Name: Homemade Fruit & Oat Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup old fashioned oats; 1 cup all purpose flour (see substitutions below); 1/3 cup sweetener of choice (see notes below); 6 tbsp. coconut oil or butter (melted); 1 tsp. corn starch; 2 cups fresh/frozen fruit or jam ((I prefer frozen)); 1 tbsp. lemon juice; 1 tbsp. cane sugar (divided, for topping); 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder; 1/4 tsp. ginger powder; 1/4 tsp. cinnamon powder; 1/4 tsp. kosher salt; 1 tsp. vanilla paste or extract

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How to Make Homemade Fruit & Oat Bars

Every time I make these Fruit & Oat Bars, I’m reminded why the simplest recipes are often the most memorable. A jammy fruit filling tucked between layers of buttery oat crumble with just the right amount of spice to set it apart.

This is one of those recipes that falls promptly in the dessert, snack, breakfast AND little treat categories. It fits right in on a holiday tray, beside a cup of coffee, or sneaked straight from the pan late at night. I especially like to bring a tray to my co-workers; they always appreciate how decadent they taste and how much better the ingredients are compared to store bought.

The homemade fruit jam is my favorite part of this recipe. Growing up, my Grandma and I made and even sold our homemade jam – mainly to friends, family & at church. We made mostly strawberry jam so our little business was called Strawberry Fields. I always thought the name was so cute. Can you tell my Grandma was a Beatles fan?

Making jam at home is incredibly easy and this recipe for Fruit & Oat Bars is super simple. It’s also pretty versatile in that you can use butter, coconut oil or a mixture of the two for the base. You could even use shortening! I tend to switch it up often depending on what ingredients I have on hand and they always turn out perfect!

If you don’t want to make your own jam, feel free to use store bought. This recipe is so versatile that you can also use chunks of fresh or frozen fruit instead of the jam and it will turn out just as scrumptious!

I love how simple this recipe is and how quickly they come together. The crumb mixture acts as both the base and the topping and only requires a few ingredients. Just save 1/2 cup of the mixture for the topping. One bowl. One 8×8 pan. Absolute deliciousness on your table in less than 30 minutes.

These kinds of recipes are the types I have on repeat because they require minimal ingredients, tools and brain power. Once you make it, it will be in your regular rotation. Perfect for meal prep, quick breakfast, picnics, beach trips and when you want a little treat without the guilt. Kids absolutely love them, too!

How To Make Fruit & Oat Bars

These bars couldn’t be easier to throw together. The thick jammy filling surrounded by tender flaky vanilla oat base. It is one of those use what you have recipes, which are my favorite. It is delicious now matter how many different ways you make it!

In a large bowl, mix together your dry ingredients (oats, flour, sweetener, spices, and a pinch of salt.)

Some examples of sweeteners to use: cane sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, agave & monk fruit sweetener. I personally like to use equal parts coconut sugar and honey for the perfect sweetness, richness and depth of flavor.

Add in coconut oil and vanilla until the mixture clumps together. The fat is also very adaptable in this recipe. I have successfully used butter, coconut oil, ghee and it always comes out perfect. I like to use either all coconut oil or half coconut oil, half butter.

Set aside 3/4 cup of the oat mixture to be used for the crumb topping.

In a 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan, press down the crumb mixture to form a base. I like to use slightly wet hands or the back of a spatula.

Next, add your fruit on top of the base. Fresh or frozen fruit and even jam works here. If using fresh, you’ll want to mash it lightly to help bring out the natural juices. This is important to have extra liquid to bind with the cornstarch along with the lemon juice.

Sprinkle the top of the fruit with corn starch, half the remaining sugar and fresh lemon juice. The juice from the lemon will “activate” the starch and help create a beautifully thick fruit filling when it cooks.

Gather clusters of the remaining crumb mixture and spread over the top. Spread evenly but leave some fruit peaking through underneath.

Bake at 375F for approx. 25-30 minutes until the fruit is bubbly and the topping is golden brown! Let cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting into it to allow the filling to set.

What Fruit Should I Use?

Part of why this recipe is so easily adaptive is because the fruit is totally customizable. Use what you have!

Here, I am using a combination of fresh blueberries and frozen strawberries!

