Violet! You’re turning violet, Violet!
Talk about a girl who appreciated a good blueberry dish. You know who else has two thumbs and likes blueberries?
This guy.
(And who has two thumbs and was sent packing from the Bachelorette on Monday night and will subsequently appear on Bachelor Pad later this summer? That guy. Jerk.)
With so many fresh berries around, it’s hard not to want to get some baking done. I know, I know—it’s 105 degrees in the shade, kids are frying eggs on sidewalks, the back of your neck is getting dirty and gritty. I KNOW. ME TOO.
But these blueberry bars are worth the heat.
I even made them healthy by using whole wheat flour. Eating these bars is practically a required step towards achieving that bikini body all of the tabloids and women’s magazines have been screaming about for the past four months—and are still screaming about. Newsflash, Self magazine: if I don’t have six pack abs by mid-June, I’m pretty sure it’s not going to happen this summer. I’ll try again next year, thanks. And in the meantime, I’ll eat these blueberry bars. It’s okay. They have whole wheat flour.
Blueberry Oat Bars
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup oats
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups blueberries
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. cornstarch
Directions:
In a small saucepot, combine blueberries, water, and agave nectar. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until liquid has begun to boil. Allow to boil for about 2 minutes, then reduce to a simmer. Add lemon juice and cornstarch (sprinkle so that it doesn’t clump), then whisk for another few minutes until thick. Set aside to cool (about 15 minutes).
In a mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir well to combine. Add butter and mix until combined. The mix will still be a bit dry and crumbly. If it feels too dry, you can add more butter.
In a greased 9 x 13 baking dish, press 3/4 of the dry mixture into the pan. Top with blueberries, and sprinkle remaining oat mix over the blueberry mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, until top is golden brown. Allow to cool in pan for at least 20 minutes before cutting into bars.
Here are some pictures from the process:
Prebake:
And post-bake:
These are really tasty as bars, but I think they’d function just as well as a blueberry crumble, served with vanilla ice cream. It makes me want to put on my one-piece suit, just thinking about it.
ps—for more food for thought on the bikini body phenomenon, I really enjoyed this Guardian article. “The bikini was once a symbol of sexual emancipation, but for women in the 21st century its original connotations of personal empowerment have become just another set of rules for self-control.”
Amen, sister.
LOL that line gets me every time.
I love fresh blueberries in the summer! These bars look awesome – they’d go perfectly with vanilla bean ice cream
Plus, they’re full of antioxidants, so we can do some ‘cleansing’ while we enjoy the bars
Cute post, fresh blueberries are awesome in the summer and these bars look perfect!
Blueberry is my favorite filling in pies and bars. These look great!
Those look great – I LOVE blueberries!! I’ll eat those and still wear my bikini (just kidding – that would be really, really scary!!)
William is going to be on The Bachelor Pad? JERK! Serious JERK!
Haha…and you just KNOW they’re going to get Bentley on there as well. Should be a good season
aw, willy wonka is my all-time favorite movie!
Violot – you’re turining violet! The intro made me laugh! Thanks!
Those bars look very tasty. And thanks for reposting that quote. It’s sadly so true!
Where were you last wk when it was buy one, get two free on blueberries? I could have used this!
Very creative though, I will have to try next time there is a special on blueberries. I heart blueberries!
Great movie reference.
And those bars look phenomenal. I just ate the last of my blueberries this morning. Time to go get some more!!
Great movie! A true classic! loving those bars!! yum
too funny! I had blueberry crumble for dinner. with ice cream. man i’m living on the edge
these bars look fantastic! I want!!!
I love that movie! These look so good. I don’t normally go for blueberries, but for some reason, I’ve really been loving them lately. I would definitely love this with some non dairy frozen treats!
I think I need these blueberry bars in my life, stat!
Berries are SO cheap right now- rockin. These bars look amazing. mmm I just want to eat the cooked blueberries
Happy weekend