A few weeks ago the kids and I were out in the early afternoon and the older two claimed to be hungry. Unusually, I had no snacks ready to go in my handbag so we took a walk down the muesli bar aisle to find something for them to snack on.
After I was done balking at the sugar content of everything we found some jam filled twist things that were almost acceptable. So I caved and bought them. Of course, ever since eating them the kids have been asking for more, so last night while they were sleeping I thought I’d try my hand at making them.
I’ve made a sugar free jam before that they really enjoyed, so using that recipe and making a pastry of sorts out of oats meant I could make these bars healthier than the store bought ones. Sticking to flavours they enjoy eating pretty much guarantees a culinary success.
And they were, Demi going so far as to say she liked them more than the store bought ones. These will definitely be added into the regular snack rotation. And bonus, lunchbox friendly and super easy from start to finish.

Jam Filled Oat Bars
Ingredients
For the Oat Bars
1 1/2 cups of ground rolled oats or oat flour
1/2 a cup of wholemeal plain flour
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/2 a cup of full cream milk

For the Jam
1 cup of mixed frozen berries
1/4 of a cup of water
1 tsp of gelatine powder

*Makes 6 Bars

Method
1. In a saucepan over a low heat, add the berries and water and bring to the boil, stirring with a fork. Use that same fork to mash up the berries to your desired consistency, I left mine chunky. Stir through the gelatine and place the mixture into the fridge.

2. In a food processor blitz the oats until a flour like consistency forms.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, half the flour, milk and vanilla until a wet batter forms.

4. Sprinkle the remaining flour onto your bench and kneed until the consistency of your dough becomes dryer.
5. Spray two same sized sheets of baking paper with cooking spray and place your dough ball between them. Roll it out on the tray you’re using to bake with to ensure that there is no overhang.

6. Using a pizza cutter, square off the dough as best you can and repeat the process with your off cuts. Slice straight down into roughly 8cm thick strips, leaving them long.

6. Remove the jam mixture from the fridge. It will still be liquid but now will be easier to scoop without it dripping everywhere. Place some into the centre of the strips.

7. Bring the bottom and top of the strips into the centre, so they intersect over the top of the jam. Reinforcement in that area will stop the oat base from getting soggy while in the oven *(see notes). The bar on the top of the picture was made with my off cuts, just placing one on top of the other.

8. Bake at 180°c for 15-20 minutes or until the outside feels firm.

Allow them to cool before eating, that filling will be like lava straight out of the oven.
Aside from that disclaimer, enjoy! These tasty, fruity treats are great for lunchboxes and tick all the healthy boxes as a yummy treat any time of the day.

Notes
* I know the jam bled out of the bars, but honestly, no one here cared even remotely. Leon said all it did was make it even more berry flavoured and he’s always going to be on board with that. If the bleeding bothers you just pinch all the edges closed before baking.

Nutrition facts based on one bar.