Lately I’ve been getting a glimpse into what life will be like with two big, burly boys eating us out of house and home in the not too distant future. As hungry as I constantly am, Lincoln, my teeny tiny 3 year old, has been giving me a run for my money – little man can put. it. DOWN.
Watch How to Make Them!
Like many toddlers, the L-man asks for snacks round the clock and if don’t stay ahead of the hunger he reaches hangry status fairly quickly. I always make sure he starts his day with a filling breakfast like peanut butter toast or Blueberry Banana-Nut Oatmeal, but as much as I’d love to start every morning with a bowl of fresh oatmeal, sometimes it’s just not in the cards. This is why I’m OBSESSED with these Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars which are like a bowl of oatmeal in bar form!
Here’s what you need to know about this recipe: Lincoln thinks it’s cake and I haven’t told him otherwise. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about feeding toddlers healthy food, it’s that they can’t be convinced something tastes good if it doesn’t. Isn’t that true for everyone though? That said, he’s needed zero convincing to chow down on these gluten-free bars made without refined sugar. They are such a win, and filled with healthy and nourishing ingredients.
Old fashioned oats mixed with milk, mashed bananas, coconut oil, honey, blueberries, and a few other pantry staples bake into soft and chewy bars that are perfect to grab and go on hectic mornings, or snag as a healthy and energizing snack. The flavor is a cross between blueberry oatmeal and banana bread, and the hint of cinnamon and vanilla truly makes the bars taste like cake. I have loved keeping these bars on hand not only for super easy breakfasts for all of us, but also for when we’re entering hangry-ville and I need something healthy and filling FAST!
Eat the bars warm, keep them in the refrigerator all week, or wrap in plastic wrap and stash in the freezer. In a world full of sugar and bad-fat-laden breakfast and snack foods, I could not feel better about feeding these homemade Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars to my boys. Join us!
Start by whisking the wet ingredients together in a large bowl. That’s 1 cup milk, any kind – I used unsweetened almond milk – 1/2 cup mashed banana, 1/4 cup each honey and melted coconut oil, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.Â
Note:Â the coconut oil might solidify a bit when adding the cold milk and egg but it will melt right back down in the oven. No worries!
Next add 1 cup certified gluten-free old fashioned oats to a food processor then process until it turns into flour (you could also try doing this in a blender.) If you want to use oat flour you may already have on hand, measure out a scant cup. By the way, I love GF Harvest oats which are processed using a product purity protocol!
Add the oat flour plus 1-1/2 cups whole oats, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to the bowl then stir to combine.
Last step is to fold in a heaping 1 cup fresh blueberries then pour the batter into an 8×8″ baking pan that’s been sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the sides are golden brown and the center has set.
Slice into bars then enjoy warm, stash in the refrigerator for the week, or wrap the bars in saran wrap and stick in the freezer for later. Whenever you eat them, ENJOY!
More Easy Breakfast Recipes to Love
- Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Mini Egg Bites
- High Protein Overnight Oats
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Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
Description
Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars are a healthy bowl of oatmeal in bar form! Keep these refined-sugar-free and gluten-free breakfast bars on hand for a healthy, on-the-go breakfast or snack option.
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups certified gluten-free old fashioned oats, divided
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk, any kind
- 1/2 cup mashed banana (about 2 small or 1 large banana)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- heaping 1 cup blueberries
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees then spray an 8x8" baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Add 1 cup old fashioned oats to a food processor or blender then process until oats have turned into flour. Set aside. (Alternatively you could use a scant cup oat flour.)
- Add milk, mashed banana, honey, coconut oil, egg, and vanilla to a large bowl then whisk to combine. (Coconut oil might solidify a bit but it's fine and the oil will melt right back down in the oven.) Add remaining 1-1/2 cups oats, oat flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt then stir to combine. Fold in blueberries then pour batter into prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the center has set. Cool before slicing into bars then store in the refrigerator, or individually wrap bars in saran wrap and freeze.
