These Cherry Peach Crumble Bars give you the best of both worlds with both cherry AND peach preserves! Simple ingredients, vegan, gluten-free and so delicious.Â
Recently I’ve been sharing on Instagram quite a bit about food freedom and letting go of your food rules. The rules you just made up for yourself, because you thought they were serving you in some way. When in reality all they’ve done is cause you stress and anxiety. I asked people in this post on Instagram, to direct message me if they were struggling. Because I honestly and truly wanted to hear from them after I shared that caption. I wanted to offer some kind of help. I was actually in awe of how many people reached out and asked for some advice. Or to just chat and let them know they had been there too. Those conversations made me realize even though we as society have come a long way in the diet culture and body positivity, we still have a long way to go.
Because most of the time, this desire to be healthy truly starts as an honest journey to better oneself. Just a lifestyle change, to better your overall health and wellbeing. But there are certain types of personalities out there that can twist that honest desire to be healthier, into an obsessive monster that takes over.
Any of these sound familiar?
Let’s have friends over for dinner tonight. Cue the silent panic attack. Because you already ate your allotted carbohydrates for the day, and typically having friends over for a meal means “unhealthy” food.Â
Where do you want to go to out to eat? Somewhere with a menu you can look up beforehand, so you can ensure there is an option that is healthy enough for you. With a list of ingredients you can keep track of.Â
We’re grabbing appetizers and drinks after work, come! What if I eat too many appetizers? Alcohol has too many calories…
Guys… I promise you life is so much more enjoyable when you can let your guard down around food.
When you’re not worrying about the food you’re eating while having a good time with friends.
Or how much fat is in the chips and guac you just ate – spoiler alert: a lot. And they tasted damn good, didn’t they?
Unfortunately UN-learning all of your food rules takes some time. Finding food freedom is a journey. I still catch myself mentally tracking some things and have to gently remind myself to cut. it. out. Because it isn’t worth it. And really, does it matter? When you find food freedom, plus balance and moderation everything will work itself out.
I don’t have the answers. But I think sharing our stories helps. It helps me, and it (hopefully) helps some of you too. I’m hoping that at some point the cycle will stop. But until then, we can lead by example and share our stories and struggles with one another. And eat plenty of chips and guac, sweet potatoes, bagels and oats along the way.
I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below <3
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Oh. Did you want to talk about these
Cherry Peach Crumble Bars?
Yes, please.
WHAT YOU NEED
GF rolled oats
GF all-purpose flour or whole grain flour
coconut oil
coconut sugar or brown sugar
baking soda
cinnamon
salt
cherry preserves
peach preserves
Simple, simple!
The crumble mixture comes together in one bowl. You press about 2/3 of that into a square pan, top with your fruit preserves, then top with the remaining oat mixture and bake until golden brown.
My bars took about 30 minutes at 350F.
Once the bars have cooled, gently cut into squares and dive right in.
MMM I can not get over how tasty these are! Cherry and peach just belong together. And then to put them in an easy crumble bar form? SO GOOD.
Shoot. I forgot I wanted to serve and photograph ice cream with these cherry peach crumble bars! Â I suppose that time for me has passed but I highly suggest you get your favorite ice cream out for these and enjoy the fruity oat goodness.
Vegan Gluten Free Cherry Peach Crumble Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats, gluten-free if necessary
- 3/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour, or whole wheat pastry flour (can sub regular all-purpose)
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar (may sub brown sugar)
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, softened*
- 1/3 cup peach preserves
- 1/3 cup cherry preserves
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 8x8 pan with parchment paper, set aside.
2. In a large bowl combine oats through cinnamon with large spoon.
3. Add in softened coconut oil and combine with spoon to start, then using hands to thoroughly combine everything together at the end.
4. Transfer about 2/3 of the oat mixture into the lined pan, using back of large spoon to press the mixture evenly into the pan and all four corners.
5. Using spoon, transfer dollops of peach and cherry preserves on top of base so they're evenly spread out – see picture in post for what I did.
6. Add the remaining oat mixture onto top of fruit preserves layer, gently pressing into fruit.
7. Bake bars for 25-35 minutes, until fruit is bubbling and crumble topping is golden. Remove from oven and allow bars to cool in pan for 30 minutes. You can also refrigerate pan to cool the bars faster, making them easier to cut as well.
8. Lift parchment paper from pan and place bars on cutting board. Cut bars into 16 squares, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*The softened coconut oil will help create a more crumbly texture with the oats. If your coconut oil is in a liquid state, place jar in freezer for 10 minutes, or until slightly hardened. If coconut oil is hard, pop jar in microwave for about 10 seconds until soft. You may also sub butter if not vegan.
-Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge for 5-7 days.
Making this recipe? I would love to see it!
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yum! Love all those in season fruits!
The best this time of year!
You think I could add some sugar to fresh fruit and get something similar??
Yeah I would think so! Maybe just let it sit and add some chia seeds to help it gel up? So instead of the fruit preserves, make more of a chia seed jam style?
I recently shared a big post all about this too. It’s all still a work in progress but I love how social media and blogging has opened the conversation and helped us realize none of us are alone in our struggles. And yess, let’s talk about these bars. I love how easy they are and they look soooo goooood!! Thanks for sharing all this. xo.
Yes! I love that this community is sharing more and letting people open up. No need to be in the dark with it all <3 Thanks for your support Deryn! I'll have to check out your post 🙂
I have totally had all of those thoughts! Sometimes my crazy thoughts about food make me utterly incapable of choosing a restaurant to eat at when Ritch and I go on dates! Then I have to breathe and remind myself that food was made to be enjoyed not stress me out! I’d totally eat these bars and enjoy every single bite!
Yesss it is such a hard place to be! But you are so right. Just reminding yourself that not every food choice has to be completely health-related, especially when enjoying food out with friends and family 🙂
LOVE what you shared about food freedom. AMEN! And these crumble bars…..OMG. All the end-of-summer happy feels!
Thanks Christine! 🙂
These bars look amazing. I’m definitely going to have to give these a try!
Thanks Rachel! Let me know if you do 🙂
This is the perfect treat for summer! Love both cherries and peaches so much this time of year!
Thanks Jessica!
I know those thoughts all too well. I struggled with disordered eating for a long time and have worked very hard to find food freedom.
Way to lead by example by sharing your balanced views and delicious recipes like this one!
Thanks so much Whitney! Glad you are in a better place as well <3
Wow, these look so good! Cherries and peaches are two of my favorite summer fruits. And I’m all about enjoying food and eating in moderation! 🙂
Cherries and peaches are just meant to be! Thanks Sonali 🙂
Peach and cherry?! What a delicious combination!! I love crumble bars made with coconut oil, so I definitely need to try these.
Yes the combo is so good!
Great post! I couldn’t agree with you more!
These crumble bars look so delicious! Wish I was enjoying one of these right now!
Thanks Taylor! X
Love this post!!! Food freedom is my biggest goal right now- and let me tell ya, its one of the hardest things I have ever done!! Life is too short to not treat your body well, but enjoy yourself sometimes. We put so much pressure on ourselves to find work/life/family balance, but why can’t our relationship with food be the same way? Keep up these posts, I LOVE reading them!!!! You inspire me!
You are so right! Balance should be incorporated into ALL areas of our lives. Thank you so much for your support, Ashley. It really means a ton!
Honestly, I’d probably dive in BEFORE they’re cool. That might backfire, though! LOL! These bars look way too delicious to resist!