This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx on behalf of Ocean Spray. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Food Above Gold working. I hope you love these frozen yogurt bars as much as I do.
These immunity-boosting frozen yogurt bars make a perfect on-the-go breakfast or sweet treat. Make them in bulk for protein and fiber-packed breakfasts that are easy to take with you.
Why This Recipe Works
These frozen yogurt breakfast bars take a little bit of time to prepare, but the reward is far worth it. Not only do you get a protein-packed treat that is perfect for breakfast, but it also makes a great dessert on hot summer days.
As an added benefit, it is topped with an ingredient you may be new to, but will never leave your pantry: cranberry seeds! These upcycled, plant-based red seeds from Ocean Spray have more fiber than chia seeds and is full of magnesium, zinc, and omega 3 fatty acids.
What Goes In This Recipe
- Cranberry seeds. These little red seeds have big health benefits. Not only are they pretty and add texture to the frozen yogurt bars, but they also help support immunity and digestive health.
- Grains. Use old fashioned oats to make the bar base. These get nice and crispy and develop a beautiful golden brown color and slightly nutty flavor.
- Fat. The oil in the granola bars provides moisture and keeps the bars from being too dry. Use your favorite neutral oil, or feel free to change it up by using butter, coconut oil, or olive oil.
- Sweeteners. I stuck to honey because it provides a great caramelized flavor in the bars and yogurt, but it can be substituted for molasses, maple syrup, or even agave syrup if you prefer.
- Greek yogurt. This thick yogurt is high in protein making it a great way to start the day. Choose any flavor you like, honey and vanilla are the most common, or go for a tangy plain with just a touch of your favorite sweetener added.
- Berries. At a minimum, you need some frozen berries to make the middle layer. If you are overflowing with fresh berries, you can use those instead. But the fresh berries on top are absolutely optional.
How To Make It
To make these frozen yogurt bars, begin by lining a 9x13" baking dish with parchment paper.
In a large bowl combine the oats, honey, oil, baking soda, cranberry seeds, and brown sugar. Pour it into the prepared dish and use the back of a measuring cup to firmly press it down and make it flat.
Bake the bars at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and smelling of honey. Remove them and let cool completely.
While the bars cook, strain the thawed berries from their juices and use a fork to smash them lightly. Add some cinnamon, lemon zest, and (optional) sugar. Spread the berry mixture across the top of the cooled bars.
Next, pour the yogurt on top and spread it around. Lightly press the berries into the yogurt and sprinkle the cranberry seeds on top.
Transfer the baking dish to the freezer for one hour. Remove and lift the parchment paper out of the dish. Cut the frozen greek yogurt bars then return to the freezer for at least 6 hours.
Note: If it is important to not slightly smush the berries during cutting, let the bars freeze for 2-3 hours before cutting. It may make it harder to cut the granola bars, but the berries will be prettier.
Expert Tips
- Avoid getting the parchment paper stuck in the greek yogurt bars by cutting the parchment paper to fit in a baking dish.
- As you spread the yogurt, it may pull up some of the berry mixture. This won't impact anything, it'll just give it a nice flair of color.
- Use a long knife like a slicer to cut the frozen yogurt bars. This helps keep them intact since they won't need a sawing or chopping motion to cut.
- Once completely frozen, transfer the bars into a ziptop bag or airtight container to prevent unnecessary freezer burn.
- These greek yogurt bars will stay good in the freezer for up to three months.
FAQ's
The brown sugar and honey work like glue to bind the bars together. For it to completely do the job though, it needs time to harden and cool. If you cut the bars too soon they will crumble.
Don't skip the step of using something to press the ingredients firmly down into the pan together. This helps remove air that may prevent the bars from binding and helps them stay together.
For softer frozen greek yogurt bars, whipped cream or sugar needs added. The downside to this though is that the yogurt melts faster and becomes soft in your hands similar to ice cream.
Related Recipes
For more great breakfast recipes, I recommend:
Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars
Ingredients
Honey Oat Bar Base
- 2½ cups old fashioned oats
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown sugar , (not packed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons cranberry seeds
Berry Layer
- 16 ounces frozen berries, thawed
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 Tablespoon sugar, (optional)
Frozen Yogurt and Topping
- 2 cups greek yogurt, plus more if desired
- 1 pint fresh berries, (optional)
- cranberry seeds, for garnish
Instructions
Oat Bar Base
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13" baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the bars and stir until evenly mixed. Pour into the prepared baking dish and use the back of a measuring cup to press the granola firmly down into an even layer.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let rest until completely cooled.
Berry Layer
- Strain the liquid away from the thawed out berries and lightly smash them with a fork. Stir in the cinnamon, sugar, and lemon zest. Spread into an even layer on the granola bars.
Yogurt and Toppings
- Pour the yogurt on top of the berry mixture and use a spoon to spread it around. Lightly press the fresh berries into the yogurt and sprinkle on the cranberry seeds.
- Transfer the completed bars to the freezer for one hour. Use the parchment paper to remove the bars from the baking dish and use a knife to cut them into bars. Return to the freezer for at least 4 hours, then transfer to an airtight container for storage.
Notes
- Avoid getting the parchment paper stuck in the greek yogurt bars by cutting the parchment paper to fit in a baking dish.
- As you spread the yogurt, it may pull up some of the berry mixture. This won't impact anything, it'll just give it a nice flair of color.
- Use a long knife like a slicer to cut the bars. This helps keep the granola bars intact since they won't need a sawing or chopping motion to cut.
- Once completely frozen, transfer the bars into a ziptop bag or airtight container to prevent unnecessary freezer burn.
- These greek yogurt bars will stay good in the freezer for up to three months.
What are your thoughts?