The Best Blueberry Oat Streusel Bars

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The best blueberry oat streusel bar recipe belongs in the make it simple, make it better recipe category. What makes it a better recipe is that it’s made with whole-grain flour rather than white flour and half of the oil has been replaced with applesauce. By making these slight adjustments, it is a healthier recipe, and by using rolled oats we added more fiber.

Baking as Therapy:

Some time ago I found a Huffington Post article that explains the benefits of baking for other peopleBaking can be therapy. Any activity which takes your attention – especially if it’s simple and repetitive – can have a meditative quality. Over the years, I’ve learned that food helps to build trust and opens a way for communication. During these Covid 19 times and the impact, isolation has had on all of us, I think you agree, we can all use a sense of well-being. So baking with your family and getting everyone engaged is a better way to spend a dayA study, published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, suggests that people who frequently take a turn at small, creative projects like cooking or baking report feeling more relaxed and happier in their everyday lives.

Blueberry and Oat Streusel Bars

Blueberries Facts:

Blueberries are often labeled as a superfood; they are low in calories and incredibly good for you.
To find information and the benefits of blueberries follow this link:  10 proven benefits of Blueberries.
Blueberries are among the most nutrient-dense berries. A one-cup (148-gram) serving of blueberries contains:

Fiber: 4 grams
Vitamin C: 24% of the RDI
Vitamin K: 36% of the RDI
Manganese: 25% of the RDI

They are also about 85% water, and an entire cup contains only 84 calories, with 15 grams of carbohydratesCalorie for calorie makes them an excellent source of several important nutrients. One cup of blueberries delivers 14% of the recommended daily dose of fiber and nearly a quarter of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.

Recommended Dietary Intake of Nutrients:

Blueberries make a great contribution to meeting the Recommended Daily Intake of nutrients. A Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI), sometimes referred to as recommended daily intake, is the average daily intake level of a particular nutrient that is likely to meet the nutrient requirements of 97-98% of healthy individuals in a particular life stage or gender group.

Blueberry and Oat Streusel Bars

Fresh Berries vs Frozen Berries:

There are definitely applications for both fresh and frozen blueberries. The North American blueberry season and harvest run from April to late September. Then, imports from South America fill the grocery store shelves from October to March. You may be surprised, research shows that frozen blueberries might have the edge over fresh berries when it comes to health. They are picked at the peak of the season and are flash-frozen. Frozen blueberries contain the same nutrients as fresh blueberries.

Blueberry and Oat Streusel Bars

The Berry Filling:

Depending on the season, you might have a ton of fresh fruit on hand and want to use them for a filling or topping. Either fresh or frozen blueberries work with this recipe. In this recipe, frozen Michigan blueberries make the perfect spread for blueberry oat streusel bars. I’m a big fan of fresh berries, picked, and served in the season. However out of season, frozen berries save you money and as a bonus, they keep well in the freezer, for up to 10 months.

The Oat Crust & Oat Streusel:

The crust and streusel for the blueberry oat streusel bar are made from the same recipe, so it’s very convenient. I love streusel, full of buttery flavor and sweetness from the brown sugar. This oat-crust streusel topping can be used as well to top pies, muffins, cakes, and bread. There are a few basic steps to create a streusel topping. Small pieces of cold butter are blended into the oatmeal, flour, and sugar mix, and blended for about 5 minutes at medium speed. The mixture should be crumbly and not cohesive.

Oats 101: 

Oats are really unique in the nourishment and health benefits they deliver. They are high in fiber, low in fat, and offer high amounts of vitamins and minerals. Oats are among the world’s healthiest grains and a good source of many vitamins, minerals, and unique plant compounds.
I recommend using rolled oats for the blueberry oat streusel bars. Rolled oats are thicker than quick-cooking oats. Plus rolled oats tend to be chewier in texture. It’s often referred to as bake with them as they produce a fluffier, heartier product. I tested my blueberry oat streusel bars with both quick oats and rolled oats. I realized quickly that baking with the quick oats resulted in a very disappointing bar; they tend to become mushy and almost seem to disappear in the final product. Stick with the rolled oats for this recipe.

How to Read Food Labels:

We all look at food labels for different reasons. But whatever the reason, many of us would like to know how to use this information more effectively and easily. I have attached a great link, on how to read nutrition labels from the American Heart Association that will help you make healthier choices to reduce your risk of heart disease, manage an existing disease, or care for a loved one.

 

Blueberry and Oat Streusel Bars

The Best Blueberry Oat Streusel Bar

The Taste

Be warned they are addictive.
The brown sugar adds sweetness and flavor due to the Molasses that is in the sugar.
A moist streusel oat bar with just plain good berry flavor.

The Process

It’s as simple as it gets.
Easy to bake

The Verdict 

One of my favorite recipes to bake.
An awesome dessert or a late afternoon snack.
The perfect snack for the kid’s backpack.

Blueberry Bar

The Best Blueberry Oat Streusel Bars

Chef Norbert
Be warned they are addictive. A moist streusel oat bar with just plain good berry flavor. 
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 40
Calories 179 kcal

Recommended Equipment

Sauce Pan 1.5 Qt
KitchenAid® Mixer
Half Sheet Pan
Spatula High Heat

Ingredients
 
 

Blueberry filling

  • 24 ounce blueberries frozen
  • 6 ounce sugar
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 ounce cold water

Dough

Instructions
 

Cook the blueberries

  • Combine frozen blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, cook until thick stirring frequently.
    3 tbsp cornstarch, 2 ounce cold water, 6 ounce sugar

Make the dough

  • Place flour, oats, and brown sugar into a mixing bowl. Blend until combined. Cut chilled butter into small pieces, add to flour, add vanilla extract and mix until the mixture resembles a coarse consistency. Add oil and apple sauce and blend for about 5 minutes to a crumble.
    1 pound whole wheat flour, 12 ounce old fashioned oatmeal, 12 ounce light brown sugar, 10 ounce butter, salted, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 4 ounce apple sauce, unsweetened, 4 ounce extra virgin olive oil

Assemble the oat streusel bars

  • Preheat oven to 350 F. Set aside approximately 1/3 of the flour crumble mixture. Pour the remaining flour crumble mixture into a parchment-lined half-sheet pan. Pat flour crumble mixture into an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Spread blueberry mixture on top all the way to the edges. Top blueberry mixture with reserved streusel.

Bake and cut the bars

  • Bake at 350 F in the oven for 40 minutes or until the streusel is lightly browned and the filling is bubbling. Cool and cut into 40 bars.

Chef Notes

There are definitely applications for both fresh and frozen blueberries. The North American blueberry season and harvest run from April to late September. Then, imports from South America fill the grocery store shelves from October to March. You may be surprised, research shows that frozen blueberries might have the edge over fresh berries when it comes to health. They are picked at the peak of the season and are flash-frozen. Frozen blueberries contain the same nutrients as fresh blueberries.

Nutrition

Serving: 1each | Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate

Keyword Bakery
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Join the Conversation

  1. Nice texture, not too sweet and certainly yummy.

    1. Norbert Author says:

      David, thank you for the feedback, glad you enjoyed the recipe, one of my favorites, easy to bake and big in flavor

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