Ingredients:
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats (old-fashioned)
- 1 cup oat flour (or all-purpose flour, or gluten-free 1:1 baking flour)
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- ½ cup milk (any kind)
- ¼ cup melted butter or coconut oil (for vegan option)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-Ins:
- 1 ½ cup fresh blueberries
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions:
Prep:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Grease and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides for easy removal.
Combine dry ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, oat flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
Combine wet ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter or coconut oil, honey, egg, and vanilla extract.
Mix batter:
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Don’t overmix.
- Gently fold in the blueberries and optional walnuts or pecans.
Bake:
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
Cool and cut:
- Let the bars cool in the pan for at least 15-20 minutes before using the parchment overhang to lift them out.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares.
Tips:
- Fresh vs. frozen blueberries: If using frozen blueberries, don’t thaw them first, or they can make the bars too soggy. Toss them in a bit of flour to help them stay evenly distributed in the batter.
- Substitutions: Swap out the blueberries for other berries like raspberries, or chopped dried fruit.
- Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for longer-term storage.
Enjoy! These blueberry oatmeal breakfast bars make a delicious and satisfying on-the-go breakfast, snack, or healthy dessert option.