Notes
- You can warm the bars up for 15 seconds before serving after refrigerating if you like!
- I love GF Harvest gluten-free oats, which follow purity protocol standards for gluten-free oats, versus being mechanically sorted.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
My girls aren’t blueberry fans. Would they taste fine without?
Sure! Or you could use raspberries or blackberries instead.
I need more gluten free snacks for hubby (sounds like I will want these too!) and if they have blueberries in them it’s even better. I’ll be making them soon!
YES! I’ve been looking for breakfast ideas I can make on the weekends for a grab n’ go breakfast option during the week for our family! I even have ripe bananas I was eyeing yesterday trying to decide what I was going to make with them! Problem solved! Your recipes never fail us! Can’t wait to make these this weekend!
These oatmeal bars are perfect Kristin! I have two boys as well and my 5-year old eats more than I do with my 3-year oldfollowing close behind. The hangries are r
REAL. I just discovered baked oatmeal and have been making a big batch twice a week to feed us and it has been such a sanity saver (its also kept me from buying all the pop tarts and eating every last one by myself). I cannot wait to try these. Have a great weekend!
If you have no allergies and are short on time, would regular flour work out ok instead of making the oat flour? THanks!! Can’t wait to try these.
I was wondering the same thing. :)
I obviously haven’t tried it, but I bet it would work!
Inevitably, the only time I realize I’m low on pantry staples is when I find a recipe that can’t wait to be made. I ended up making these today with 3/4 cup all purpose flour and 1/4 cup ground flax instead of the oat flour, and they turned out fantastic. I’m sure all flour would be fine too.
What kind of coconut oil do you use?
I usually buy whatever’s on sale. Right now I have a jar of HyVee organic coconut oil.
I always have frozen blueberries on hand. Would those work in this recipe?
Sure!
I’m seriously making these TODAY! They look sooooo good, AND I have all the ingredients. That never happens! <3
Just popped these in the oven! My Ben loves to help me in the kitchen, a little more messy but fun.
Wondered if your food processor is a Cuisinart. If so, there was a recall on the blade if it has rivets. Mine did, and they are sending a new blade. You can check out cuisinart.com/recall if so to make sure your processor isn’t affected.
Thanks for the awesome recipe !! :)
Thanks for the heads up – I’ll check on that!
OhmygoshYES. How can tiny people eat SO MUCH, ALL the time?! I swear they would eat all day long if I let them. That said, we’ve entered a slightly picky stage, and most days I stress about what to feed them for actual meals. They loved oatmeal two weeks ago, but not now. They’ve loved bananas forever, but not today. So I will try these, because they involve things they love sometimes, but I’ll happily eat them if they aren’t interested. ;)
Yum! Do you think these would work with raspberries?
Definitely!
What can I substitute for coconut oil?
You could use vegetable oil.
These look so good! I love make ahead breakfasts =)
This definitely looks like something my 2 year old would like.
These look so good, I can’t wait to try them! I have a 4 year old who doesn’t like banana, do you think applesauce would work instead of the banana? Thank you so much for the recipe!
I think that could work! Let us know if you give it a try!
I have a son that is allergic to bananas. I’m going to try almond butter instead of bananas.
I am so glad you asked! Not a banana fan but these look so good! Going to try it our!
I totally get you on the boys eating a ton, my almost 2 year old can eat more than me at times!! It’s crazy. I can’t wait to try these!
These look great! We have an egg allergy also – do you think egg replacer would work? Or applesauce? Would it be better to bake them in a muffin tin then? (We do that with another bread recipe when we skip the egg and it works great! )
I would try a flax egg – I’m sure it would work!
Um. Yum! Definitely trying these out. And I already have everything but the blueberries on-hand :)
Love when that happens! ;)
These look perfect for my 2 year old! Question, do you think it would work to bake the batter in muffin tins?
Sure! I’d start checking them for doneness after 20 minutes or so!
These look great, can’t wait to try them this weekend! Between getting ready for work and trying to feed a toddler I generally end up eating in the car so these look perfect. Thanks!