Chocolate Strawberry Oat Bars (Printable version)

Chewy oat bars layered with sweet strawberry preserves, topped with rich melted chocolate for an easy no-bake treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Oat Base

01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup almond flour
03 - 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
04 - 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey
05 - 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
06 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Strawberry Layer

08 - 3/4 cup strawberry preserves or jam, preferably low sugar
09 - 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries, lightly crushed

→ Chocolate Topping

10 - 6 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped
11 - 1 tablespoon coconut oil

# Directions:

01 - Line an 8x8-inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on sides for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, combine oats, almond flour, peanut butter, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until fully combined and mixture becomes sticky.
03 - Press two-thirds of the oat mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan to create an even base layer. Reserve the remaining third for topping.
04 - Spread strawberry preserves evenly over the oat base. Sprinkle crushed freeze-dried strawberries across the surface.
05 - Crumble the reserved oat mixture and gently press it over the strawberry layer to create an even topping.
06 - In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chopped chocolate with coconut oil in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until completely smooth.
07 - Drizzle melted chocolate evenly over the bars, or dip each individual bar into the chocolate after cutting.
08 - Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until the bars are completely firm.
09 - Lift the entire block from the pan using parchment paper overhang. Cut into 12 equal bars and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're no-bake, which means your kitchen stays cool and you can make them while doing literally anything else.
  • The texture contrast is addictive—chewy oats, jammy fruit, crispy chocolate all in one bite.
  • You can customize the jam flavor depending on what's in your pantry or what you're craving that week.
02 -
  • Don't skip the freeze-dried strawberries—fresh strawberries release moisture that will make your bars soggy, but freeze-dried ones stay crisp and add concentrated flavor.
  • Pressing the oat base firmly matters more than you'd think; a loose base will shift when you spread the jam, ruining your clean layers.
03 -
  • Use room-temperature nut butter rather than straight-from-the-fridge; it blends into the dry ingredients more smoothly and creates a more cohesive mixture.
  • If your chocolate seems too thick to drizzle, add just another teaspoon of coconut oil rather than more heat—overheating destroys the chocolate's temper and shine.
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