Strawberry Oat Bars
on Dec 30, 2023, Updated May 05, 2025
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Looking for a simple, wholesome snack that your toddler will love? These Strawberry Oat Bars are just the thing! Made with only four ingredients—ripe bananas, rolled oats, nut butter, and fresh strawberries—they’re naturally sweetened and free from added sugars. Perfect for little hands, these bars are soft, nutritious, and easy to make, making them perfect for busy parents looking for easy toddler recipes that are both healthy and delicious.
Whether you’re packing them for a lunchbox treat or serving them as an afternoon snack, these bars are a great way to incorporate fruits and whole grains into your child’s diet. Plus, they’re gluten-free when made with certified gluten-free oats, catering to various dietary needs. Make these strawberry oat bars today and enjoy a healthy snack for your toddler!

Why These are the Perfect Kid-Friendly Strawberry Oat Bars:
1. Nutrient-Rich Goodness: At the heart of these oatmeal bars are rolled oats – a nutritional powerhouse packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This fibrous hero supports healthy digestion and keeps your little ones feeling satisfied throughout the day.
2. Naturally Sweetened: We all want to provide our families with toddler-friendly snacks that are tasty yet nourishing. These bars are naturally sweetened with the natural sugars found in ripe bananas and juicy strawberries. This means you can enjoy that delightful sweetness without any guilt.
3. Wholesome Ingredients: With only a handful of simple and whole ingredients like bananas, oats, nut butter, and strawberries, these bars are a prime example of uncomplicated goodness. You won’t find any artificial additives or preservatives here – just pure, real ingredients that your family can enjoy with confidence.
4. Energy-Boosting Snack: These are the perfect on-the-go snack for your busy days. Whether it’s a quick energy fix before soccer practice or a healthy bite between errands, these bars are a fantastic way to keep everyone energized and fueled.
5. Customizable Creations: Feel free to get creative with these bars! You can experiment with different types of nut butter, add a sprinkle of cinnamon, or even dark chocolate chips for an extra layer of deliciousness. The possibilities are endless!
6. Family Bonding in the Kitchen: Involving your kids in the kitchen is a wonderful way to create lasting memories. Strawberry Oat Bars are simple enough for even the littlest chefs to participate. From mashing bananas to arranging strawberry slices, your kitchen will be filled with laughter and love.
What You Will Need:
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 2 tbsp nut butter (almond, peanut, or your favorite)
- 6 strawberries, chopped




How to Make Strawberry Oatmeal Bars:
- Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Get out a 7×11 or 8×8 baking dish (I like to line the dish with parchment paper for easy removal and a quicker clean).
- Step 2: Mix In the baking dish, combine the mashed bananas and nut butter, oats, and chopped strawberries.
- Step 3: Press Spread the mixture evenly throughout the baking dish and press down until it is about an inch thick.
- Step 4: Bake to Perfection Bake the bars in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until they turn golden on top.
- Step 5: Cool and Cut Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. Place them on a cutting board and slice into bars or squares.
- Step 6: Enjoy Share these bars with your loved ones and witness the joy on their faces as they savor the combination of soft oats, sweet strawberries, and the love that went into making them.

