Strawberry Bliss Bars

Strawberry Bliss Bars are loaded with coconut, chocolate chips, oats, and strawberries. They are perfect for any time of the year!

These Strawberry Bliss Bars are my idea of the perfect treat. Strawberry jam is layered with an amazing oatmeal cookie crust and topped with sweetened coconut and chocolate chips. They are truly blissful, and can also feed a crowd! I call that a double win. 😊

STRAWBERRY BLISS BARS

The homemade oatmeal crust starts with the essentials; butter, flour, oats, and sugar among a few other simple ingredients. This delicious mixture is baked until golden brown. Afterwards, strawberry jam is spread all over the crust. Once that step is completed white and milk chocolate chips and more oats are sprinkled all over the top. It’s then baked a second time until golden brown. After they have cooled they are ready to cut and serve!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; no good crust could be complete without this. If you want to watch your gluten intake, substitute with a favorite gluten free flour.
• 3/4 cup cold salted butter, cut into small pieces; this is a crust that you want to cut cold butter into. It creates that flakey texture that is irresistible.
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar; light brown sugar gives these bars a richer flavor.
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar; of course, granulated sugar is going to find its way into the recipe. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a sweet baked good without it!
• 1/4 teaspoon salt; this is for balance in the flavor. Even though it’s a small amount, it plays a huge part in the overall flavor at the end.
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; the slight warmth from the cinnamon also creates a heartwarming flavor to these treats.
• 3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut; this will add more texture and flavor!
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats; it is important to only use old-fashioned oats. Do not use quick oats or instant oats because they will make the bars too dense.
• 1 ¼ cups seedless strawberry jam; this is a great opportunity to use your favorite jam. Using homemade or local jam from a farmer’s market will only make these bars better!
• 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips; use your favorite brand of chocolate chips here, for pure bliss in every single bite.
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips; use your favorite brand of chocolate chips here, for pure bliss in every single bite.

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with nonstick spray.

In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and cinnamon until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 4 to 6 pulses. (If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a pastry blender to blend this together.)

Transfer flour mixture to bowl and stir in coconut and oats. Reserve ¾ cup flour-coconut mixture and set aside. Pour remaining flour-coconut mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake until lightly golden, about 15 to 18 minutes. Let the crust cool in a pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Carefully spread jam over warm crust. Sprinkle jam with white and milk chocolate chips. Sprinkle the reserved flour-coconut mixture evenly over the top.

Bake until bubbly and top is golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes.

Let bars cool completely in the pan, for about 1 hour. Using the parchment paper, remove bars from the pan. Cut into bars. Serve and enjoy!

SERVINGS

This recipe makes 24 dessert bars. You can also cut them into 12 large bars.

TREATS FOR ANY TIME OF THE YEAR 

Using strawberry jam makes these treats perfect for any time of the year! I like to make them for parties, picnics, or for when we go hiking!

ENJOY THIS RECIPE? HERE ARE A FEW MORE OF MY FAVORITE DESSERT BARS!

Blackberry Bliss Bars – Everything you love about the recipe above, only made with blackberry jam instead. They are just as good, and a delicious variation.

Apple Crumble Bars – This dessert bar is loaded with apples meant to go into a pie, then baked with gooey caramel and oats to top it off. So easy to make!

Golden Graham S’mores Bars – All the components you love about a S’more packed into one dessert bar with Golden Graham cereal as the star!

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