Simple Strawberry Dessert Bars

I don’t know about you, but there is nothing that screams summer to me more than strawberries. They are my favorite fruit by far and by the time that the season ends, I’m ready for it to begin again. Needless to say? I LOVE a good strawberry recipe and these Simple Strawberry Dessert Bars certainly fit the bill!

The great thing, okay two great things, about these is that their whole grain and you can make them with frozen strawberries if you need to. That makes them excellent for not only a dessert, but also a breakfast bar or an addition to a school lunch! If you’re a fan of Nutrigrain bars, you’ll love these just as much because they taste so much better than those other costly ones.

You will need:

For the Strawberry Filling:

• 2 cups chopped strawberries
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons corn starch

For the Whole Grain Bars: 

• 1-1/2 cups oatmeal (Quick Cook Oats are fine)
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup walnut pieces
• 1/4 cup wheat germ (I use THIS one)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (I use THIS brand)
• 1 egg

Before you get started preheat your oven to 350 and grease an 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan.

Combine strawberries, corn starch and sugar in a saucepan.

Heat on medium high heat until mixture comes to a boil. Be sure to stir constantly because it will burn/stick to the pan. It will scorch very easily and if that happens, you’ll have to start over. Reduce your heat and simmer for 2-4 minutes until the sauce becomes thick and translucent. At that point, remove from the heat and set aside. It may thicken a bit more as it cools, but that’s perfectly fine.

In a food processor, combine, oatmeal, flour, sugar, walnuts, wheat germ and cinnamon. Process 30-60 seconds  until finely ground.

Add oil and egg and process until combined making sure to scrape the bowl down if you need to.

Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan and press down with the back of a spoon or your fingers.

Pour strawberry filling on top. Good Lord that is pretty! (Seriously! Doesn’t that look divine?!)

Sprinkle remaining crumbs on the top of the strawberry filling and press down gently. Bake 25 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely and cut into bars.

To store these, wrap the individual bars with plastic wrap and keep in an airtight container.

Simple Strawberry Dessert Bars

Whole grain strawberry goodness in a bar! Great for school lunches, breakfasts or a quick snack! MUCH better than Nutrigrain bars!

• Strawberry Filling:
• 2 cups chopped fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• Whole Grain Bars:
• 1-1/2 cups oatmeal (quick cooking is fine)
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup walnut pieces
• 1/4 cup wheat germ (find in the oatmeal aisle)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (or use regular vegetable oil)
• 1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Grease an 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan and set aside.
3. Combine strawberries, corn starch and sugar in a saucepan. Heat on medium high heat until mixture comes to a boil – stir constantly because it will burn/stick to the pan. Simmer for 2-4 minutes until the sauce becomes thick and translucent. Remove from heat. Set aside.
4. In a food processor, combine, Oatmeal, flour, sugar, walnuts, wheat germ and cinnamon. Process until finely ground. 30-60 seconds. Add oil and egg and process until combined, scraping sides of bowl if necessary.
5. Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan. Press down with the back of a spoon or your fingers. Pour strawberry filling on top. Sprinkle remaining crumbs on the top of the strawberry filling and press down gently. Bake 25 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely and cut into bars.