Ok, so a lifetime ago I had a Starbucks addiction (just like everyone else). I was eating whatever, drinking whatever, and not giving a second thought to things like sugar content or overall health. My major weaknesses there were chai lattes and their much-loved blueberry oat bars.
There was just something irresistible about those blueberry oat bars. Maybe they felt less indulgent because they had oats and blueberries. I mean, I wouldn’t have ordered a double chocolate brownie daily, but a blueberry oat bar? Sure! Why not.. how bad could they be? Well, pretty bad.
Over the last decade, our collective health consciousness has undergone a major shift. We’re getting savvier as a whole about what we put into our bodies. We’re becoming more aware of what’s healthy and what’s loaded with salt, sugar, and fat. And while these choices are leaving us healthier, smarter, and feeling better, they’re also kind of breaking our hearts just a tiny bit as we find out how BAD some of our old favorites actually were.
Now, I probably wouldn’t order a blueberry oat bar from Starbucks or any fast food restaurant. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t still love and crave them! So these healthy Vegan Blueberry Oat Bars are my answer to that craving. And they definitely do the trick!
The sweetness comes mainly from overripe bananas and just 1/4 cup of coconut or cane sugar in the entire recipe. That’s 1/4 cup of sugar divided by the 16 bars this recipe yields. But you’d never know it was so little! The tartness of the berries, the sweetness of the bananas, and the comfort of warm cinnamon make these Vegan Blueberry Oat Bars as delicious as they are satisfying. I make them as a healthy dessert just as often as I do for a healthy breakfast!
How to make these bars
These Vegan Blueberry Oat Bars are easy to make and use just 9 everyday ingredients. Start by mashing up your spotty, overripe bananas until they look like a slightly chunky pudding. For the best results, I’ve included the weight of my bananas when I’ve tested this recipe. Since the size of bananas varies so much, weighing the peeled bananas will ensure you get the right texture at the end. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, a good rule of thumb here is 4 small bananas or 3 large bananas will do the trick.
Once your bananas are mashed, add your melted coconut oil and stir. Add the dry ingredients on top, and give them a little stir to mix the salt and baking powder into the oats before folding them into the banana mixture. Take half of the banana oat mixture and set it aside. Scoop the remaining half into a lined 9X9 inch baking pan or brownie pan. Spread it out and pack it down (especially into the corners) with the back of your spatula.
Mix up the simple berry filling, and spread it evenly over this first packed oat layer. Dish out the rest of the banana oat-crust over top, and pack it down over the berries. Pop the pan into the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top has browned and the middle looks “just” set. Let it cool completely to cut into bars that stay together, or grab a bowl and a spoon and dig into the crumbly goodness while it’s still warm!
These Vegan Blueberry Oat Bars are
- Healthy
- Minimally sweet
- Tart and full of berries
- Easy to make
- Use just 9 everyday ingredients
- Perfect as a breakfast, snack, or healthy dessert
- Satisfying
- Delicious!
More Vegan Deliciousness
If you make these Vegan Blueberry Oat Bars, let us know what you think with a comment or rating below! And show us your stuff on Instagram #plantednoshery. Thanks for your support in visiting our little food blog! Enjoy!
Vegan Blueberry Oat Bars – GF, Minimally Sweetened
Ingredients
Oat Crust and Topping
- 5 cups Rolled oats 500g
- 4 Spotty ripe bananas, mashed ~420g
- ½ cup Coconut oil, melted 110g
- 4 tsp Baking powder
- ¾ tsp Sea salt
- 2 tsp Cinnamon optional
Blueberry Filling
- 5 cups Frozen blueberries 560g
- ¼ cup Organic cane sugar or coconut sugar
- 2 tbsp Arrowroot powder can sub cornstarch or tapioca starch
- 3 tbsp Lemon juice
- ½ tsp Sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×9 Square Baking Pan with parchment paper.
- Mash your bananas in a large mixing bowl until they are runny with only small chunks remaining. Add your melted coconut oil to the bananas and stir to combine.
- Add the oats, baking powder, cinnamon and sea salt on top of the banana mixture, and give the dry ingredients a stir on top to spread out the baking powder and salt. Then fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, until evenly combined.
- Spread half of the oat crust mixture evenly over the bottom of the lined baking pan. Pack it down with the back of your spatula, and push it into the corners evenly.
- Prepare your filling by combining all of your "Blueberry Filling" ingredients into a bowl. Stir well and then scrape the filling out onto the bottom oat crust layer in the lined baking pan. Spread out the blueberries to cover the oat crust in an even layer.
- Then, scrape out the remainder of the oat crust topping over the berries. Use the back of your spatula again to pack it down tightly over top of the blueberries.
- Place the baking pan into your preheated oven and bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven when the middle of the bars looks set, but slightly more moist than the edges. Do not overbake, or the oats will dry out quickly. The bars will set as they cool.
- Let the bars cool completely to set firmly if you want to be able to pick them up and eat on the go. Or dig in while they're still warm for a comforting treat. Enjoy!
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