Berry Oat Breakfast Bars

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line a 9-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of rolled oats, 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of table salt. Mix these dry ingredients thoroughly.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup of melted coconut oil, 1/3 cup of maple syrup, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until well combined.

Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. The mixture should be slightly moist and clumpy.

In another small bowl, mix 1 cup of frozen mixed berries with 1/4 cup of chia seeds and 1/4 cup of water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the chia seeds start to gel, creating a berry-chia jam.

Press about two-thirds of the oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, forming a firm base.

Spread the berry-chia jam over the oat base in an even layer.

Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the top of the berry layer, lightly pressing it down.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bars are set.

Remove from the oven and let cool in the dish for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Once cooled, cut into bars. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.