Oat 'N Berry Bars
Bright, sweet, and floral Ecuador V. tahitensis Vanilla beans pair beautifully with fruit-based treats, like these delightful Oat n' Berry Bars! Serve them at dessert or breakfast--adding extra seeds and oodles of fresh berries makes these bars naturally high in fiber, while the buttery crunch of oats and soft vanilla highlights are decadent enough to enjoy any time of the day.
- 3 cups Rolled Oats
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
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Optional: 1/4 cup chia seeds, 1/8 cup flax seeds, 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 TBSP vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2-3 cups berries (blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, or a mix are great)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix together the oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. For extra fiber and crunch, add chia seeds and/or flax seeds. In a separate bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract together. Mix in the egg. Fold in all the dry ingredients.
Line a Chunky Candy Pan with parchment paper, or grease a 13x9 pan, and press 2/3 of the oat mixture in the bottom. Top with all the berries. If using frozen berries, thaw them before adding them in. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the top in haphazard, charming pieces. Bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes, until the oats are brown and toasted, the berries are bubbling, and your house smells like heaven.
Let cool before cutting into bars. If desired, drizzle with a simple vanilla bean glaze. Can easily be wrapped with plastic wrap or parchment paper and frozen for grab-and-go breakfast options! Makes 24 servings. Will keep at room temperature for 4-7 days, or frozen for 2-3 months.
Vanilla Bean Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- caviar of 1 vanilla bean
- 2-4 tbsp of milk
Whisk everything together, adding one tablespoon of milk at a time, until the glaze reaches the desired texture. Drizzle ribbons of glaze over the bars.