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Mixed Berry Bars are a perfect summer treat everyone will love! Bursting with fresh berries and hearty oats, and a nice touch of cinnamon.
This recipe was originally published June 2016 and updated July 2020.
I recently have been buying lots of berries and fruit now that summer is in full swing. And these bursting with oh so many berry bars came to be based on a big old stash of berries that needed to be eaten fast.
These Mixed Berry Bars are perfect for a treat for summer but thanks to frozen berries, they are the perfect dessert all year long.
When it comes to a good crumble or crisp recipe, I like the crumbly, buttery oat part way more than the fruit section. So these oatmeal bars are my love language. More crumble in every bite.
Fruit and oats, right? You really can't go wrong! I mean, technically that is a good breakfast...
What you will need:
- I have made these oatmeal berry bars with rolled oats but prefer the quick oats. I think the quick oats form together better especially for the crumble topping.
- Any berries will do! I typically use any combo of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, depending on what I have on hand. If the berries are big, I cut them up. I always cut the strawberries.
How to make this recipe:
- Combine the berries, corn starch, sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside. If you are using frozen berries, thaw before mixing. (steps 1 and 2)
- In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, sea salt, cinnamon, and baking powder. Whisk to combine. (steps 3 and 4)
- Add the melted butter and vanilla to the oat mixture and stir well to combine. The mixture will be nice and crumbly. I like to take a spoonful or two for myself at this point--but not too much because I want the bars too! (steps 5 and 6)
- Press about ⅔ of the oat mixture into an 8x8 inch baking pan that is lined with parchment paper. I sometimes even spritz a little oil to the bottom as well. This makes removing the bars super simple in the end. But that is not necessary. (steps 7 and 8)
- Pour the berry mixture over the pressed oats and spread them out evenly onto the oats. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture on top of the berries evenly. Pop the berry bars in the oven--you are almost there! (steps 9 and 10)
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the berries are bubbling and the oat mixture on top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting. (steps 11 and 12)
Notes:
- If your berries are a bit tart, you may want to add another tablespoon or so of sugar.
- For easier and cleaner cut bars, refrigerate these berry oat bars for several hours before cutting. This makes for much less of a mess!
- Eat chilled or warm them up before serving. Topped with vanilla ice cream is always a win!
- For gluten free bars, use gluten free oats and an all purpose gluten free 1:1 flour.
Try these other recipes you will love:
- Zucchini Bars
- Nutella Crumble Bars
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
- No Bake Double Chocolate Raspberry Crumble Bars
- Coconut Almond Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie
DID YOU MAKE ONE OF MY RECIPES? LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW! I ALSO LOVE TO SEE YOUR LEMONS + ZEST RECIPES ON SOCIAL MEDIA–TAG ME @LEMONSANDZEST ON INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK!
Mixed Berry Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ½ c quick oats
- 1 ½ c flour
- 1 c brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 c butter, melted
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 ½ c mixed berries, fresh or frozen (thawed if frozen)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- 3 T sugar (more if berries are super tart)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a bowl, mix together sugar, lemon juice, berries and corn starch and mix to combine. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, sea salt, and baking powder and whisk together.
- Add in melted butter and vanilla and stir to combine. Mixture will be somewhat crumbly, and that is ok.
- In an 8x8 in. pan, lined with parchment, press ⅔ of the oat mixture firmly into the pan. Add the berry mixture on top to cover evenly.
- Sprinkle over the rest of the oat mixture to cover the berries.
- Place in the oven and bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until berries are bubbling and oats on the top are browned.
- Allow to cool completely before cutting.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If your berries are a bit tart or sour, I suggest using a touch more sugar.
- For easier and cleaner cut bars, refrigerate these berry oat bars for several hours before cutting. This makes for much less of a mess!
- Eat chilled or warm them up before serving. Topped with vanilla ice cream is always a win!
- For gluten free bars, use gluten free oats and an all purpose gluten free 1:1 flour.
vivian says
I found this recipe (for the crumble) too sweet. Can I reduce the sugar content and achieve the same results?
Lorie says
Sorry to hear that, Vivian! Yes, you should be able to lessen the brown sugar a bit and still have them work well!
Harriet says
Have tried afew oat bar recipes and this is by far the best one! Xxxx
Lorie says
Yay! Harriet so happy you loved them. They are my favorite!!
Misty says
I'd like to try this recipe but need to double it. What size pan would I use?
Lorie says
Hi! 9x13 inch Pan should work well for a double recipe.
Cristina says
I can't wait to try this recipe today! I made some oatmeal fruit bars for the first time with some jarred preserves and, while they were okay, the preserves were overly sweet and had a gummy quality. I decided that rather than trying to find a good jarred fruit to use, why not find a good recipe with real fruit! I'm going to start with frozen mixed berries first, and will let you know how that turns out! I do like tart fruit, so I am excited about having more control over the sweetness.
Lorie says
Hope you love them as much as we do! Being able to control the sweetness is key if you ask me!
Michaelan DeHerrera says
We really enjoy these bars. I make them with Huckleberries. I also added Tahiti to give them a nutty taste and it worked well. This recipe is my favorite instead of crumbles and crisps for fruit. We love the layers. Thank you fro sharing this recioe.
Lorie says
So happy to hear this—could seriously live on these!!!
Jamie says
A new family favorite!!! We love them with mixed berries, just strawberries or strawberries and rhubarb! You can't go wrong! So yummy and great with a scoop of ice cream!
Lorie says
Ohhhh I need the strawberry rhubarb!!! So glad you love them as much as we do!
Tiffany says
Have you tried freezing these?
Lorie says
Hey Tiffany! I have not. I imagine they should be ok though.
Isabelle J says
Lorie,
I've been following your blog for a while and I especially loved this post! Yoga (and running for me!) have been so therapeutic, as well as focusing on putting whole real food into my body. Thanks for being an inspiration! I would love to know more about how you do it.
Lorie says
Thanks Isabelle! I've always wished I could get more into running but it has never been my thing. Feel free to shoot me an email and I am happy to answer questions or chat more on a topic!
Nancy Finke says
Thanks Lorrie, we really do have a lot in common. I also collect quotes. I have them everywhere. I keep a chalkboard in my kitchen & my office to put weekly inspirations on. I will be trying Project Om. I'll let you know how it goes.
P.S. One of my writings that I'm thinking about putting on my blog (if I ever actually do it) is about the effect of yoga on my life. 🙂 You are a big part of why I do yoga. Thank you.
Lorie says
Nancy we are a perfect match! Can't wait to read about your journey!