Healthy and quick blueberry bars for Lunchbox

These delicious Blueberry Bars are like a blueberry crumble or blueberry crisp formed into little bars. They are made with an oatmeal crust and loaded with fresh blueberries. It’s a healthier dessert recipe that can easily be made vegan + gluten-free + refined grain free. You will love it!

This recipe is a little healthier and can be easily adapted for different diets. If you’re vegan or avoiding refined grains, sugars, or gluten, we have few simple substitutes that keep this recipe as delicious as the original.

What makes these blueberry bars healthier?

1. Tons of blueberries. Actually the amount of blueberries is doubled. Each bar is loaded with those big, plump superfoods. More blueberries = healthier bars.
2. More oats, less flour. Usually, bars have a 1:1 ratio of flour and oats. We experimented to increase the oats and it totally works plus we substitute the plain flour with cornflour. More whole grains = healthier bars.
3. Less refined sugars. You can experimented with different sugars and even coconut sugar works well. But kids do not like it very much, so we used white sugar but reduced the overall amount of sugar, both in the bars and in the jam. They’re still sweet and dessert-like, so there’s really no need for more sugar.

September is all about blueberries. They start their annual takeover in July and we pig out on them until September when we shed a tear and say goodbye for another year. Sure, there are frozen blueberries, but the fresh ones are the extra special treat.

So what makes these blueberry bar so freaking awesome, you ask?

THE CRUST: This is the kind of crust that isn’t going to fall apart in your hands the moment you pick up the bar. It has a little bit of a crunch to it, but not too much. It’s sweet and oaty and delicious enough to eat on its own.
THE JAM: This layer is thick as there are few things more disappointing than a skimpy layer of blueberries. The jam is thickened both with the natural pectin that is in the blueberries and with a little corn starch. It creates a thick, jammy layer that is the star of the show.
THE CRUMBLE: Any blueberry bar is only as good as the crumble on top. The crumble is the same as the bottom layer, but because it’s not pressed firmly into the pan to create the base, it stays light and almost airy.