Strawberry oatmeal bars

This healthier spin on oatmeal bars is a delicious way to incorporate fruit into snack time.

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• ¾ cup white whole wheat flour
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, melted
• 2 cups diced strawberries, divided
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon  lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided

For the glaze (optional)

• ½ cuppowdered sugar, sifted
• ½ teaspoonpure vanilla extract
• 1tablespoon milk

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease the pan.
2. Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, ginger and salt. Pour in melted butter or coconut oil and stir until ingredients are evenly moistened and form clumps. Reserve a half-cup of the crumble mixture; press the rest into an even layer in the pan.
3. Scatter half the strawberries over the crust. Sprinkle the cornstarch evenly over the top, then sprinkle on the lemon juice and a half-tablespoon of granulated sugar. Scatter on the remaining berries, then the remaining sugar. Sprinkle reserved crumbs evenly over the top.
4. Bake the bars for 35 to 40 minutes, until the fruit is bubbly and the crumb topping is golden. Cool completely before slicing.

5. While the bars cool, prepare the glaze (optional): Whisk powdered sugar, vanilla and milk until smooth. Drizzle with glaze, slice and serve.

Source: wellplated.com

This article was originally featured in DiscoverYou May/June 2020.