Substitutions
Nut butter: Use sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version.
Bananas: Unsweetened applesauce or mashed sweet potato works well in place of banana.
Strawberries: Fresh or frozen both work—just thaw and drain if using frozen. You can even swap out the strawberries for another berry.
Oats: Quick oats can be used instead of rolled oats for a softer texture.
Storing Extra Strawberry Bars
Store the strawberry bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can eat them straight from the fridge or put them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up. They also freeze well—just wrap them individually and thaw as needed for an easy snack on the go.
Common Questions
Are these strawberry oat bars gluten-free?
- They can be! Just make sure you’re using certified gluten-free oats. Regular oats may be cross-contaminated during processing, so double-check the label if gluten is a concern.
Can I make these without banana?
- Definitely. If you’re out of bananas or just not a fan, try using unsweetened applesauce or mashed sweet potato instead. The texture may be slightly different, but they’ll still hold together and taste great.
Can I use a 9×13 inch pan?
- You can, but keep in mind the bars will turn out thinner since a 9×13 inch pan is significantly larger. If you go this route, reduce the baking time slightly and keep an eye on them so they don’t overbake. I would even recommend doubling the recipe if you’re using a 9×13 pan, just cook the doubled recipe for a couple more minutes. For thicker, chewier bars, an 8×8-inch pan is best.
More Easy Homemade Snack Recipes
Veggie Fruit Snacks – These chewy little bites sneak in veggies and fruit for a snack toddlers actually get excited about.
Banana Bars – Made with just a handful of wholesome ingredients, these soft banana bars are perfect for quick toddler snacks or easy breakfasts.
Chocolate Veggie Muffins – Soft, chocolaty, and secretly filled with spinach—these muffins are a fun way to serve veggies without the fuss.
Dole Whip Popsicles – A refreshing frozen treat made with just a few simple ingredients—tastes like dessert, but made for real life with kids.
If you make these healthy strawberry bars, I’d love to see! Tag me on Instagram @reallittlemeals so I can see your toddler-friendly creations!

Blueberry Oat Bars
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a 7×11 or 8×8 baking dish, mash the 2 bananas. Add all the rest of the ingredients and stir it all together.
- Press the mixture down, it should be about and inch thick.
- Cook in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Let cool, cut into bars, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can’t wait to try this! I don’t have fresh strawberries today, but I’m going to try it with frozen to see how it turns out!
I hope it turns out great!
Is that a 13 x 9 baking dish? I can’t wait to make these!
I used 7×11, you can also use 8×8!
Hi
Is this for a 9×13 pan?
I used 7×11, you can also use 8×8!
Have you made these nut free? What could you use?
You can use sunbutter or honey (for over 1!)
Thanks for the recipe – I love how simple and delicious it is, and how easy it is to make gluten free! I added hemp hearts, pepitas and sunflower seeds and it worked out great.
Yay! I’m so glad you liked them!
My apologies, but this recipe is a little confusing. Are you baking the bars in a pan lined with parchment paper or a baking dish? Your pictures show a baking dish, but the instructions keep switching between the two and I’m not sure which one to try. Thank you!
Sorry for the confusion! It is best to bake in a parchment lined baking dish. The parchment paper makes it easier to clean, it’s not required!
Is this instant oatmeal or would it work with regular rolled oats also?
Rolled oats is best!
Can you use Quaker Oats? That’s all I have right now
Yes!
Just made these. Very good and very easy to make. Only question is serving size and nutrients
I seen one of the comments that you said you can use honey instead of the nut butter. Could I substitute nut butter for maple syrup?
That should work! You can also leave it out.
How long do these last? Can you freeze?
You can freeze for up to 3 months!
Would these work with other types of berries? Like raspberries or blueberries?
For sure!!
My 16 month old daughter loved this recipe! I added a splash of vanilla and some hemp hearts for extra protein. This is a filling snack and goes great with yogurt for breakfast.
My husband is a diabetic nutritional info ?
Could you substitute something in for the Oats? Maybe Amaranth? Quinoa? Millet?
Do these need to be refrigerated immediately or can they sit out for a few days? Mine tend to taste better without being refrigerated.
Thanks!
They can sit out!
Very good! My toddler was so happy to eat that special snack. However, the result is very wet, is it suppose to be crispy? Maybe because I put it in the frige? Thank you!! I’ll do it again for sure!
Can I use Great Value 100% Whole Grain Old Fashioned Oats for this recipe?
Yes!
They look good so hopefully they taste good too! Dumb question when it’s in the fridge or freeze do you just eat them cold?
Short and simple perfect
Baked them in a muffin tin and they came out great. My 15month old loves them.
Love your ideas. I am a Sr. with a light appetite (in my 80`s and love all knowledge of healthy living/eating — nutrition — have studied for my own interest and physical adjustments and helpfulness, too — eat simply and naturally. I am also sharing your site with a granddaughter by marriage and their new family — a toddler boy about 16 mos. and a little girl coming in Sept. These are nice ideas for little hands to feed themselves. Thank you.