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Oatmeal Bars with an applesauce filling are easy to make and delicious for snacking. These bars are always a hit with even the pickiest of eaters! Made with an oatmeal crust and an oatmeal crumb topping.
I started cleaning out my pantry last weekend. I found several jars of homemade applesauce I canned two years ago.
My kids don’t eat nearly the amount of applesauce they used to eat. I decided to make applesauce oatmeal bars to use up some of that extra applesauce.
These easy oatmeal bars were a huge hit in my house. They disappeared before I even knew it! I think I’m going to have to start hiding my creations so they last a bit longer. Three teenagers can go through food like crazy!
Another recipe I make using applesauce is this Applesauce Cake!
What ingredients do I need to make oatmeal bars?
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Cinnamon
- Oats
- Applesauce
You can use any type of oatmeal you have on hand. I prefer to use old fashioned oats in these bars rather than instant or one-minute oats. The old fashioned variety is thicker and adds great texture to the bars.
You don’t need to have homemade applesauce to make these oatmeal bars. Any type of applesauce will work. You just need two cups for the recipe.
Another version of these bars are Raspberry Jam Bars and these Blueberry Bars. They are super delicious too! The raspberry jam bars use jam as the filling and are just as easy and as delicious as these applesauce bars. The blueberry bars use fresh or frozen blueberries in the filling!
Tips for making
- Use salted butter that is softened. The butter should be soft enough to spread easily on a slice of bread
- Use old fashioned oats, which are a bit thicker than a quick oat.
- Allow bars to cool before slicing
- Store any leftover bars in a covered container
What if I don’t have a food processor?
I mixed this crust in a food processor, but if you don’t have one I have a few options for you. First, you can place the crust ingredients in a bowl and mix using a mixer with beaters. Make certain the butter is very soft, but not melted.
Second you could mix with your hands. Place ingredients in a bowl and use your hands or your fingers to mix. This may be a bit messy, but your hands are really a great kitchen tool. Simply use your fingers to mash butter into the flour and oat mixture.
I enjoy baking with oatmeal. A few of my favorites include Oatmeal Banana Muffins, Oatmeal Dinner Rolls and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Other great dessert recipes
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Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
Filling
- 2 cups applesauce
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and spray a 9 x 13" baking dish with a non-stick spray .
- In a food processor bowl, add butter, brown sugar and flour. Pulse until mixture forms small, pea sized crumbs.
- Add cinnamon and oats. Pulse just until incorporated.
- Place half the oat mixture into prepared baking dish. Press mixture down with your hands.
Filling
- In a small mixing bowl combine applesauce and cinnamon.
- Pour filling on top of oat mixture. Spread evenly over oat mixture.
- Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over applesauce.
- Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 40 minutes.
- Allow bars to fully cool before slicing into 12 equal pieces.
Notes
Tips for making
- Use salted butter that is softened. The butter should be soft enough to spread easily on a slice of bread
- Use old fashioned oats, which are a bit thicker than a quick oat.
- Allow bars to cool before slicing
- Store any leftover bars in a covered container
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in February 2018.
84 Comments
eileen lakritz
September 17, 2020 at 7:46 pmis it a 9 x12 or a 9 x 13 baking dish?
Kathy
September 18, 2020 at 4:40 amEither one is fine.
Ellie
September 2, 2020 at 9:12 amHi, do you use sweetened applesauce or unsweetened?
Kathy
September 3, 2020 at 5:00 amHi Ellie,
Either sweetened or unsweetened applesauce works fine in this recipe.
Enjoy!
Lauren
August 7, 2020 at 5:20 pmCould you halve this recipe and cook it in a smaller pan, maybe an 8×8? If so, how long would you bake it for?
Kathy
August 8, 2020 at 6:07 amHi Lauren,
You could halve this recipe. I think I’d start by reducing the baking by about 15 minutes and check the bars. You are looking for some browning on the top and edges. After you check, you might cook for 5 more minutes if needed.
Let me know how they turn out.