These blueberry pie bars are a healthy way to enjoy the renowned treat. They're made with whole grain oats, fresh fruit, and other nutritious ingredients. No pie crust needed!
These bars make a delicious snack or breakfast, and there's NO added sugar!
The filling reminds me of blueberry pie, and the soft, oat-based surrounding layers are soft and bursting with fruity deliciousness.
I didn't find the recipe needed any added oil or butter, as the fruit purees do an excellent job of adding moisture.
This recipe is a crowd-pleaser in our home, which is hard to do around here!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Pears - I like to use over ripe bartlett pears here, as they're very soft and blend well.
- Applesauce
- Baking powder
- Sea salt
- Vanilla extract
- Oats - Rolled or quick both work
- Blueberries - I use frozen.
- Apple juice - I use 100% organic apple juice.
- Tapioca starch - I've also used arrowroot starch with good results.
Recipe steps
Step 1
Gather the ingredients.
Step 2
Process the pears to applesauce consistency. Then, pulse in the applesauce, baking powder, salt, and vanilla. Add in the oats last and process for 1-2 minutes until well blended.
Step 3
Let the batter sit while you make the filling.
Add the blueberries and three tablespoons of the juice to a medium saucepan. Bring it to a boil, then lower it to a simmer and allow it to cook for 4-5 minutes. In a separate small bowl, mix the remaining tablespoon of juice with the starch.
After the berries have simmered, stir in the starch slurry. Keep stirring until the mixture is thick, then remove the pan and add in the vanilla.
Let the berries cool while you prepare the pan.
Step 4
In a well-oiled 8 x 8-inch pan, spread half of the oat batter. Top with the warm berry mix, and, finally, dollop the remaining oat batter on top of the berries, similar to how you would with a cobbler.
Step 5
Bake, cool completely, and cut to serve.
Serving suggestions
We have a few ways we like to eat these including:
- Whipped cream
- A dollop of Greek yogurt
- Schmear of butter or coconut oil
- Sprinkle of cinnamon or pie spice
If you like blueberries and sugar-free recipes, try my Blueberry Oat Bran Muffins or these Date-Sweetened Blueberry Muffins, which are sweetened with dates.
Blueberry Pie Bars
Ingredients
TOP AND BOTTOM LAYER:
- 2 medium ripe pears preferably Bartlett; about 10 ounces
- ½ cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ + ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups oats
FILLING:
- 1 ½ cups blueberries I use frozen
- ¼ cup 100% organic apple juice divided
- 1 Tablespoon tapioca starch
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- With a food processor, process the pears until they are applesauce consistency.
- Pulse in the applesauce, baking powder, salt, and vanilla.
- Add in the oats and process until everything is well combined.
- Meanwhile, heat the blueberries with three tablespoons of apple juice until boiling.
- Lower the heat to a simmer, and cook five minutes, stirring a few times during the process.
- In a small bowl, mix the tapioca with the remaining tablespoon of apple juice.
- Pour the tapioca slurry into the hot blueberries, stirring frequently for 1-2 minutes until thick.
- Stir in the vanilla and remove the pan from the heat and let cool a bit.
- Oil an 8 x 8 baking dish.
- Spread about half of the oat batter into the bottom of the dish.
- Top with the blueberry mixture.
- Dollop the remaining half of the oat batter on top, similar to how you would dollop biscuit dough for chicken and dumplings.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden.
- Cool completely before cutting.
Notes
Nutrition
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Dawn
that looks yummy!!!! i'm visiting my grandmother this weekend. i will make this for her!
Lauren
Thanks Dawn, let me know how it goes if you do!
Strength and Sunshine
These look fun! I love the pear!
Lauren
Thanks girl!
Cheri
Lauren,
What a great looking snack! I'm sorry you, like everyone else on the internet, get bashed by some of the haters hiding behind computers. Maybe there SHOULD be sugar added to get those people out of their sour state. lol While I hardly ever comment, but am a follower, I just wanted to let you know that most of us aren't critical and enjoy your posts. Don't let the few sour grapes spoil what you do. 🙂
Lauren
Haha, thanks so much Cheri! I think it's a part of every walk of life, not just blogging. I just get to put my rants in writing. 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
vanessa
is it possible to use another fruit instead of blueberries?
Lauren
I would assume so, but I haven't tried!
Catherine
well, there is a form of sugar in a lot of food, even in their natural state : grains, fruits and veggies, dairy... Sugar is naturally occuring and is necessary in our diet so let's not get crazy over that. Refined sugar is a different thing, of course we should not have too much of it if any. People are getting so obsessed with food nowaday; maybe that is even worst for our health because we stress and forget to enjoy and be grateful for all that we have.
athleticavocado
these would be lovely with adding some cranberries to the filling! 🙂
Liz
Yes, can we all just agree that people are CRAZY? I'm with Catherine. People are OBSESSED with food (probably, as she said, to their own detriment as stress wreaks more havoc than a crappy diet) and have completely overcomplicated the notion of "eating healthy". Now, that term is so subjective and so individualized, differing from person to person; it's come to the point that you can no longer call ANYTHING healthy.
But, that's one of the reasons why you are one of my favorite bloggers. You don't post as much as I'd like (I love your offerings so much, I want to be hearing from you every.single.day. :D), but you are open-minded and non-exclusionary (is that a real word?), without judgement and full of common sense. You do what works for you and respect that others do the same, without damning or criticizing them. (Plus, we happen to have very similar ideas and definitions of what "healthy" is. 🙂 )
You can tag or entitle your recipes any way you want. You're awesomeness allows you to do so. 🙂
Lauren
Hah, thanks so much Liz! You always know how to boost my ego. 🙂
helyndunn
Looks great! Thanks for sharing :))
Rebekah
If I used all apple sauce, instead of pear, how much do you think I should use? thanks! I've recently discovered your page 🙂
Lauren
Hi Rebekah,
I would be guessing...maybe about one cup? I'm not certain though.
Kathy
I use these as energy bars throughout a day and before i go to the gym! These are just delicious!!
Tori
Omg, so delicious!! I'm ready for my second batch, lol!
GrannyBird
What can I use instead of tapioca and pears?