vegan rhubarb oat bars

 My Mother in law shared a recipe with me a few years ago that has become a major favorite. I make it whenever possible while rhubarb is in season I think I love that it is easier than a pie and more of a cookie than a crumble you would serve with ice cream. It has evolved over the years and I have added and subtracted things that suite my taste. 

Most recently though I have made a new commitment to eat vegan (I am using that term loosely) as much as possible simply because I am very allergic to dairy and eggs (also wheat but I am still working on this one). I try to eat plant based but I totally will enjoy chicken and fish often too and even some beef. But the dairy and eggs I am realizing have such a negative impact on my energy level and mood and in an effort to feel better in 2011 (never mind the four rounds of antibiotics and steroids followed by strep throat - geesh) A month ago I bit the bullet and have been so diligent with my diet and it is helping. I suppose this could be a whole separate post in itself but I know you know what I am talking about if you truly have bad food allergies. After about five days of elimination a "fog" lifted and I started seeing clearer. My blood feels lighter, I am not so grumpy. Still working on it but life is always a work in progress.
Back to the rhubarb bars. Something that has deterred me in the past from sticking to my no dairy and eggs diet was my LOVE of baking. I just love it, I bake at least three or four times a week for fun I like treats and sweets and the gratification that comes from baking. So instead of pout and complain I have a new goal of remaking my favorite baked goods into vegan versions (and hopefully gluten free too down the road but still getting my feet wet here). I have made a few yummy things and these bars turned out super yummy too. This was an easy one to do because it already didn't need any eggs so I only had to replace the butter but nonetheless I sent Chris to work with a few this morning to share with a vegan co-worker who also has allergies and he was excited about that and I can feel good knowing that eating a little treat is not going to make me a total mood swing Mama!
These would be perfect for a picnic or BBQ this weekend. We are finally going to have our "Daddy's Day" celebration since last weekend I was too sick to spoil my sweetie...and I might be baking him his favorite NOT vegan breakfast treats but what Daddy wants Daddy gets this time! Have a good one friends enjoying the first official weekend of Summer!

Vegan Rhubarb Oat Bars: slightly adapted from my Mother-in-laws delicious recipe!

1-1/2 cups of quick cooking rolled oats
1 cup of all purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup of vegan butter (I like Earth Balance)

1/4 cup of granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 cups of sliced rhubarb fresh or frozen (this is key don't overload with fruit 2 cups is just right!)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an 8X8 with foil extending over the edges of the pan. In a large bowl combine the oats, flour (1 cup) and brown sugar and cut the butter in until the mixture looks like crumbs. Set aside about a cup of the mixture and then press the rest into the bottom of the pan and bake for 25 min. 

While the crust in baking combine the white sugar and 2 tablespoons of flour and ground ginger with the rhubarb and toss it all to coat the fruit. When the crust is done add the fruit to the top of the hot crust and then sprinkle the remaining oat mixture on top pressing it all down a bit. Bake for another 30-35 min until golden brown. 

While the bars are cooling I usually mix up a little powdered sugar and orange juice or  soy milk and another sprinkle of ground ginger so that it is a drizzle consistency pour over the hot bars. When cooled lift them from the pan, cut into squares and enjoy!

15 comments:

  1. Four rounds of antibiotics?! Aw you poor thing and there is nothing worse than strep throat!

    I am a type one diabetic and LOVE LOVE healthy recipes! I really want to attempt to make these! And GREAT pics!

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  2. These look so great! My parents have an enormous rhubarb plant and we always end up inundated with it. The other day I spotted a recipe for rhubarb ketchup too that I might try out! Good luck with the new diet - I'm finally trying to track my intake better to see what feels good and what doesn't, so often life gets so busy I just attribute lack of energy to lack of sleep but I don't think its always that easy :)

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  3. thank you for sharing this recipe! these look delicious, rebekah!

    cheering you on as you make adjustments/tweak things in your diet to feel better... it is so true that life is a continual work in progress!

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  4. great recipe - but i was even more drawn to such delicious photographs :) what lens are you using? lovely!!

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  5. woah huge compliment from you Stace - thanks. It's just the 50mm 1.4 that's really all I've got besides my macro...still wanting a good zoom. I bet you've got some good vegan baking tips for me one day when I am not on my death bed sick we can finally talk I miss you!

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  6. Oooh, I was just saying how I need another thing to do with rhubarb besides pie (so time consuming). I will have to try these. Oh, and the kids and I also got strep!!! What?!?! I have never had it before (neither had the kids) and we get it in June when we literally are not around any other people. So weird. Glad you are feeling better!

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  7. Katie - what??? I was just telling Chris that I read online there was an outbreak of strep throat and I have been seeing it pop up even on the blogs I read. Totally weird...and yeah isn't it horrible. I haven't had it since I was eight and got my tonsils out for chronic strep it's the worst. Hope your feeling better. And these bars are good but they have got nothin on your pie :)

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  8. We made some pretty major changes about six months ago and have been eating what I would call a 99% plant based diet. I wouldn't call us total vegans because we have one small serving of meat per week (we did zero meat for about 3 months and noticed a lack of energy...one small serving a week changed that and we feel great). The kids eat small amounts of cheese and the occasional egg, but for the most part our diet is vegan.

    I'm always interested when people make the transition to a plant centric diet. And treats like this make it so much easier! I'm excited to give this a go.

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  9. Your recipe sounds delicious! I'd like to eat vegan more, and this sounds like the perfect treat that I can test out on my family.

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  10. Made these yesterday, thank you for the recipe! They're delicious! My very carnivorous boyfriend didn't even blink an eye when I told him they were vegan! Here's how mine turned out... http://iheartbreakfast.tumblr.com/post/7302341835/rise-grind

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  11. i just got a bunch of rhubarb from our CSA....these look delicious! thanks :)

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  12. Hi there! I just found your recipe doing a search for rhubarb - have you tried freezing these bars? I want to try making them, but would like to save some for quick grab snacks for when my baby comes! They sound delicious!

    Thanks!

    Rachael

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    1. Hi Rachael - this is my "go to" recipe for rhubarb during CSA season. Omnivores love it and I do freeze mine and then thaw it in the fridge the night before. Or if I'm taking a bar to work, I'll put a frozen one in my lunch so that it's thawed by lunchtime. Delish!!

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