Berry Oat Bars
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Our berry oat bars recipe is perfect if you’ve ever needed a dessert that feels a little wholesome but still totally satisfies that “I want something sweet right now” mood. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to take them over the top.
Berry Oat Bars
Berry Oat Bars
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These dessert bars have a buttery, crumbly oat base, a jammy berry center that’s just the right amount of tart and sweet, and a golden topping that makes them feel like something you’d grab at a bakery (but way easier and way cheaper to make at home). Also? They come together in about 10 minutes of prep, which is my favorite kind of math.
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I made these on a whim with berries that needed using and now they’re firmly in the “make again immediately” category.
Why You’ll Love These Bars
- Simple pantry ingredients (nothing weird or fussy)
- That perfect sweet + tart berry balance
- Buttery crumble that doubles as crust and topping
- Great for dessert, but also totally acceptable as breakfast
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the crumble:
- Quick oats
- All purpose flour
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Brown sugar
- Unsalted butter (melted)
For the filling:
- Berries
- Brown sugar
- Cornstarch
- Lemon juice & zest
- Vanilla extract
- Strawberry preserves
Step By Step Directions
Start by preheating your oven and lining a baking dish with parchment paper. Let the edges hang over a bit, this makes lifting the bars out later so much easier.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, flour, salt, baking powder, and brown sugar. Pour in the melted butter and stir until you get a crumbly mixture. It should hold together when you press it but still feel loose.
Press about two-thirds of that mixture firmly into the bottom of your pan. (Pro tip: use the bottom of a measuring cup to really pack it in evenly.) Bake that base for about 10 minutes.
While that’s baking, make the filling. Toss your raspberries and blackberries into a bowl with brown sugar and give them a gentle mash, just enough to break them down a bit. Stir in the cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, lemon zest, and strawberry preserves until everything is well combined.
Pour the berry mixture over your pre-baked crust and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture over the top.
Bake until the top is golden and the filling is bubbly, and let the bars cool before slicing. I know, it’s hard. But this is what helps them set up into actual bars instead of a (delicious) scoop situation.
Tips & Tricks
If your berry mixture looks a little watery, add a touch more cornstarch before spreading it on the crust.
Don’t skip lining the pan, it makes removal and slicing way cleaner.
These slice best once fully cooled, but they’re also amazing slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2–3 days.
You can enjoy them cold, room temp, or warmed up for a few seconds in the microwave.
More Delicious Berry Recipes
- Blueberry Pie Recipe
- Raspberry Overnight Oats Recipe
- Strawberry Fluff Recipe
- Raspberry Dumplings Recipe
- No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe
- See all our best berry recipes!
How to Make Berry Oat Bars
Berry Oat Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups quick oats
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup blackberries
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- ¼ cup strawberry preserves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8" baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, salt, baking powder, and brown sugar. Stir in melted butter until crumbly.
- Press 2/3 of the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake on center rack of preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, in another bowl, mix raspberries, blackberries, and brown sugar. Lightly mash. Stir in cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, lemon zest, and strawberry preserves.
- Spread berry mixture over crust. Top with remaining crumble.
- Bake an additional 35–40 minutes, until golden.
- Allow bars to cool 40–50 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Use the bottom of a measuring cup to press the crust evenly.
- Make sure the cornstarch is fully mixed into the berries to help thicken the filling.
- Add a little extra cornstarch if your berries are especially juicy.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Tools We Love
- Electric mixer – You can use an electric mixer to whip it together quickly.
- Glass casserole dish with lid – I love this dish, it can go from freezer to oven!
Final Thoughts
These are one of those recipes that feel a little too easy for how good they turn out. Buttery, jammy, slightly tart, and just sweet enough, they check all the boxes. And if you happen to eat one for breakfast with your coffee, I support that decision.
Other Awesome Dessert Bar Recieps
- Sheet Pan Cookies Recipe
- Churro Cheesecake Bars Recipe
- Homemade Twix Bars Recipe
- Chocolate Toffee Bars Recipe
- See all our best dessert bar recipes!
More Recipes That Can Be Breakfast OR Dessert
- Lemon Bread Recipe
- Coffee Cake Muffins Recipe
- Cinnamon Roll Waffles Recipe
- Cinnamon Twists Recipe
- Monkey Bread Recipe
- See all our sweet breakfast recipes!
Frequently asked questions
Yes! Just don’t thaw them first—mix them in frozen and you may want to add a little extra cornstarch.
Absolutely. Blueberries, strawberries, or a mixed berry blend all work great here.
Yes, for best freshness and texture, store them in the fridge.
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