Ingredients
Crust/Topping
- 1 ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup chopped almonds
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup coconut oil, melted
Cherry Filling
- 2 ½ cups Northwest sweet cherries, pitted and chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust and Topping: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, light brown sugar, chopped almonds, baking soda, and salt. Stir these dry ingredients together until evenly mixed. Then, pour in the melted coconut oil and blend until the mixture is crumbly but holds together when pressed.
- Make the Cherry Filling: In a separate bowl, mix the chopped sweet cherries with lemon juice, maple syrup, and cornstarch. Stir well until the cherries are evenly coated. The cornstarch will help thicken the filling during baking.
- Assemble the Bars: Press about two-thirds of the oat mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 8×8-inch baking pan to form the crust layer. Spread the cherry filling evenly over this crust. Finally, sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the top to create a crumbly topping.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the assembled pan in the oven and bake for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cherry filling is bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Once baked, allow the bars to cool completely in the pan so the filling can set. Then cut into squares and serve. These bars store well in an airtight container for up to 4 days and can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Using fresh, sweet cherries is best, but frozen pitted cherries can be used if fresh are unavailable—just thaw and drain excess liquid.
- If you want a nuttier flavor, substitute almonds with walnuts or pecans.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free rolled oats and a gluten-free flour blend.
- These bars can be wrapped individually and frozen for up to a month.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
