After indulging in several delicious desserts these past couple of weeks, I decided it was time to make something on the healthier side. A dessert that is good for your heart, body, and health, but tastes yummy, too. It has to taste good. Period. There’s no sense in eating something that doesn’t taste good. Healthy doesn’t have to equate to flavorless. I created a strawberry peanut butter oat bar that will satisfy your sweet tooth, but won’t have you regretting it later. Nope, you won’t have to spend extra time on the treadmill after treating yourself to one of these bars.

These bars remind me of a cross between granola and shortbread. They’re delicate, crunchy, sweet, and wholesome. They literally melt in your mouth as you eat them. Absolutely delicious and satisfying. And, there will be no worries or lingering thoughts of treadmills after eating them.

The ingredient round-up. You’ll need whole wheat and all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, brown sugar, almonds, butter, peanut butter, oats, and a jam of your choice. I had strawberry jam, so I went with that. Look at all those healthy ingredients just waiting to fuel your body.

You’ll need to muster up some strength for this recipe in order to cut the butter into the flour and oat mixture. You’ll bulk up your arm muscles while making this recipe.

Mmmm, jam. It adds a nice sweetness to the bars, and I love how it gets sticky and concentrated after the bars cook.

Enjoy!

Love and sweet treats,

The Messy Baker

Recipe:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup oats

1/2 cup almonds, ground to a coarse crumb

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

10 tbs butter, cold and cut into cubes

3/4 cup peanut butter

1-18oz jar of your favorite jam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch rectangular pan.

In a large bowl, mix together both flours, oats, ground almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry cutter, cut in the butter. Next, cut in the peanut butter. Press half the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Spread the jam onto the oat mixture. Sprinkle the other half of the oat mixture over the top and pat lightly. Bake until light brown, about 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely, and then cut into squares.