Strawberry Oat Bars (Gluten-free Option)

These Strawberry Oat Bars (Gluten-free Option) are a delicious and nourishing way to satisfy that sweet tooth!

They are a favorite in our home and are a quick and easy breakfast, snack, or dessert. They contain simple ingredients which you probably already have in your kitchen, and come together pretty quickly. And as an added bonus, the kitchen smells wonderful as these are baking in the oven! With Ramadan quickly approaching, these bars would be great for suhoor or iftar.

Did you know that strawberries, besides being super delicious, contain so many health benefits alhamdulillah!

Some of the many health benefits of strawberries include:

• rich in antioxidants, which have benefits for cancer prevention, heart health and blood sugar control
• an excellent source of vitamin C to boost your immune system and keep your skin glowing
• a source of manganese, folate (vitamin B9) and potassium 
• contain malic acid, which is a good natural whitener for the enamel of your teeth. Eating strawberries can actually help keep your teeth free of stains subhanAllah!

Other benefits of these Strawberry Oat Bars (Gluten-free Option) include:

• oats, which are high in soluble fiber to keep you feeling full, balance your blood sugar, and lower cholesterol
• refined sugar free (you can adjust the amount of sweetener according to your tastes)
• dairy-free option if you use coconut oil
• can be frozen for a rainy day
• kid-approved

If you are looking for organic oats, you can find them here and here. For those following a gluten-free diet, make sure to use oats which are specifically labeled gluten-free.

Give these bars a try and let me know in the comments below how you liked them!

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Strawberry Oat Bars

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 12 bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup (75 grams) quick or rolled oats
• 1/2 cup flour* (you can use whole wheat, oat or almond flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder (preferably aluminum free)
• 1/3 cup granulated sweetener of choice (such as monk fruit sweetener, coconut sugar, or unrefined cane sugar)
• 1/3 cup (75 grams) melted butter or coconut oil
• 2 cups diced strawberries, fresh or frozen/defrosted (or any combination of berries)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F). Butter (or line with parchment paper) a 20cm x 20cm (8in ×8in) square pan.
• In a large bowl, stir together the oats, flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and sweetener. Stir in the butter, then firmly press 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of the pan.
• Press the berries on top of the dough in the pan, then sprinkle the reserved dough on top. Press down firmly again.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool, then refrigerate at least 1 hour before cutting.