Lauren Toyota's Baked PB&J Vegan Oat Bars

Oatmeal is filling and healthy— but sometimes you want a break from porridge for breakfast. With a little planning you can bake that oatmeal with peanut butter into a bar dolloped with your favorite jam. These bars are soft and chewy—and they make a great grab ’n’ go breakfast treat!

Makes 16 bars | Active Time: | Total Time: 40 minutes

Chef's Notes

HOT TIP: If you don’t require these to be gluten-free, then you can use rolled oats that aren’t specifically labeled as such, and you can substitute 11⁄4 cups of all-purpose flour for the GF and tapioca flours.

Nutritionals per serving:

Step 1: Make the Bars and Bake

1 tablespoon golden flax meal
3 tablespoons water
2 cups gluten-free rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
1 cup coconut sugar
1⁄4 cup tapioca flour (can substitute arrowroot flour)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup natural crunchy or smooth peanut butter
3⁄4 cup nondairy milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1⁄4 cup jam

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Line an 8 by an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper by cutting two strips both 8 inches wide and crossing them in the pan to create clean edges. Trim the excess overhang, if needed.

Combine the flax meal and water and set aside to thicken, for 5 to 10 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, coconut sugar, tapioca flour, baking powder, and sea salt.

In a large liquid measuring cup or another mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, nondairy milk, and vanilla with the thickened flax meal mixture until smooth. Add this to the mixing bowl of dry ingredients and fold together until fully combined.

Spread the mixture evenly into the baking pan all the way to the edges. Take a dough cutter or knife and lightly score or mark every 2 inches across in each direction, creating the indented lines for 16 square bars. Do not cut through the pan of oat bars at this stage.

Dollop about 1⁄2 teaspoon of jam on top of each square and gently press it with the back of the teaspoon into the top of each bar.

Bake for 25 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the bars look soft and raised.

Cool in the baking pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes before lifting out by the parchment paper edges and placing it onto the wire rack. Slice bars where you made the scores.

Cool completely before storing leftovers in the fridge. You can warm it slightly in the microwave for 30 seconds before eating. Consume within 7 days.

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