Strawberry Oat Squares

Name: Strawberry Oat Squares
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup pitted dates; 1/2 cup warm water; 3 cups frozen sliced strawberries (or other berries); 2 tablespoons chia seeds; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla bean powder (see note); 2 ripe bananas, mashed; 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats; 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds; 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut; 1 teaspoon cinnamon

9 steps

Breakfast? Dessert? You can go either way with these fruity oat squares.

Updated at: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:05:43 GMT

Ingredients

9 servings

1 cuppitted dates

½ cupwater

warm

3 cupsfrozen sliced strawberries

or other berries

2 tablespoonschia seeds

1 teaspoonpure vanilla bean powder

2bananas

ripe, mashed

1 ½ cupsold fashioned oats

½ cupalmonds

finely chopped

¼ cupunsweetened shredded coconut

1 teaspooncinnamon

Instructions

Step 1

Blend dates with water in a high-powered blender until smooth, about 30 seconds.

Step 2

Place frozen strawberries and 1/2 cup of the blended dates in a medium pot, bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently and mashing with the back of a spoon or a potato masher to break up large pieces. Add chia seeds and continue to cook and stir for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Set aside.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil an baking pan (see note).

Step 4

Combine mashed bananas and oats. Add the remaining blended dates, almonds, coconut and cinnamon. Mix well. Pour 2/3 of the mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.

Step 5

Remove from oven and spread the strawberry filling over the baked layer. Crumble the remaining oat mixture on top.

Step 6

Return to oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until top crumble is slightly golden. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

Step 7

Note:

Step 8

A teaspoon of alcohol-free vanilla extract can be substituted for the vanilla bean powder.

Step 9

A 9x9 inch square pan works well for 9 servings.