HEALTHY WILD BLUEBERRY BARS

These delicious wild blueberry bars offer another way to enjoy these special berries and incorporate them into healthy recipes for your family. These little treasures have amazing healing properties while imparting their deep and delicious natural aroma. Made ahead, the bars are an easy meal that can be part of your lunch box, snack, or quick snack on busy days.

Berries have an anti-aging, disease-fighting and revitalizing effect, and wild blueberries are tops in this category. Whenever possible, choose frozen wild blueberries over fresh cultivated blueberries in a plastic container. Make it a habit after you pass the vegetable section of the store to stop by the frozen food aisle, where bags of wild blueberries are easily found. This will give your body the best chance for recovery and healing.

Healthy Wild Blueberry Bars

Ingredients:

For the filling:

• 1 3/4 cups wild blueberries or regular cultivated blueberries
• 1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. tapioca starch
• 1/2 tsp. alcohol-free vanilla extract or vanilla powder

For the base and topping:

• 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
• 2 cups gluten-free oat flour
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/2 tsp. organic ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp. Maple syrup
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil

Method of preparation:

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cover the bottom of a 20 x 20 cm baking tray with baking paper. Set aside.

To prepare the filling, place a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the wild blueberries , raw honey or maple syrup , lemon juice, tapioca starch, and vanilla extract or powder . Stir until evenly mixed. Bring mixture to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

To prepare the base and topping, combine the oat flour, rolled oats , coconut sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Pour in the melted coconut oil and mix until the dough is lumpy. Place 2 cups of the mixture in the prepared pan and set the rest aside. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan using your fingers or a flat-bottomed glass.

Pour the blueberry filling over the base and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture over the filling. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the filling is bubbling and the top is golden. Remove from the oven and cool completely before cutting into bars.

Portion for 12 bars