These bars can be easily turned into a gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free snack with appropriate substitutions discussed in the post below.
Why you’ll love this recipe
If you love baking goodies using berries, then be sure to check out my readers’ favorite Strawberry cupcakes with buttercream frosting recipe, my kids’ favorite Strawberry turnovers and Strawberry shortcake recipes. My personal favorites are Strawberry tarts and Rustic apple blackberry pie - so give them a try.
Ingredients
Rolled oats: Provide a hearty and nutritious base for the bars, adding fiber and protein to the recipe. Blackberries: Add natural sweetness and a burst of flavor while also providing antioxidants and vitamins. Brown sugar: Provides sweetness and helps to bind the ingredients together. Flour: Provides structure and helps to hold the bars together. Baking powder: Helps in making the bars light and airy. Butter: Adds richness and helps to bind the ingredients together. Coconut: Adds a unique tropical nutty aroma and crunch to the bars. Salt: Enhances the flavor and balances out the sweetness.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
Substitutions
Rolled oats: Substitute with quick oats, steel-cut oats, or a blend of different types of oats. Blackberries: Use other types of berries such as blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries, or use other fruit such as apples or peaches. Brown sugar: Use white sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey. Flour: You can use gluten-free flour or almond flour if you need to avoid AP flour or wheat. Baking powder: Substitute with ½ teaspoon on baking soda. Butter: Feel free to use coconut oil, vegetable oil, or another type of oil or fat. Coconut: Replace this with an equal amount of chopped nuts of your choice, such as pecans, almonds, pistachios, cashews, walnuts, etc.
Variations
Mixed Berry Oatmeal Bars: Instead of just using blackberries, you can use a mixture of different types of berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, to create a colorful and flavorful bar. Vegan Blackberry Oatmeal Bars: You can substitute the butter with coconut oil or another type of oil to make the recipe vegan. Gluten-Free Blackberry Oatmeal Bars: Use gluten-free oats and a gluten-free flour blend to make the recipe gluten-free. Streusel-Topped Blackberry Oatmeal Bars: Add a streusel topping made with flour, butter, and sugar to create a crispy, crumbly texture on top of the bars. Blackberry Oatmeal Bars with Nuts: Add chopped nuts, such as almonds or walnuts, to the recipe to add extra crunch and flavor.
A great way to serve these breakfast bars is with some hot coffee or along with some cold berry-inspired drinks such as Strawberry banana smoothie, Blueberry mojito, or Raspberry lemonade. During peak summer, if we are having a brunch party, I like to also serve some Strawberry popsicles alongside my breakfast-lunch spread.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and keep it ready. Step 2: In a bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, coconut, brown sugar, and salt. Add softened butter and mix till the dry ingredients are evenly moistened and form a crumbly mixture. Step 3: Reserve ½ cup of this crumbly oatmeal mixture and press the remaining mixture onto the baking pan, and spread it evenly. Press the mixture using the back of a spatula/spoon. Step 4: Scatter the blackberries over the crust. Sprinkle cornstarch, lemon juice, and sugar on top of these berries. Sprinkle reserved oatmeal mixture on top of this and lightly press. Step 5: Bake for about 35 minutes or until the top becomes toasted and develops a golden color. Let it cool completely before cutting them into pieces.
Tips
Here are some expert chef tips to help you prepare the best blackberry oatmeal bars:
Storage and Make Ahead Instructions
Here are the storage and make-ahead instructions for blackberry oatmeal bars:
Storage:
Allow the bars to cool completely before storing. Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. To freeze, wrap the bars tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place them in a freezer-safe container. The bars will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Make-Ahead:
You can make the oatmeal mixture up to 2 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. Alternatively, you can bake the bars in advance and store them in the refrigerator or freezer until you’re ready to serve them. To reheat, place the bars in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes until warmed through.
Note: If you’re adding a streusel topping or any other toppings, it’s best to add them just before baking to ensure they don’t get too soggy when stored.
More Berry Recipes to Love
Did you like this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Recipe card
