I’ve had this dessert recipe published on my website for years. I recently made 2 slight adjustments: the bars are now vegan and by pulsing the oats into a finer cut, they hold their shape MUCH better. They’re flavored with almond, cinnamon, maple syrup, and have plenty of berries in each bite.
Here Why You’ll Love Them
2 layers of cinnamon almond oat streusel Thick and juicy berry filling Only a handful of easy healthy ingredients Naturally vegan, but you can use an egg if needed No butter, white flour, or refined sugar Gluten free if using certified GF oats
Plus, they freeze easily AND they’re adult and toddler approved. They remind me of these blueberry banana breakfast cookies, which are equally easy and healthful. (Another favorite!)
Two Parts to Healthy Berry Streusel Bars
Overview & Photos: How to Make Healthy Berry Streusel Bars
Make the berry filling on the stove. It only takes a few minutes. It needs to cool completely before using, so you can make it ahead of time. Now let’s make the crust/streusel mixture. Pulsing the oats breaks them up, which helps guarantee the bars will hold their shape. (Very necessary with a juicy filling.) I actually started doing this with my peanut butter trail mix bars and it made all the difference—tight, compact bars! Mix in the rest of the crust/streusel ingredients: Press most of it into a lined 9-inch baking pan. Spread cooled berry filling on top. Add some sliced almonds to the rest of the crust/streusel, then sprinkle on top. Tip: For neat squares, it’s best to let these bars cool completely before slicing.
Substitution Ideas
Here are some ingredient substitutions I’ve tested:
Oats: Use quick oats or whole oats. If using whole, you’ll need to pulse them. If using quick oats, you can skip the pulsing. I will note, however, the bars hold their shape much better if you pulse the oats first, regardless if you’re using whole or quick oats. Nut Butter: Instead of almond butter, try peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter for a naturally nut-free option. Applesauce: Homemade or store bought applesauce works. Instead of applesauce, try mashed banana or 1 egg. The bars would no longer be vegan if using an egg. Maple Syrup: You can use honey instead of maple syrup, keeping in mind the bars would no longer be vegan. Coconut Oil: You can use melted unsalted or salted butter instead. Just like when you make no-bake chocolate fudge oat bars, you need a fat that’s solid at room temperature, so do not replace with an oil that is liquid at room temperature. Berry Filling: You need 2 cups of fresh or frozen berries. You can use a blend of mixed berries or only blueberries, blackberries, or even chopped cherries.
Are These Healthy?
I say this a lot with the lightened-up recipes I publish, but “healthy” is a relative term. In my eyes, these are perfectly healthy dessert bars. They’re made with whole foods like almond butter and fiber-filled oats, plus there’s no white flour or refined sugar. However, they may be too sugary for someone who needs to watch their sugar intake and they’re obviously not ideal for anyone allergic to nuts. When it comes to labeling recipes as healthy, use the best judgment for YOU.
I’m unsure of the nutritional information for these, but feel free to calculate it yourself using an online calculator and the exact products/brands you use.
These bars are among great company as one of my favorite healthy dessert recipes. Browse more of my healthier recipes, like peanut butter oatmeal bars, bran muffins, and no-bake Greek yogurt fruit tart. And for additional gluten free sweet treats, see my complete list of 40 favorite gluten free dessert recipes.
