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My alter ego Erin the Early Riser wakes each morning at dawn, prepares a wholesome batch of blueberry pancakes, then sips her coffee slowly and watches the sunrise. Real Life Erin rushes around like a madwoman looking for her socks, chugs her coffee over the sink, then praises the heavens for Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars.

Homemade healthy strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars with applesauce and almond butter.

I am chronically late. No matter how much time I allow myself or how important the occasion is, I never seem to be able to push myself out the door at the proper hour.

Honestly, I would have been late to my own wedding if I didn’t have six assertive bridesmaids shoving me into the back of an SUV (and a dreamy Strawberry Cake, erm husband-to-be waiting for me).

Inevitably, I arrive at my final destination frazzled and lightly perspiring, but these strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars are my saving grace (these Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats save me often too). Okay, I’m still frazzled and perspiring, but at least I’m not hungry!

Perfect for snacks (as are these Golden Raisin No Bake Energy Bites), school lunches, pre/post workout fuel-ups, and breakfasts on the run, these strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars are quick to make, freeze like a dream, and will keep you full for hours.

Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars on a marble counter with almonds and fresh berries

How to Make Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

Mealtime is sacred to me, but I don’t always have time to sit down for a leisurely breakfast. Strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars are perfect for hectic mornings where you need to take your breakfast on the go (I also recommend these No Bake Granola Bars).

Pssst…this recipe is the breakfast version of one of my (and your!) all-time favorite recipes, Strawberry Oatmeal Bars.


The Ingredients

  • Strawberries. Adds a fresh summer twist to standard oatmeal bars (and Strawberry Scones). I love how the soft and juicy pockets of strawberry contrast with the crispy-crunchy nuggets of toasted almonds and hearty oats.
  • Oats. Loaded with fiber, important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants oatmeal in all shapes and forms (especially Chocolate Oatmeal) is one of my all-time favorite foods to enjoy for breakfast.
  • Whole Wheat Flour. Its nutty flavor compliments the heartiness of the oats and sneaks in additional fiber, iron, and B vitamins. You could also use all-purpose if you don’t keep whole wheat flour in your pantry.
  • Honey. Naturally sweetens the bars without resorting to processed sugars or sweeteners.
  • Applesauce. My swap for butter or oil that cuts the fat without sacrificing any moisture. (These Applesauce Muffins also rely on this healthy swap.)
  • Almond Butter. For a little richness and a dose of healthy fats.
  • Cinnamon. Adds warmth and that heavenly aroma one usually associates with morning baked goods.
  • Almonds. For a little contrasting crunch, PLUS vitamin E, protein, and healthy monounsaturated fats.
Easy oatmeal breakfast bars with strawberries

The Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Stir together the dry ingredients.
  3. In a separate large bowl, beat together the wet ingredients.
  4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
  5. Next, fold in the strawberries and almonds, and pour into a lightly greased baking pan.
  6. Bake until the bars are golden. Let cool, then cut into bars. ENJOY!

Storage Tips

  • To Store. Once cooled, bars can be wrapped individually in plastic and kept in the refrigerator for 5 days.
  • To Freeze. Keep frozen in a zip-top bag for up to 4 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours before serving.
Healthy oatmeal breakfast bars recipe with strawberries and almonds

Maybe I’ll be punctual one day. Until then, I will continue baking strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars with Almond Flour?

I have only tested the recipe as written so it would be an experiment. In my experience almond flour behaves very differently than wheat flour in baking so it usually is not a 1-to-1 swap. If you decide to play around with it though, I’d love to hear what your results are.

Can I Add Banana to Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars?

No. Unfortunately, I think adding a banana to these particular bars would make the batter too wet and impact their final texture. If you’re looking for a bar with bananas, try these Oatmeal Breakfast Bars (they were the original inspo for this recipe).

Can I Make Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars Vegan?

I have not tried making these breakfast bars vegan before so it would be an experiment. You could swap the honey for maple syrup and try swapping the egg for a flax egg if you’d like to play around with the recipe. If you give it a try I would love to hear about your results.

Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

4.30 from 10 votes
An easy strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars recipe with applesauce, almond butter, and honey. The perfect healthy breakfast or snack on the go.

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 45 minutes

Servings: 8 bars

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 cups milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond, but any kind will do nicely)
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • 1/2 cup strawberries (hulled and quartered)
  • 1/4 cup roasted almonds roughly chopped

Instructions
 

  • With a rack in the center of the oven preheat it to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat an 8×8 inch square pan with cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a separate large bowl, combine the milk, applesauce, egg, honey, almond butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
  • Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir to combine. The batter will be very wet.
  • Fold in the diced strawberries and almonds, then pour into the prepared baking pan.
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until the bars are thickened and golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool, cut into bars, and serve.

Notes

  • TO STORE: Once cooled, bars can be wrapped individually in plastic and kept in the refrigerator for 5 days.
  • TO FREEZE: Keep frozen in a zip-top bag for up to 4 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours before serving.
  • BIG BATCH BAKING: For a larger yield, increase the ingredient quantities by 1.5 and bake in a 9×13 inch pan for 25-30 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 8)Calories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 9gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgPotassium: 353mgFiber: 5gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 118IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 131mgIron: 2mg

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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18 Comments

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  1. I can so relate because I am perpetually running about 10 minutes late, no matter how hard I try. And my husband is super punctual, so I’m usually the one who is dragging my feet. These look great! If I can’t use almonds, what might be a good substitute?

    1. Thanks so much and great question! You can omit the almonds (and almond butter) and swap in whatever flavors you like (other nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, etc.). If you don’t have a nut allergy, peanut butter would be great in place of the almond butter, but if so, feel free to leave it out.

  2. Mmmm I love strawberry baked goods! These look wonderful. Going to bookmark this one and replace the egg with some flax and see if I can tweak it! Fabulous little snack recipe! Drooling!

    1. Thanks Allison! I’ve never tried it with a flax egg, but that’s a great idea for people with dietary restrictions. If you try it, I would love to hear how it turns out!

  3. These look great! Seems they would be a quick breakfast or terrific snack. I’m looking forward to trying them out. Do you think maple syrup would work in place of the honey, or do you need honey’s sticky-ness?

    1. Hi Sheila,
      Sorry, I just now saw this question! You can absolutely use maple syrup. It’s more to add sweetness than act as a binder (the egg and applesauce will hold the bars together). I might have to try that myself next time–sounds wonderful!

  4. These look amazing!! Exactly what I’m looking for my sons lunchbox. Only problem is that school is a nut free zone. What can I substitute the almond butter and almonds with?

    Thanks
    Mushkie

    1. Hi Mushkie! I’ve never tried using something besides a nut butter in these bars, but I think you would try swapping sun butter if you like its taste. In place of the almonds, you could use other dried fruit, chocolate chips, or just omit them completely. I hope you enjoy!

  5. I am excited to try these bars. Question for you: I don’t have almond butter, is there any substitute that is just as healthy and won’t take out any flavor from these bars or add any sugar? Thanks!
    By the way, I love your blog!

  6. Would this work with blueberries instead of strawberries?  And could I also add  a banana without them being too soft/wet?  Thx in advance for the guidance!

    1. Hi Dee! I have a blueberry version here: https://www.wellplated.com/blueberry-oatmeal-bars/ I wouldn’t recommend banana for the reason you mentioned (too soft/wet). I hope you love these if you try them!

    1. Hi Kailey! I have only tested the recipe as written so it would be hard for me to say if you could or not. If you decided to experiment with the almond flour, let me know how it goes!

    1. I’m sorry to hear that these weren’t a hit for you, Lee. I (and many other readers) have really enjoyed them, so I truly wish you would’ve too!

  7. Are these supposed to be dense and somewhat tacky inside? Same with the oatmeal banana bread and oatmeal pancakes I made today from your recipes… I followed directions for all of them but man, they are sooooo dense, almost like undercooked but I went extra and they’re definitely cooked enough – flavor is awesome!

    1. Hi Allyson! It sounds like it might be an issue with the oats you are using if you had problems with all three recipes. Which kind of oats were use?