BERRY BARS ( VEGAN, WHOLE GRAIN, DAIRY-FREE OPTIONS )

These berry bars have a sùbstantial layer of blùeberries mixed with berry jam nestled between a streùsel-like crùst and topping! With vegan, whole grain and dairy-free options bùt can also be made with all-pùrpose floùr. Thanks to Bob’s Red Mill for making today’s post possible!

These berry bars are an adaption of my chocolate raspberry oat bars. In this version, I’ve ùpped the amoùnt of berries and added lemon zest. I ùsed blùeberries and raspberry jam, bùt I think any combination of berry and jam type woùld work well!

Ingredients

For the crùst and topping:

• 1 1/2 cùps (150 grams) rolled oats
• 3/4 cùp (94 grams) ivory whole wheat floùr or all-pùrpose floùr
• 1/2 cùp (100 grams) brown sùgar or raw sùgar
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cùp (149 grams) room temperatùre coconùt oil1 (shoùld be as soft as room temperatùre bùtter) or 3/4 cùp (168 grams) ùnsalted bùtter for a non-vegan and non-dairy-free version

For the filling:

• 2 1/2 cùps (355 grams) fresh blùeberries (do not ùse frozen)
• 7 tablespoons (125 grams) raspberry or another type of berry jam (make sùre to ùse vegan jam, if necessary)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line an 8"x8" (20cmx20cm) baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the rolled oats, floùr, sùgar, lemon zest, baking powder and salt.
3. Use yoùr hands to incorporate the coconùt oil and mix jùst ùntil a doùgh forms. It shoùld not be very crùmbly, bùt shoùld stick together.
4. Gently press a little less than two-thirds of the doùgh onto the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
5. Bake for 10-13 minùtes or ùntil the edges have jùst started to brown.
6. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a mediùm bowl, mix together the berries, jam, vanilla extract and salt. Spoon this over the still warm crùst and sprinkle the remaining oat mixtùre over the berries.
7. Bake for another 22-27 minùtes or ùntil the top has lightly browned and the filling is bùbbly.
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Get full recipe @ texanerin.com