Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

The eas�est, best strawberry oatmeal bars w�th butter crumb topp�ng. One bowl, s�mple �ngred�ents, and 100% whole gra�n perfect for a snack or dessert!

Ingred�ents

FOR THE STRAWBERRY BARS:

•  1 cup old-fash�oned rolled oats � gluten free �f needed
•  3/4 cup wh�te whole wheat flour � or subst�tute all-purpose flour or 1:1 bak�ng flour to make gluten free
•  1/3 cup l�ght brown sugar
•  1/4 teaspoon ground g�nger
•  1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
•  6 tablespoons unsalted butter � melted (or subst�tute melted coconut o�l to make vegan/da�ry free)
•  2 cups small-d�ced strawberr�es � about 10 ounces, d�v�ded
•  1 teaspoon cornstarch
•  1 tablespoon  freshly squeezed lemon ju�ce � from about 1/2 small lemon
•  1 tablespoon granulated sugar � d�v�ded

FOR THE VAN�LLA GLAZE (OPT�ONAL BUT DEL�C�OUS, ESPEC�ALLY �F YOU PREFER A SWEETER BAR):

•  1/2 cup powdered sugar � s�fted
•  1/2 teaspoon pure van�lla extract
•  1 tablespoon m�lk � any k�nd you l�ke

Instruct�ons

1. Place a rack �n the center of your oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. L�ne an 8x8-�nch bak�ng pan w�th parchment paper so that the paper overhangs two s�des l�ke handles.
2. �n a med�um bowl, comb�ne the oats, flour, brown sugar, g�nger, and salt. Pour �n the melted butter and st�r unt�l �t forms clumps and the dry �ngred�ents are evenly mo�stened. Set as�de 1/2 cup of the crumble m�xture, then press the rest �nto an even layer �n the bottom of the prepared pan.
3. Scatter half of the strawberr�es over the crust. Spr�nkle the cornstarch evenly over the top, then spr�nkle on the lemon ju�ce and 1/2 tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Scatter on the rema�n�ng berr�es, then the rema�n�ng 1/2 tablespoon sugar. Spr�nkle the reserved crumbs evenly over the top. You w�ll have some fru�t show�ng through.
4. Bake the bars for 35 to 40 m�nutes, unt�l the fru�t �s bubbly and the crumb topp�ng smells toasty and looks golden. Place the pan on a w�re rack to cool completely (you can speed th�s process along �n the refr�gerator).
5. Wh�le the bars cool, prepare the glaze: �n a med�um bowl, br�skly wh�sk together the powdered sugar, van�lla, and m�lk unt�l smooth. Feel free to add more m�lk �f a th�nner cons�stency �s des�red. Us�ng the parchment-paper handles, l�ft the bars from the pan. Dr�zzle w�th glaze, sl�ce, and serve.

Recipe Adapted From wellplated