Frozen Yogurt and Berry Breakfast Bars

Have you ever thought about eating yogurt with one hand instead of using a spoon? Well I have and these yogurt breakfast bars have just become a staple in my life!

They have a touch of sweetness and will fill you up thanks to the creamy almond butter, oats and yogurt.

This recipe is good for those:

who prefer a lighter breakfast in the morning
are rushed in the morning and need something to grab-n-go
that prefer something cool in the morning even in the Winter months

I wanted this recipe to be something that everyone could enjoy so I made sure I used ingredients that even someone who prefers a plant based diet could utilize. So when you make this recipe please experiment with your favorite plant based yogurts and fruit. I used a vanilla bean cashew yogurt from Trader Joes, but you can use any kind of yogurt you prefer. I used frozen berries, but you can use any fruit that you have on hand!

Letting the bars sit at room temperature for a few minutes makes it easier to cut and bite into!The yogurt does tend to freeze with little crystals so defrosting helps to get rid of these. — *Letting the bars sit at room temperature for a few minutes makes it easier to cut and bite into!*
*The yogurt does tend to freeze with little crystals so defrosting helps to get rid of these.*

Frozen Yogurt and Berry Breakfast Bars

Yield: 10 bars (more if cut into smaller pieces)
Prep Time: 10-15 min
Freezing Time: 1-2 hrs
Total Time: 10-15 min (not including freezing time)

Ingredients

1 cup (about 10) pitted medjool dates
2 cups rolled oats (Gluten Free if you want)
1 cup almond butter
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1 tsp cinnamon
1.5 cups plant based yogurt (I used cashew yogurt)
1 cup frozen berries or fresh fruit, stewed

Instructions

First, stew the berries until soft, set aside to cool. ( place the frozen fruit in a small sauce pan on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until the fruits have thawed, released their juices, and are soft and mashable.)
In a food processor, blend the dates until they are smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the oatmeal, ground flaxseed, almond butter, and cinnamon and combine, scraping down the sides once or twice. ( a blender works fine, just pulse until smooth)
Transfer the mix to a parchment lined baking dish and press the base into the dish using your fingers. (use the back of a spoon to smooth it out)
Top with the yogurt and spread out evenly.
Dot the yogurt with the stewed berries and use a knife to swirl.
Place into the freezer and let freeze for 1-2 hours, or until the bars are solid enough to cut.
When removed from the freezer, cut into squares or bars of desired size.
Let thaw for 3-5 minutes before eating. Enjoy!

Notes to remember:

if the dates are not soft, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes first, then drain
Storage: store in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to 3 weeks, with parchment paper between cut slices of the bars to prevent them from sticking to each other. If you are eating the bar soon, it can also be kept in the fridge, but the yogurt will soften.
Variations: add dried cranberries or slivered almonds to the granola base. Try with different nut butters, or add in a scoop of cocoa powder.