Healthy Strawberry Oat Squares with Homemade Jam

By Lynxa

These squares are similar in taste to a strawberry nutri-grain bar.

Ingredients

• OAT BASE-
• 1 1/2 cups regular oats
• 1 cup whole-grain Kamut flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup Sucanat sugar (or brown sugar)
• 1 chia egg (1 tbsp chia seeds+ 4 tbsp warm water, mixed)
• 1/2 cup mix of melted coconut oil and olive oil
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp almond milk
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds (for topping only)
• STRAWBERRY JAM- (or use 1 cup of healthy jam)
• 2 1/4 cups strawberries, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
• 3-4 tbsp sugar to taste
• 1 tbsp chia seeds

Details

Adapted from ohsheglows.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350F.
Line a square pan (9×9) with parchment paper and oil the sides of the pan and base.

JAM- (skip if using premade)
In a medium sized pot, add the chopped strawberries and sugar. Heat over low until the strawberries begin to sweat and it gets a bit watery. Once it heats down a bit, add in the chia seeds, and stir well. Bring to a boil and then simmer over low to medium heat for at least 10 minutes. Once it has thickened a bit, remove from heat and cool for 5-10 mins. You may also add arrowroot powder to thicken it up more if desired.

OAT BASE-In a small bowl, mix the chia or flax egg and set aside. In a large bowl, mix the oat base dry ingredients: oats, flour, Sucanat/brown sugar, baking soda, salt. In a small bowl, mix the melted earth balance, maple syrup, almond milk, and chia egg. Stir well. Add the wet mixture (reserving 1/2 cup of the mixture) to the dry and mix well, using hands if necessary. Pour the oat mixture onto the square pan and press down with fingers. Use a pastry roller to smooth out if desired. Pour on strawberry mixture and smooth out. Now sprinkle on the reserved 1/2 cup oat mixture and sprinkle on. Now sprinkle on 1 tbsp of sesame seeds or coconut. Bake at 350F for approximately 30 minutes. Allow to fully cool for at least 30-40 minutes before gently removing from pan. Slice and then store in a container in the fridge to keep firm or wrap well and freeze.

OPTIONS-
You could try making blueberry, raspberry, pumpkin or even peach jam!
Replace half of the butter/oil with peanut butter for PB&J squares!