Strawberry Oat Squares with Jam

You can’t open our fridge without finding this in there.

Excellent for a grab and go breakfast or snack.

Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars

Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars

Yield: 12
Author:
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 40 MinTotal time: 50 Min
Ever since I was a young girl, I have loved strawberry oat bars and I would often have Strawberry nutrigrain bars in my lunches. While these squares aren’t a nutri-grain bar, the taste is similar. I have made this popular square much healthier, cutting the sugar and butter by half, and of course, it is vegan too. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. You won’t be able to stop at just one. Or three!
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. If desired, roast the sunflower seeds. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C). Spread the seeds over a large rimmed baking sheet in an even layer. Roast for 9-12 minutes, until lightly golden in some spots. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  2. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line a 9-inch (2.5 L) square pan (or an 8-inch/2 L pan for a slightly thicker bar) with parchment paper, leaving some overhang, which will make it easy to lift out the bars later.
  3. In a food processor, combine the sunflower seeds, oats, and salt and process until you have a course flour.
  4. In a small pot, melt the oil over low heat. Remove from the heat and whisk in the maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and sunflower seed utter until combined. Pour the wet mixture on top of the oat mixture in the food processor and process until the mixture comes together, 10 to 15 seconds. The dough should feel quite heavy and oily, and there shouldn't be any dry patches. If there are, process for 5 seconds more. If for some reason it's still too dry, try adding water, a teaspoon (5 mL) at a time, and processing until it comes together.
  5. Set aside 1 1/4 cups (300 mL) of the oat mixture for the topping. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the base of the prepared pan in an even layer. Starting at the center, push down with your fingers (you can lightly wet them if they stick) to spread out and pack down the crust. Press the dough down tightly. Even out the edges with your fingertips. Prick the crust with the tines of the fork about 9 times to allow steam to escape.
  6. Parbake the crust for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. (If the crust puffed up while baking, gently press dwn on it to release the air.) Spread the jam in an even layer over the crust. Crumble the reserved 1 1/4 cups (300 mL) oat mixture evenly over the jam.
  7. Bake, uncovered, for 14 to 18 minutes more, until the topping is llightly firm to the touch. The topping will not turn golden in color; it will remain the same shade as it was before baking. Let cool in the pan on a cooling rack for 45 to 60 minutes, then transfer the pan to the freezer for 30 minutes until completely cool. Lift out the slab and slice it into squares or bars. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for several days, or wrapped up and stored in the freezer for 4-5 weeks.

Notes

ANTHOLOGY NOTES

*I change up the jam frequently and, when in a pinch, always reach for my Bonne Mama jam.


*I have substituted honey for the brown rice syrup when I've ran out

strawberry, bar, oat, squares, square
Sweet Breakfast, Breakfast Oats, Baking & Bites, Bars & Slices
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