I have a weakness for those big containers of fresh strawberries at Sam’s Club. I know I shouldn’t buy them – they’re really too much for just a couple of people – and yet, I end up getting one almost every time I go there. I just can’t resist all those bright red berries.

Consequently, every couple of weeks, I am desperate for a way to use up a bunch of berries before they go bad. Such was the case this past Saturday. I had also been cleaning out my pantry that day, as part of the Kitchen Cure, so I was intimately familiar with what I had in the pantry and what needed to be used up.

Oatmeal + strawberries = Fresh Berry Oatmeal Bars = yummy!

Fresh Berry Oatmeal Cookies Bars

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1 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups oats
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cup fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced (or other berry of your choice)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup white chocolate, chopped (optional)
2 tablespoons raw sugar (optional)

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with baking spray.

In a large bowl, mix sugar, flour, baking soda, salt and oats until well combined. Add butter to bowl and rub with hands until a crumbly dough is formed. Divided dough into two portions. If desired, mix white chocolate chunks into one half of dough.
 
Press half of dough (with white chocolate, if using) into bottom of pan.

 
 
Cover with sliced strawberries in an even layer. Sprinkle with cornstarch.

 
Sprinkle remaining dough over the top, and lightly press. Don’t worry if some of the strawberries show through; it’s all good. If desired, sprinkle top with raw sugar.
 
Bake 40-45 minutes or until golden brown and set. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

Eat one, then eat another one. Then hide the pan before you eat the rest. Immediately go visit your stairmaster.
 
Nutritional Info calculated with BigOven Recipe Software

Calories: 228

Fat: 10g, Sat Fat: 6g

Fiber: 2g

Sugars: 14g

Protein: 4g

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