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Last Updated on December 4, 2024 by Kiersten James, BS, RN

Use up leftover berries to make these easy homemade berry oat crumble bars for kids to serve up as a breakfast or afternoon snack.

These berry oat crumble bars for kids were created and produced on a whim in my kitchen this morning out of sheer hormonal frustration. Despite my best efforts, I was not a functional adult this morning.

All I wanted to do was crawl into the fetal position, sleep, and not do anything important. Every single person who told me that cramps and outrageous PMS would magically disappear after my multiple child births was lying.

Naturally, the universe accepted my challenge of wanting to take it easy and gave me extra special presents. For example, having 5 loads of laundry to do but only 1 load’s worth of homemade liquid laundry detergent left.

Or like having to take the dryer apart because it broke after laundry load #1 to fix while at the same time, having my toddler see that the box of his most favorite oatmeal crumble bars from Costco was very, very empty.

The unfortunate empty box

In fact it was so empty that he ripped the bottom open so that he could see through it like a periscope to dually confirm that there were in fact no oatmeal crumble bars left. He then threw it at me and collapsed on the tile floor in an uncontrollable tantrum fueled by testosterone.

My glass of mom composure had emptied at that point so I cried, too. Then I put my adult face back on and realized I had some fresh mixed berries in the refrigerator leftover from my daughter’s birthday breakfast.

A lightbulb went off for damage control and I decided to make the filling from my fresh strawberry pie recipe but instead of a pie crust, I’d spread it on top of a more buttered version of the country baked oatmeal I make for the kids often during the school year.

Turns out these newly invented berry oat crumble bars for kids are a huge hit.

Everyone with unstable emotions is napping now (except me) and The Little Mermaid is playing so it was the perfect opportunity to share the wealth. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Berry Oat Crumble Bars for Kids Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fresh strawberries and/or blueberries
  • 1 heaping tablespoon of cane sugar
  • Juice of half of a lemon
  • 1 heaping tablespoon of Clear Jel or cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Step By Step Instructions:

Place berries in a medium pot and mash with a potato masher until the juices are extracted and skins break down. It will look like a car accident at this stage but I promise it will come together later and you won’t see, feel or taste the berry skins.

Add one heaping tablespoon of sugar and Clear Jel (or cornstarch as a substitute) to the pot. Juice half of a lemon and add that to the pot along with the vanilla extract.

Whisk quickly until the Clear Jel or cornstarch is entirely dissolved and no clumps are left.

Bring the berry mixture to a low boil over medium-high heat. Stir frequently to avoid scorching. 

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and allow the mixture to thicken for about 10 minutes or so while you prepare the oat/flour crumble.

Line a small baking dish (8×8 or 9×9 is fine) with parchment paper. You can trace the bottom of your dish and cut it out to get a good fitting liner.

Combine all of the dry ingredients and mix with a fork to break up any clumps of brown sugar. 

Add the melted butter and mix with the fork until a mixture resembling wet sand is formed. 

Press all but a handful of the oat crumble mixture into the bottom of the baking dish. I use my knuckles with a closed fist. Make sure there are no air pockets in the bottom crumb layer and that it stretches to all edges of the dish.

Ladle in the berry mixture and spread evenly with a rubber spatula or the back of a spoon. The berry layer will be almost 1/2″ thick.

There may be some berries leftover depending on how big your baking dish is. I store this in a glass container in the refrigerator to bake into something else or mix into yogurt.

Crumble the remaining oat/flour mixture evenly across the top of the baking dish. 

Bake for 45 minutes, or until the crumble is golden brown. 

Let the dish cool to room temperature before slicing and removing the bars or they will be prone to breakage.

Once cool, run a butter knife around the edges of your dish to loosen the berry from the dish. Cut 10 or 12 equal sized bars with a sharp knife. I use a spatula to help get out the first one or two bars.

If they are still a bit warm, you can place them on a cooling rack to finish cooling or serve to the kids. 

Storing Berry Oat Crumble Bars for Kids

Wrap any leftover bars in plastic wrap then store in an air-tight container. Refrigerate the bars for storage and take individual bars out to warm to room temperature the morning you think you will use them.

Berry Oat Crumble Bars for Kids

Berry Oat Crumble Bars for Kids

Yield: 10 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Use up leftover berries to make these easy homemade berry oat crumble bars for kids to serve up as a breakfast or afternoon snack.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh berries
  • 1 heaping tablespoon of cane sugar
  • Juice of half of a lemon
  • 1 heaping tablespoon of Clear Jel or cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

  1. Place berries in a medium pot and mash with a potato masher until the juices are extracted and skins break down.
  2. Add one heaping tablespoon of sugar and Clear Jel (or cornstarch as a substitute) to the pot. Juice half of a lemon and add along with the vanilla extract. Whisk quickly until the Clear Jel or cornstarch is entirely dissolved and no clumps are left.
  3. Bring the berry mixture to a low boil over medium-high heat. Stir frequently to avoid scorching.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  5. Reduce the heat to a simmer and allow the mixture to thicken for about 10 minutes or so while you prepare the oat/flour crumble.
  6. Line a small baking dish (8x8 or 9x9 is fine) with parchment paper. You can trace the bottom of your dish and cut it out to get a good fitting liner.
  7. Combine all of the dry ingredients and mix with a fork to break up any clumps of brown sugar.
  8. Add the melted butter and mix with the fork until a mixture resembling wet sand is formed.
  9. Press all but a handful of the oat crumble mixture into the bottom of the baking dish. I use my knuckles with a closed fist. Make sure there are no air pockets in the bottom crumb layer and that it stretches to all edges of the dish.
  10. Ladle in the berry mixture and spread evenly with a rubber spatula or the back of a spoon. The berry layer will be almost 1/2" thick. There may be some berries leftover depending on how big your baking dish is. I store this in a glass container in the refrigerator to bake into something else or mix into yogurt.
  11. Crumble the remaining oat/flour mixture evenly across the top of the baking dish.
  12. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the crumble is golden brown.
  13. Let the dish cool to room temperature before slicing and removing the bars or they will be prone to breakage.
  14. Once cool, run a butter knife around the edges of your dish to loosen the berry from the dish. Cut 10 or 12 equal sized bars with a sharp knife. I use a spatula to help get out the first one or two bars.
  15. If they are still a bit warm, you can place them on a cooling rack to finish cooling or serve to the kids.

Notes

Wrap any leftover bars in plastic wrap then store in an air-tight container. Refrigerate the bars for storage and take individual bars out to warm to room temperature the morning you think you will use them.

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