Strawberry Oat Bars

Ingredients

• 450g strawberries, fresh, chopped (3 cups)
• 20ml maple syrup (1 tbsp)
• 90g chia seeds (6 tbsp)
• 305g oats, rolled or steel cut (2½ cups)
• 1.5g kosher salt (¼ tsp)
• 128g natural peanut butter, salted (½ cup)
• 80ml maple syrup (¼ cup)
• 54g vegetable oil (¼ cup)
• 1 large egg (50g)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make jam filling: Simmer strawberries and maple syrup in small saucepan until soft (10 minutes). Mash with fork, remove from heat, stir in chia seeds. Cover and let sit 20 minutes.

2. 2

   Prepare pan: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 8-inch square pan and line with overhanging parchment paper.

3. 3

   Mix dry ingredients: Combine oats and salt in large bowl.

4. 4

   Melt wet ingredients: Microwave peanut butter, maple syrup, and vegetable oil for two 30-second intervals, stirring between and after until melted and runny. Let cool slightly, then whisk in the egg until well combined.

5. 5

   Combine: Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients and stir until well combined (mixture will be wet).

6. 6

   Assemble with swirl: Press half of oat mixture firmly into prepared pan. Spread all the jam evenly over the oat base. Drop spoonfuls of remaining oat mixture across the jam surface. Use a knife or offset spatula to swirl through all layers, creating a marbled pattern throughout.

7. 7

   Bake: Bake 35 minutes until top is golden brown and edges are set. Cool on wire rack, then refrigerate several hours to firm up before cutting into 16 bars.

8. 8

   Storage: Refrigerate in airtight container 5-6 days, or freeze up to 3 months.