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These hearty and delicious no bake vegan strawberry almond oat bars are so easy to make, gluten-free and oil-free!
I know it’s only February but I’ve really been wanting to make some fun summer inspired no-bake treats lately! Plus, it’s so sunny and hot in SWFL that it pretty much feels like summer 9 months out of the year, it’s kind of impossible not to crave summery no bake desserts.
Anyway, I was so busy over the weekend but I made up this recipe in my head (seriously) and I couldn’t want to get into the kitchen to try it out!
I know these types of desserts are typically made with a jam filling, but:
1. I wanted to make these as easy as possible and making jam would have required multiple extra steps and
2. Jam (homemade or store bought) typically contains added sugar and I wanted to avoid that.
Well, finally, on Sunday before we went down to the pool, I tested out the recipe for these no bake vegan strawberry almond oat bars and oh my gosh, we brought them with us and ate almost an entire pan! I am happy to report that the mashed strawberry filling is totally scrumptious and worked just fine in place of jam!
They are: so delicious, super easy to make, perfectly sweetened, filling and hearty, refreshing but also indulgent, and made with healthier ingredients!
Ingredients:
These bars are so incredibly delicious. They are filled with tons of refreshing almond and strawberry flavor.
If you need a yummy dessert option that doesn’t include chocolate, or a healthy on-the-go breakfast idea (for kids and adults!), these no bake oat bars are perfect! They are sweet, but not TOO sweet so we love them for breakfast!
The rolled oats, almond butter and almond flour also keep these no bake oat bars chewy, hearty and filling.
Here is the full ingredient list:
Rolled Oats
Blanched Almond Flour
Almond Butter
Pure Maple Syrup
Vanilla Extract
Almond Extract
Pink Himalayan Salt
Fresh Strawberries
How to Make No-Bake Vegan Strawberry Almond Oat Bars
First, line your 7×11 baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
Add all of the wet ingredients to a large bowl: almond butter, pure maple syrup, vanilla extract and (1/2 tsp) almond extract. Stir very well.
Next, add your rolled oats and salt. Stir until well combined.
Then add your almond flour, mixing until you have a nice crumble texture.
The oat mixture should resemble a crumble (see my photos) but also be moist, slightly sticky and stick together easily when squeezed. It should not look or feel dry.
Now, assemble your oat bar base. Reserve 1 & 1/2 cups of mixture for the crumble topping and set that aside. Then add the rest of the mixture into the prepared baking dish and press down, firmly, until the mixture is in a tight even layer. Place the baking dish in the refrigerator so the base can set while you prepare your strawberries.
Rinse strawberries very well in a mesh strainer. Note: you want to make sure your strawberries are juicy and ripe so the sweet strawberry flavor shines! Place them on a large plate, remove the green leafy tops with a knife, then start mashing! I use a potato masher and cut my strawberries first so they are easier to mash up. I like to leave a little texture as well.
When the strawberries are mashed, pour everything back into the mesh strainer to strain out all the strawberry juice. Take your time doing this, shaking the strainer back and forth several times, and ensure that the majority of the liquid is gone (or the oat bars could get soggy!)
Transfer the mashed strawberries to a bowl, add your 1/4 tsp almond extract and mix.
Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator, add the mashed strawberries on top of the oat base in an even layer, then top with the crumble topping. Scatter the topping so the strawberry layer shows through in some places. Press the crumble topping into the strawberry layer very gently.
Refrigerate for about 20 minutes, slice into bars and enjoy these vegan no bake oat bars!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
More Vegan No Bake Recipes
Vegan No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Cups [Oil-Free]
Vegan No Bake Cinnamon Donut Holes [GF, Oil-Free]
Healthier Vegan No Bake Samoa Bars [GF]
Vegan No-Bake Lemon Cookie Dough Balls [GF]
FAQ
Yes, any natural creamy nut or seed butter will work.
Sure! Just be aware that these bars will be much sweeter if you use store bought jam.
Yes, any liquid sweetener like honey or agave will work as well.
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If you make this recipe, I would love a rating and comment below! Don’t forget to take a photo and tag @wholesome.crumbs on Instagram!
No Bake Vegan Strawberry Almond Oat Bars [GF, Oil-Free]
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy almond butter needs to be drippy and soft!
- 1/3 cup + 4 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 + 1/4 tsp almond extract, divided
- 3 cups rolled oats use certified GF oats if needed
- 1 cup blanched almond flour
- 1/2 tsp pink himalayan salt note: my almond butter is NOT salted. If yours is salted, start with 1/4 tsp salt and then add to taste.
- 1 pound fresh ripe strawberries
Instructions
- First, line your 7×11 baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add all of the wet ingredients to a large bowl: almond butter, pure maple syrup, vanilla extract and (1/2 tsp) almond extract. Stir very well.
- Next, add in your rolled oats and salt. Stir until well combined.Then add your almond flour, mixing until you have a nice crumble texture.The oat mixture should resemble a crumble (see my photos) but also be moist, slightly sticky and stick together easily when squeezed. It should not look or feel dry.
- Now, assemble your oat bar base. Reserve 1 & 1/2 cups of mixture for the crumble topping and set that aside. Then add the rest of the mixture into the prepared baking dish and press down, firmly, until the mixture is in a tight even layer. Place the baking dish in the refrigerator so the base can set while you prepare your strawberries.
- Next, mash your strawberries Note: you want to make sure your strawberries are juicy and ripe so the sweet strawberry flavor shines! Rinse strawberries very well in a mesh strainer. Place them on a large plate, remove the green leafy tops with a knife, then start mashing! I use a potato masher and cut my strawberries first so they are easier to mash up. I like to leave a little texture as well.
- When the strawberries are mashed, pour everything back into the mesh strainer to strain out all the strawberry juice. Take your time doing this, shaking the strainer back and forth several times, and ensure that the majority of the liquid is gone (or the oat bars could get soggy!)Transfer the mashed strawberries to a bowl, add 1/4 tsp almond extract and mix.
- Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator, add the mashed strawberries on top of the oat base in an even layer, then top with the crumble topping. Scatter the topping so the strawberry layer shows through in some places. Press the crumble topping into the strawberry layer very gently.
- Refrigerate for about 20 minutes, slice into bars and enjoy these vegan no bake oat bars!Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Make sure your almond butter is creamy, soft and drippy so it mixes easily. The drippy almond butter also contributes to the soft chewy texture of the bars.
- These bars are not overly sweet so feel free to add an extra 1/2 – 1 tbsp maple syrup to sweeten them up a bit if necessary.
- These will soften up a bit as they sit in the fridge.
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