The Berry Best Vegan Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Looking for a simple, healthy, and tasty plant-based treat that screams summer? These Vegan Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are the cream of the crop. And yes, they’ve got a little Darë in them (Original Cream Cheese in fact).

 

With strawberries at their seasonal peak right now, there’s no better time to turn these juicy beauties into something oat-erly delicious. These bars are the definition of easy baking: just a few pantry staples, one bowl, and zero stress. Plus, they’re dairy-free, optionally gluten-free, and ideal for a kid's lunchbox or your on-the-go snack.

 

A Bite of Berry History

Strawberries have been loved for centuries: Ancient Romans believed they had medicinal powers and in European folklore it was said the fruit of the strawberry, when shared with another, would produce love. Fast-forward to now, and we're layering them into crumbly, dreamy dessert bars and calling it wellness. Progress.

 

Wholesome Meets Tasty

These healthy strawberry oatmeal bars are made with real, nourishing ingredients. No refined sugar, no processed flour, just wholesome stuff that fuels you (and tastes like dessert).

Oats bring fiber and lasting energy

Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, manganese, folate (vitamin B9), and potassium

Almond and oat flour keep them hearty and naturally gluten-free

Chia seeds help thicken the filling while boosting omega-3s and protein

And of course, Darë Vegan Cream Cheese adds that signature creamy richness you didn’t even know your bars were missing

The result? A fruit-sweetened, healthy treat with major flavor. They're soft, chewy, slightly crumbly... like strawberries met a breakfast bar and they fell in love. 

 

Why You'll Love These Bars

- Vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and optionally gluten-free

- Quick and easy (10-minute prep, no fancy equipment)

- Healthy enough for breakfast, sweet enough for dessert

- Kid-friendly, adult-approved, brunch-perfect

- Fruit-forward, not sugar-drenched

- Freezer-friendly and picnic-portable

 

Whether you’re looking for a snack that actually nourishes or just want to use up those farmers market strawberries, these are your go-to bars. So get baking, strawberry season waits for no one.

RECIPE

 

Serves: 9-12 bars

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook time: 30 mins 

Ingredients:

Strawberry Filling 

3 cups diced strawberries

⅓ cup pure maple syrup 

½ lemon, squeezed 

1 TBSP chia seeds 

Crust & Crumble

2 cups old fashioned rolled oats 

1 cup almond flour 

1 cup oat flour 

⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce

¼ cup pure maple syrup 

1/2 cup Darë Cream Cheese, softened

Instructions:

First, prepare the strawberry filling. Add the strawberries, maple syrup, and lemon juice to a medium saucepan and bring to a low boil boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently. The mixture should thicken slightly as the moisture cooks off of the berries. Remove from the heat and stir in the chia seeds. Set aside for 5 minutes to allow the chia seeds to plump up and gel with the berry compote.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper or lightly grease with coconut oil.

Add the oats, almond flour, oat flour, unsweetened apple sauce, maple syrup, and softened Cream Cheese to a large mixing bowl. Mix together with a spatula. The mixture will be thick and sticky.

Press 2/3 of the mixed “dough” into the bottom of the prepared pan. Pour the gelled strawberry sauce over the base layer. Finally, use your hands to crumble the remaining dough and sprinkle it over the top.

Bake for 28-30 minutes, until the crumb topping is crisp and lightly browned on top.

Allow the pan to cool completely before slicing into bars.

Store leftover Strawberry Oatmeal Bars in the refrigerator for up to one week and in the freezer for several months.