Vegan Oat Berry Breakfast Bars

Makes 6 Bars

What You Need: 1-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 3/4 cup brown rice flour 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup flax meal 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup mashed banana (about 1 banana) 1/2 cup plain or vanilla non-dairy milk 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup sliced fresh berries, or 3/4 cup strawberry or blueberry preserves (enough to cover the bottom layer of oats)

What You Do: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with waxed paper or parchment paper (the paper should extend over the sides) and press it in as best as possible. 2. In a large bowl, place oats, flour, sugar, flax meal, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add banana, milk, oil, and vanilla and mix well. Spread half the oat mixture evenly in prepared baking dish. This will be the top layer of the bars. Lift out using the waxed paper and set aside. 3. Mist baking pan with cooking spray and evenly spread remaining oat mixture in the pan. Spread berries evenly over the oat mixture in the pan. Carefully invert the oat mixture that’s on the waxed paper and place it on top of fruit. Make sure that all the fruit is covered (use your fingers to spread it out where necessary). 4. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely before slicing into 6 bars.