Craving for more oatmeal bars? Try my no-bake oatmeal bars, oatmeal raisin bars, and oatmeal chocolate chip bars next. If you regularly make my healthy granola bars but want something with a bit more substance to it, you’ll love my strawberry oat bars. They’re the best of both worlds. With a gooey, soft texture and delightfully sweet flavor, you’d never guess they’re packed with fiber and super healthy.
Why I love this recipe
Diet-friendly. These bars are naturally flourless, vegan, oil-free, and made with no added sugar. Easy to customize. You can add, swap, or substitute most of the ingredients to completely transform the flavor. Perfect any time of the day. I’m a dessert for breakfast kind of guy, but they also make a great midday snack or post-workout treat. They’re great for meal prep. These bars freeze like a dream and can be easily packed in a lunch box for a healthy treat.
Ingredients needed
Rolled oats. Also called old-fashioned oats, they provide a chewy texture we love in bars! Use gluten-free rolled oats if needed, but I suggest avoiding quick oats or steel-cut oats since their texture won’t really work in this recipe. Peanut butter. Smooth and drippy peanut butter with no added salt or sugar. You can also use almond butter if you prefer. Banana. The riper the banana, the sweeter these bars will be! Banana also helps hold the bars together without the need for eggs or butter. Fresh strawberries. Obviously needed for a strawberry recipe! Reserve a few sliced up to top the bars with. Vanilla extract. Optional, but I love the subtle flavor it adds. Chocolate chips. Again, optional, but you can never go wrong with some chocolate chips!
How to make strawberry oatmeal bars
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. “Very good, very easy! I was expecting a firmer texture, more like a granola bar, but no, these were soft and yummy. Next time I would add double the strawberries because I really enjoyed those little bursts of sweetness.” – Diana Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Step 2- Combine ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, banana, peanut butter, and vanilla extract. Stir in the strawberries and chocolate chips. Step 3- Bake. Transfer the mixture to the lined pan and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips and strawberries on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Step 4- Cool. Let the bars cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe tips and variations
Swap the berries. I tested this recipe with raspberries, blueberries, apples, and even pineapple, and let me tell you, they all tasted incredible! Make ultra-gooey bars. Fold in ¼ cup of strawberry preserves for softer, more tender bars. Adjust the sweetness. These bars rely on bananas, strawberries, and chocolate chips for sweetness. Taste the batter and add a dash of maple syrup or brown sugar if needed. Make them nut-free. Swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter or tahini. Don’t skip the 10-minute rest time. Trust me, if you try to move or slice the bars before they’ve cooled down, they’ll be way too soft. Serve the bars with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a healthy dessert. Change the flavor. Fold in cinnamon, lemon zest, or chopped nuts for a totally different flavor profile.
Storage instructions
To store: Strawberry bars should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week. To freeze: Freeze the bars in a freezer-safe container (or in individual containers for meal prep) and freeze them for up to 6 months. Let the bars thaw overnight in the fridge. To reheat: While not needed, you can microwave the bars for 10-15 seconds to soften them up, but they’ll be VERY soft.
More recipes using oats
Brownie baked oatmeal No-bake chocolate oat bars Oatmeal breakfast cookies Blueberry baked oatmeal Or any of these recipes with oats
Originally published June 2020, updated and republished April 2024
