Straightforward Oatmeal Bars (with Blueberry and Carrot) (to Share with the Youngsters)

With nutritious but accessible substances, these simple Oatmeal Bars are a yummy snack or breakfast to share with the children. They’ve carrots and blueberries, plus entire grains and protein. They’re so yummy…and made with out eggs or dairy for buddies with allergy symptoms.

Oatmeal Bars

These wholesome baked Oatmeal Bars are one in every of my favourite methods to serve up a whole lot of vitamins in an easy-to-eat format. The carrots mix into the batter so whilst you can see them, the aren’t an apparent texture distraction. The blueberries add some sweetness and nutritional vitamins. The combo of the 2 actually provides such yummy taste.

We love these for snack time and in addition breakfast. I wish to pair them with a smoothie, yogurt, or a hard-cooked or scrambled egg. Or typically simply water, relying on starvation ranges.

I usually put half of the batch into the freezer to save lots of for a future week—they freeze rather well—and that helps us to be enthusiastic about consuming them since we don’t need to eat them abruptly.

These are a yummy shortcut meal or preschool snack, too.

Substances You Want

Listed here are the substances you’ll have to make these bars so you realize what to select up on the retailer—or get out from the pantry.

• Fast or on the spot oats: You too can use common rolled oats floor up within the meals processor or blender so that they’re a finer texture that blends in properly with the batter.
• Complete wheat flour: A little bit flour within the combine helps the batter maintain collectively. You need to use all-purpose flour if that’s what you will have readily available.
• Baking powder: A little bit baking powder helps the batter from being too dense, so we use it right here.
• Cinnamon: A little bit cinnamon provides good taste to the bottom of the bar.
• Melted coconut oil or butter: Soften this, then let it cool for a minute or two so it’s not piping scorching while you add it to the batter.
• Creamy unsweetened almond butter: You need to use sunflower seed butter as wanted for a nut allergy or peanut butter would work, too.
• Maple syrup: Honey may even work right here (although keep away from it for teenagers underneath age 1.)
• Grated carrot: I desire to grate a complete carrot on a field grater for the finer texture versus utilizing shredded carrots from the shop, however each would work.
• Blueberries: If the berries are very giant, I like to recommend reducing them in half with kitchen scissors.
• Egg: That is completely non-obligatory however makes the bars slightly extra cake-like than the marginally crunchy texture they’ve with out an egg.

TIP: You need to use common all-purpose flour, gluten-free cup for cup, sunflower seed butter as a substitute of almond butter, and honey as a substitute of maple syrup. Plenty of choices!

Step-by-Step Directions

Right here’s a take a look at the fundamental course of of constructing this recipe so you realize what to anticipate. Scroll right down to the top of the recipe for the complete info.

1. Preheat the oven and line a pan with parchment paper. Add the substances to a bowl.
2. Stir collectively gently, attempting to not smash the berries.
3. Press into the ready pan, urgent evenly to the sides.
4. Bake and take away from the oven. Let cool utterly earlier than slicing.

TIP: I wish to line the pan with parchment paper so the sides dangle over the perimeters. This makes it simple to raise out of the pan as soon as the bars are baked, cooled, and able to slice.

Regularly Requested Questions

Methods to Retailer

Retailer in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days within the fridge. Freeze for as much as 3 months in a freezer bag with as a lot air eliminated as doable.

Greatest Ideas for Success

• Cool absolutely earlier than slicing to stop the bars from crumbling when slicing.
• Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup gluten-free flour combine as a substitute of entire wheat flour.
• Nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter as a substitute of almond butter.
• Creamy unsweetened peanut butter (I like Teddies or Smuckers) ought to work instead of almond butter).
• You need to use honey as a substitute of maple syrup.
• I desire the feel of carrots which can be grated at house on a field grater as they’re finer than these you should purchase on the retailer.
• Recent blueberries work greatest on this recipe (frozen ones may cause the batter to grab up and be exhausting to press into the pan).

I’d love to listen to your suggestions when you do that recipe. Please remark beneath and price the recipe!

• Preheat the oven to 375 levels F. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper so it overhangs on two sides so the bars are simple to raise out as soon as baked and cooled.

• Combine collectively all the substances in a medium bowl besides the blueberries. (Add the egg if utilizing.) Stir within the blueberries gently.

• Press into the ready pan so the batter is even and pressed to the sides.

• Bake for 24-26 minutes or till the sides are frivolously golden brown and set.

• Cool absolutely. (Actually, please let it sit till it is cool to the contact! You may pop it into the fridge to hurry this up if you would like. It could crumble a bit when you slice when nonetheless heat.)

• Slice into bars and serve or retailer. I sometimes reduce into 16 small squares, however you’ll be able to reduce them bigger if desired.

• Retailer in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days within the fridge. Freeze for as much as 3 months in a freezer bag with as a lot air eliminated as doable.
• Gluten-free: Use cup for cup flour as a substitute of entire wheat flour.
• Nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter as a substitute of almond butter.
• Including an egg makes these bars barely cakier than the marginally crisp texture (like a cookie bar) you get with out an egg. It’s as much as you.
• Creamy unsweetened peanut butter (I like Teddies or Smuckers) ought to work instead of almond butter).
• You need to use honey as a substitute of maple syrup.
• I desire the feel of carrots which can be grated at house on a field grater as they’re finer than these you should purchase on the retailer.
• Recent blueberries work greatest on this recipe (frozen ones may cause the batter to grab up and be exhausting to press into the pan).
• Cool absolutely earlier than slicing to stop the bars from crumbling when slicing.

Energy: 98kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 2g, Fats: 6g, Saturated Fats: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g, Monounsaturated Fats: 2g, Sodium: 53mg, Potassium: 84mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 671IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 1mg

This submit was first printed August 2020.