These raspberry oatmeal bars are packed with whole grains, raspberries, and chia seeds for the perfect healthy snack or treat! Vegan and gluten-free.
I have enough raspberries in the freezer to feed a small village.
Raspberry jam. Raspberry pancakes. Raspberry smoothies. Raspberry ravioli. I’VE DONE IT ALL.
Last weekend I was perusing the blog for a work week snack and stumbled upon my beloved Blueberry Oatmeal Snack Bars recipe. I messed with the jam a bit, added a splash of almond extract, subbed raspberries for bloobs, and voila! The newest version of nomtastical fruit bars were birthed.
I chowed down on three bars plus thirty seven million crumbs the day I made them. The boyf proceeded to take three a day in his lil’ lunch box and before we knew it, they ceased to exist.
Do you know what that meeeeeeeans?
“Hey, boo? Would you mind not taking raspberry bars in your lunch today cuz like, I’ve only had three and they’re almost extinct.” INSERT TEAR DROP EMOJI HERE.
I’m a big fan of buying oat flour for convenience factor but you can certainly make your own by grinding old-fashioned oats in the blender. I think a portion of almond meal would be quite lovely here, too! I’ll be sure to try that when I make a….peach version.
Oh and the almond extract! Don’t you forget it. I wrote “optional” because I don’t want you to not make them if you’re only missing that one ingredient butttttttt I’m team almond all day err’ day so I highly recommend you use it. I use this Frontier almond flavor which is actually a bit lighter in taste, so I’d even bump it up to a teaspoon if you’re using that brand. Living on the edge here!!
This recipe has a) breakfast potential, b) snack potential, c) dessert potential, d) all off the above. D!!! I loved these warmed in the microwave with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
What a dream!
All I want to know is why raspberry isn’t spelled “razberry” and why blueberry isn’t spelled “bluepberry.”
- 2 cups frozen raspberries
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 cup oat flour (GF if necessary)
- 1½ cups old-fashioned oats (GF if necessary)
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- Preheat oven to 325F. Grease an 8x8in baking dish with coconut oil or cooking spray.
- Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add raspberries, chia seeds and maple syrup. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring often. Use a potato masher to smash berries for the "jam" layer. Set aside to cool (I usually put it in the fridge).
- Combine oats, oat flour, sugar, cinnamon salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
- Add applesauce, maple syrup and coconut oil, vanilla, and almond extract, stirring to combine.
- Set aside a heaping half cup of the oat mixture and then spoon the rest evenly into the prepared pan. Top with raspberry chia jam, spreading evenly with a spoon or spatula.
- Drop the rest of the oat mixture on top.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into 12 bars.
- Store in the refrigerator.
Oh, YES! I’ve been craving more berry flavors as we enter the summer time. These would go down a treat with my family! Nothing like pure maple syrup, too!
Carrie this fit chick recently posted…Recipes, Round-ups and Q+A
In love with summer berry season!
Ah I love oatmeal bars! They’re the best because you can eat them any day and they are perfect for a meal..or a snack..or dessert! Win win win!
OR all three at the same time? 🙂
These look amazing! The perfect spring treat! Thanks so much for sharing / creating!
Sam @ Hygge Wellness recently posted…Q&A SERIES: THE HEALTHY MAVEN, DAVIDA KUGELMASS
I am so loving all of the spring berries! Happy May, Sam 🙂
Thankfully my boyf doesn’t have a sweet tooth (<- his words), so I'd be the sole proprietor to make these beauties go extinct. POOF! Gone. Srsly, these are gorgeous and mouth-watering, and I want them alongside a plate of raspberry raviolis, amen!
Julia Mueller recently posted…Balsamic Grilled Chicken with Strawberry Black Bean Salsa
Now there’s a meal!
Ohh these look PERFECT, especially considering I have frozen raspberries that need to be used up!
LOVE when the universe works out like that 🙂
fruit/oat bars like this are my fav. these look SOO good & easy <3
priya recently posted…Turkey, Provolone, and Chickpea Stuffed Pita
Agreed. I just can’t get enough!
i love oatmeal baked bars…i make a similar one with dates but im loving your version – so much prettier!
I may have to make strawberry version since i have a tons of them in my freezer!
i can’t even believe these are vegan & gluten-free, that’s insane!! and aside from the frozen raspberries, i think i literally have all of these ingredients in my house rn. cannot wait to make these!!!
jordan @ dancing for donuts recently posted…April Favorites.
Can’t wait to make these! I’m sure I’ll have to hide these from the husband… wish me luck.
Courtney Glausi recently posted…Weekend Recap: Baseball & Pizza
I love your blueberry version of these bars, so you know I’ll be making these!! <3
Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen recently posted…2017 Cook My Books Challenge: April
Can this be made with fresh berries? Wondering if it would change the recipe…
Hey! Love these! I subbed equal parts of almond butter + 1 tsp coconut water for the applesauce, and used canola oil (gasp!!) instead of coconut oil, since I didn’t have any on hand. Instead of the sugar, I added 1/3 cup pitted and chopped dates, and I subbed equal amounts of extra oats instead of flour. Instead of making my own jam, I combined fresh strawberry jam that I made with strawberries from the Farmer’s Market and of course, the chia seeds. Despite all these swaps, they turned out GREAT!! Thanks for the recipe— you’re awesome 😎. P.S. I love your chatty, fun personality that shines in through your refreshing writing,
—Olivia Fuchs