This recipe came about because I had fruit I needed to use up and at the same time I received an email with this recipe. Perfect – as I had all of the ingredients!
Normally, I like to have some kind of fruit for breakfast whether it is half a grapefruit, strawberries and cottage cheese, orange segments or just a bowl of mixed fruit. A while back I made some healthy breakfast cookies that I love and are even good straight from the freezer! This is another breakfast treat but in bar form by the same author sallysbakingaddiction.com. Some might call these bars a dessert – they are delicious any time of the day.
There’s a crust layer with oats, almond butter and I even got to use my home made unsweetened applesauce. Followed by a cooked berry filling and then a streusel to make these bars complete. So I still get my fruit but with a sweet twist.
Three Berry Streusel Bars
Berry Filling:
- 1-1/2 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1-1/2 tbsp. water
- 2 cups fresh or frozen mixed berries (do not thaw frozen berries) I used Sally’s suggestion of 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup raspberries and 1/2 cup chopped strawberries.
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp. coconut sugar (I used brown)
Combine the cornstarch and water in a small saucepan until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add the berries, maple syrup and sugar. Stir the mixture gently as it cooks; bring to a simmer and allow to simmer for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. The mixture will thicken…. You can make this ahead of time; just be sure it is not hot or warm when you assemble the bars.
Crust and Streusel Topping:
- 2-1/2 cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats or quick oats
- 1/2 tsp. Vietnamese cinnamon
- 1 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (Homemade)
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- for topping: 1/2 cup sliced almonds or pecans, chopped and 1 tbsp. oats
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to life the bars out; set aside.
Pulse the oats until they’re slightly broken up. Pour into a bowl and stir in the cinnamon, almond butter, maple syrup, applesauce and melted coconut oil. I like to use my clean hands to mix as it is very thick.
Press 3/4 of the mixture tightly and firmly down into the pan. Make it as flat as possible and very compact. This will help the bars to hold their shape. Spread cooled berry filling evenly on top.
Mix the almonds into the remaining 1/4 cup crust mixture. Sprinkle all over the top of the berry filling. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of oats on top.
Bake for 27-31 minutes or until the topping is lightly browned. Remove from the oven and place on a rack to cool. After an hour cooling at room temperature, you can place the pan in the refrigerator to finish cooling.
Cut into squares and store bars in the refrigerator for upto 1 week.
To freeze; layer the cooled and cut bars between sheets of parchment in a bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Recipe by cookingwithauntjuju.com
Lots of healthy ingredients…
Look’s Berrylicious. 🍃🍓🫐😍🍃
Three berrydelicious 🙂
Excellent! 👏
These look so delicious! I like the idea of using almond butter, as it would be perfect for vegan guests. 🙂
Thanks Ronit – they were very good. This kind of recipe doesn’t make you feel so guilty – I love almond butter 🙂
certainly sounds delicious. i do love berries!
Me too Sherry – it’s a good recipe 🙂
These sound like a delicious way to start the morning.
This Three Berry Streusel Bars recipe from Cooking with Aunt Juju sounds absolutely amazing! The combination of three different berries in a delicious streusel bar is a delightful treat. The presentation is visually appealing, with the vibrant colors of the berries and the crumbly streusel topping. The preparation process appears to be straightforward, allowing the natural sweetness of the berries to shine through. It’s a recipe that promises a burst of fruity flavors and a delightful crumbly texture, making it a perfect dessert or snack option for berry lovers.