Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

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

Craving for more oatmeal bars? Try my no-bake oatmeal bars, oatmeal raisin bars, and oatmeal chocolate chip bars next.

Table of Contents

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Key Ingredients
3. How to make strawberry oatmeal bars
4. Arman’s recipe tips
5. Storage instructions
6. Frequently asked questions
7. More recipes using oats
8. Strawberry Oatmeal Bars (Recipe Card)

If you regularly make my healthy granola bars but want something with a bit more substance to it, you’ll love my strawberry oat bars. 

They’re the best of both worlds. With a gooey, soft texture and delightfully sweet flavor, you’d never guess they’re packed with fiber and super healthy.

Why I love this recipe

• Diet-friendly. These bars are naturally flourless, vegan, oil-free, and made with no added sugar. 
• Easy to customize. You can add, swap, or substitute most of the ingredients to completely transform the flavor. 
• Perfect any time of the day. I’m a dessert for breakfast kind of guy, but they also make a great midday snack or post-workout treat. 
• They’re great for meal prep. These bars freeze like a dream and can be easily packed in a lunch box for a healthy treat.

Key Ingredients

• 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. If you follow a gluten-free diet, feel free to use certified gluten-free oats.
• 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.
• 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!
• Fresh strawberries. Obviously needed for a strawberry recipe! Reserve a few sliced up to top the bars with.
• Vanilla extract. Optional, but I love the subtle flavor it adds.
• Chocolate chips. Again, optional, but you can never go wrong with some chocolate chips!

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

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. 

Arman’s recipe tips

• Make ultra-gooey bars. Fold in ¼ cup of strawberry preserves for softer, more tender bars. 
• Adjust the sweetness. These bars rely on bananas, strawberries, and chocolate chips for sweetness. Taste the batter and add a dash of maple syrup or brown sugar if needed. 
• Don’t skip the 10-minute rest time. Trust me, if you try to move or slice the bars before they’ve cooled down, they’ll be way too soft. 

Storage instructions

To store: Strawberry bars should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week. 

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. 

Frequently asked questions

More recipes using oats

• Brownie baked oatmeal
• No-bake chocolate oat bars
• Oatmeal breakfast cookies
• Blueberry baked oatmeal
• Or any of these recipes with oats