These strawberry oatmeal bars are thick, chewy, and loaded with juicy strawberries. Naturally sweetened with bananas, they need just five main ingredients.

I developed these strawberry oatmeal bars because I wanted a portable version of my blueberry baked oatmeal. Don’t get me wrong, I love baked oatmeal, but it’s not exactly ideal for eating on the go.

I used my oatmeal breakfast bars as the starting point, but adding fresh strawberries completely changed the texture. My first few batches toasted great, but the bars turned out far too soft and fell apart once they cooled because the berries released too much moisture.

After a few more rounds of testing, I finally landed on the right oat-to-strawberry ratio, which gave the bars a soft, chewy texture while still holding together beautifully at room temperature. They’ve now become one of my partner’s favorite grab-and-go breakfasts for the office. 

Table of Contents

1. Recipe highlights
2. Key Ingredients
3. How to make strawberry oatmeal bars
4. Arman’s recipe tips
5. Storage instructions
6. More oatmeal bar recipes
7. Strawberry Oatmeal Bars (Recipe Card)

Key Ingredients

Find the printable recipe with full measurements below.

• Rolled oats. These provide a chewy texture that we love in bars. I suggest avoiding quick oats or steel-cut oats since their texture won’t work in this recipe. Gluten-free oats work just as well.
• Peanut butter. Smooth and drippy peanut butter with no added salt or sugar. I’ve also made these with almond butter, and they taste fantastic. For nut-free bars, use tahini or sunflower seed butter.
• Banana. Banana also helps hold the bars together without the need for eggs or butter. The riper the banana, the sweeter these bars will be.
• Strawberries. Fresh or frozen strawberries work. If you use frozen ones, I suggest thawing them completely and removing excess moisture.
• Vanilla extract. Optional, but I love the subtle flavor it adds.
• Chocolate chips. Again, optional, but there’s something special about the chocolate/strawberry combination.

How to make strawberry oatmeal bars

Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

Step 2- Combine ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, banana, peanut butter, and vanilla extract. Stir in the strawberries and chocolate chips. 

Step 3- Bake. Transfer the mixture to the lined pan and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips and strawberries on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. 

Step 4- Cool. Let the bars cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Storage instructions

To store: Strawberry bars should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week. I actually prefer them chilled because the bars become even firmer and chewier after a few hours in the fridge.

To freeze: Freeze the bars in a freezer-safe container (or in individual containers for meal prep) and freeze them for up to 6 months. Let the bars thaw overnight in the fridge. 

More oatmeal bar recipes

Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Oatmeal Raisin Bars

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

No Bake Oatmeal Bars