Fresh fruit, frozen fruit, jam and jelly all work great in these delicious healthy bars. Whatever you need to use up, whatever you are craving…that’s what you should use!

I’ve used blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, peaches and stewed apples.

I do prefer to use frozen fruit as I pretty much always have it on hand. The fruit gets a sprinkle of sugar, corn or tapioca starch, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and viola…the filling is done. When it bakes, it will bubble, thicken and set up beautifully once it cools.

How Do I Store Them?

These delicious Fruit & Oat Bars store super well. It’s just another reason they are such a great recipe to keep in rotation.

After baking, I typically leave the bars on the counter at room temperature for a few hours. Then, I cover them and store them in the fridge. Storing these bars in the fridge helps them keep their shape and allows all of the flavors to meld!

These bars can also be frozen; they freeze incredibly well. Make a big batch, let them cool, cut them up and throw into zip lock bags. Thaw at room temperature when ready to eat or throw into the toaster oven/air fryer.

Simple ingredients. Simple to make. Simple to store and easy to keep fresh.

I really hope you try these incredible Fruit & Oat bars. It’s the easiest smile you’ll have all week.

Happy Baking!

Homemade Fruit & Oat Bars

Delicious real fruit filling bars made with a spiced vanilla oat base & crumbly topping

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Keyword: baked, breakfast, healthy, snacks

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup all purpose flour see substitutions below
1/3 cup sweetener of choice see notes below
6 tbsp. coconut oil or butter melted
1 tsp. corn starch
2 cups fresh/frozen fruit or jam (I prefer frozen)
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. cane sugar divided, for topping
1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
1/4 tsp. ginger powder
1/4 tsp. cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. vanilla paste or extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F. Grease an 8×8 pan.
In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients (oats, flour, sweetener, spices and salt).
Melt coconut oil (or butter) and allow to cool slightly.
Add coconut oil & vanilla to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. You should be able to form clumps when you pinch the dough together.
Remove 3/4 cup of this mixture and set aside to be used for the crumb topping.
Press the remainder of the dough into a greased 8×8 pan.
Add fresh fruit, frozen fruit or even jam on top of this mixture.
Sprinkle half of the sugar on top of the fruit.
If using fresh or frozen fruit, evenly top the sugared fruit with tapioca or corn starch. Skip this step if using jam or jelly as it doesn't need assistance setting up.
Squeeze approx. half a lemon over the top of the fruit and starch.
With the remaining dough, crumble chunks all over the fruit. There should be fruit peeking through under the clusters of dough.
Sprinkle the remaining sugar evenly over the top.
Bake fruit and oatmeal bars at 375F for approx. 20-30 minutes. Top should be golden brown and set to the touch. Fruit should be thick and bubbly.
Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting to allow bars to properly set.
Store at room temperature on the counter top for 24 hours and then store in the fridge.

Video

Notes

This recipe is so versatile because it can be easily adapted; it works with whatever you have on hand.

You can use all coconut oil, all butter, all ghee, or a mixture. It truly works with whatever you have. If the mixture is too dry, add more butter/coconut oil.

The sweetener can be cane sugar, coconut sugar, agave, honey or even monk fruit sweetener. The sweetener is for the dough. I like to use half honey and half sugar or coconut sugar. I like using two different sweeteners as it gives extra depth to these bars but they are genuinely delicious however you make them.

The additional 2 Tablespoons of sugar should be divided. One tablespoon will go over the fruit base and the remaining one tablespoon will be sprinkled over the final bars before they are baked.

The all purpose flour can also be substituted for almond flour. If the mixture is too dry, add more coconut oil 1 tsp. at a time.

Pretty much all fruit will work in this recipe. I’ve tried most fruits here and they are always delicious!

If using fruit jam instead of fresh or frozen fruit, omit the starch step. The jam will already be thick enough on its own. Fresh and frozen fruit will need the cornstarch to create a filling that will thicken up and set once cooled.

If you use fresh fruit, mash it with a fork to release natural juices before spreading over the dough. Frozen fruit will naturally have more water content so I typically prefer using frozen as it creates the best thick filling. I did, however, use a combination of fresh blueberries and frozen strawberries for this particular batch.