
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.
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave me a rating and a comment. I LOVE hearing from you!! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest to see even more delicious recipes!
📋 Recipe
Simple Gluten Free 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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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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 :-).
Shanté
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 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to write and tell me about your experience.