Vegan oat bars use gluten-free oats and oat bran.
Oatmeal. The word invokes images of home, wholesomeness, and all-American goodness. When I was growing up, we ate cooked oatmeal every day for breakfast. Every. Single. Morning.
The only time it differed is when my mother forgot the salt. On rare occasions, she would fry slabs of leftover oatmeal (like a pancake) and we would drizzle homemade maple syrup and melted butter on top. That was a real treat! So, given my background, you can see why oats evoke lots of memories.
There was a time when oats were off-limits for the gluten-free diet because they could be contaminated with wheat. Thanks to several manufacturers we can now buy various forms of gluten-free oats and oat bran that are grown and processed in controlled settings to make them safe for us. So, here is a delicious, easy dessert that uses oats. Enjoy!
Gluten-Free Oat, Blueberry, and Walnut Bars
adapted from 125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes by Carol Fenster (Avery/Penguin Group, 2011)
Blueberries, cinnamon, and walnuts team up with rolled oats and oat bran to make a hearty, flavorful bar that is also quite versatile. Feel free to change the filling—-it is equally delicious using raspberry, fig, or strawberry jam. Or, use your favorite nuts such as pecans, almonds, or pine nuts. These bars are also vegan and freeze and travel well.
1/2 cup butter or buttery spread, melted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla, divided
1 cup GF Flour Blend (see below)
3/4 cup GF rolled oats*
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup GF oat bran* or ground flaxmeal
1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 ½ teaspoons xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2/3 cup blueberry jam
*Check with your physician before eating gluten-free oats.
[1] Place rack in middle of oven. Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously grease 8-inch square nonstick (gray, not black) metal pan. Or line pan with aluminum foil, leaving 2-inch overhang for easy removal. Grease foil.
[2] In medium bowl, combine melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in flour blend, rolled oats, brown sugar, oat bran, walnuts, xanthan gum, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until thoroughly blended, then press 1 ½ cups of mixture firmly on bottom of pan.
[3] Stir remaining teaspoon of vanilla into blueberry jam until smooth, then spread evenly on top. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly on jam, then pat to make smooth and even.
[4] Bake until top is lightly browned and firm, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool bars in pan for 30 minutes on wire rack. If using foil lining, invert pan onto large cutting board and remove foil before cutting into 16 squares. Otherwise, serve bars directly from pan. Makes 16 small bars.
Per serving: 175 calories; 2g protein; 7g total fat; 2g fiber;27 g carbohydrates; 16mg cholesterol; 119mg sodium
GF Flour Blend
1 ½ cups sorghum flour
1 ½ cups potato starch
1 cup tapioca flour
Whisk together and store in a dark, dry place.
