Gluten-Free Blueberry Crumble Bars (Vegan & Healthy)

Whether you’ve long focused on eating a healthy diet or you’re making changes to make your eating healthier, it can sometimes feel like having dietary restrictions or focusing on maximizing your health and wellness can mean missing out on fun sweet treats. Not so with my Blueberry Crumble Bars. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and top 9 allergen-free, these little bars are a delicious, wholesome treat that even those with many food sensitivities or dietary restrictions can enjoy.

These blueberry crumble bars are naturally sweetened and contain plenty of fiber (essential for healthy digestion), healthy fats (great for brain health), and an optional protein boost (for muscle building and recovery).

Lightly sweetened and nutty from the addition of oats, these blueberry crumble bars are the best of blueberry pie (the filling, of course) plus the best of a crumbly, streusel-y topping in bar form. They’re wholesome enough to be breakfast or an afternoon snack, but are sweet enough to be a tasty dessert.

This Gluten-Free Blueberry Crumble Bars Recipe Is:

• Free from Common Allergens: These deliciously sweet blueberry crumble bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, and free from the top 9 most common allergens.
• Sweetened Naturally: No refined sugar here. These bars are sweetened with coconut sugar, maple syrup, and fresh berries.
• Versatile and Customizable: Swap out the blueberries in favor of other berries or even fruits like apples, pears, or peaches, depending on the season.
• Healthy and Wholesome: This delicious treat contains plenty of oats and, if you’d like, protein powder, to help keep you feeling full for longer.
• Made from Simple Ingredients: You likely already have most of these ingredients in your kitchen, making them quick and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Blueberry Filling:

• 2 cups fresh blueberries (If using frozen, heat them in a skillet for 5-10 minutes, and drain 2 tablespoons of liquid. For strawberries, dice them first.)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar (or use granulated sugar or brown sugar)
• 2 tablespoons all-natural pure maple syrup
• 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder, tapioca starch)
• 1 scoop protein powder (optional, but a great way to add extra protein! If you’re dairy-free, make sure to use a vegan protein powder for a dairy free bar)

Crumble Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 1 ¼ cups flour (use almond, all-purpose, or gluten-free all-purpose)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup all-natural maple syrup
• ⅓ cup coconut oil (or avocado oil)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven and prep the pan: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 9×9 square baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Make the crumble base and topping: Add the dry ingredients for the base and topping (oats, flour, baking soda, salt) plus the wet ingredients (maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla extract) to a large bowl. Stir the mixture well until it becomes crumbly. Remove ¾ cup of the crumble mixture and set it aside.
3. Prep the filling: In a separate bowl, combine the berries, lemon juice, coconut sugar, maple syrup, and cornstarch or whichever thickener you’d like. Stir to combine.
4. Build your bars: Take the oat mixture in the large mixing bowl and press it into the bottom of the parchment-lined baking pan. Press it in an even layer across the bottom. Pour the blueberry mixture into the pan and spread it evenly.
5. Sprinkle on the crumb topping: Crumble the remaining dough (in the small bowl) over the top of the berry filling. Let some of the berries peek through if you’d like!
6. Bake the crumble bars: Place the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the filling bubbles.
7. Let them cool, then slice and serve: When they’re done baking, remove the pan from the oven and set them on a wire rack to cool for about 45-60 minutes. Don’t skip this step! The time helps the filling set and the bars firm up so they’re easier to slice. Then, slice them and enjoy!

Storage Tip

• In the Fridge: Pack up the blueberry crumble bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Blueberries: I love using blueberries in this recipe, but you can also switch things up with blackberries, strawberries, or raspberries. It would also be great with cooked down plums, peaches, apples, pears, or even cranberries (though you may need a bit more sweetener if you’re using cranberries). It all depends on what’s in season.
• Protein Powder: Boost the nutrition of these gluten-free blueberry crumble bars by adding a scoop of your favorite protein powder. You can certainly use an unflavored version, but a vanilla flavor, lemon flavor, or even a cinnamon flavor could also be very good here.
• Gluten-Free Flour: You can use a gluten-free flour blend rather than almond flour if you’re avoiding nuts or just don’t have any on hand.
• Coconut Oil or Avocado Oil: The coconut oil will lend a subtle coconut flavor to the crumble bars, while the avocado oil version will be a bit more neutral. Which you use is up to you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If I’m making these healthy blueberry crumble bars for an event, can I make them ahead of time or do they need to be made right before serving?

You can certainly make these blueberry crumble bars ahead of time. They are a great meal prep recipe if you’re looking for a sweet, fun breakfast, but you can also make a batch to have on hand for sweet treats all week long (or for an event!). You can store these bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you’d like to serve them warm, reheat them gently in the oven before serving. They’re the perfect dessert when you serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream (dairy-free, of course).

Can I use other fruits in these gluten-free blueberry crumble bars?

Absolutely! This is a great foundational recipe. Swap in other berries, cranberries, cherries, peaches, apples, pears, or plums in this recipe, depending on the time of year. If you’re going to use a different fruit, you may need to adjust the amount of coconut sugar or maple syrup you add to sweeten the bars.

Do these crumble bars freeze well?

You can definitely freeze these gluten-free blueberry crumble bars. Bake and cool them according to the recipe. Slice them, then, if they aren’t completely cool, let them finish cooling. Pack them into an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Let them thaw in the fridge or reheat them in the oven before serving.

Wholesome and nutritious, but still a satisfying sweet treat, these gluten-free blueberry crumble bars are perfect when you’re looking for a healthy dessert. Whether you’re making them for a crowd or just want to have a treat on hand, these bars are easy to make and full of fruity, oaty flavor. If you love fruity desserts, you have to try them.