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Home » Desserts » Oatmeal Bars

Published: Feb 28, 2020 · Modified: Oct 16, 2021 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Oatmeal Bars

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Four oat bars stacked with a piece of parchment paper between each bar.

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. 

Perfect served as an after school snack or dessert!

A stack of four oatmeal bars with an applesauce filling.
Table of Contents
Why make this recipe
Key ingredients
Steps by step directions
Tips for making
What if I don't have a food processor?
Recipe Faqs
More great desserts
Oatmeal Bars

Why make this recipe

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. 

A glass baking dish filled with an oatmeal dessert.

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! 

I also used up some of my homemade applesauce in this Applesauce Cake!

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! 

Key ingredients

Small bowls filled with brown sugar, oatmeal, cinnamon and butter.
  • Butter - salted butter
  • Brown Sugar
  • Flour
  • Oats - old fashioned oats
  • Applesauce - sweetened or unsweetened works fine

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.  

Steps by step directions

  • Place butter, flour and brown sugar into a food processor. Pulse until mixture becomes coarse crumbs.
  • Add oats and cinnamon. Pulse just until mixed. The mixture will be dry and crumbly.
  • Butter and flour in a food processor bowl.
  • Oatmeal added to a food processor bowl.
  • Add half the mixture to the bottom of a greased pan. Press down firmly with your hands
  • Mix additional cinnamon with applesauce. Add on top of flour mixture in pan
  • Sprinkle on remaining flour mixture.
  • A flour mixture in the bottom of a glass casserole dish.
  • Applesauce topped with a crumbly mixture in a glass baking dish.
  • Bake in a 325° oven for 40-45 minutes
  • Allow bars to fully cool before slicing

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. 

Recipe Faqs

How long will these applesauce bars last?

The bars will last for 2-3 days. Store covered at room temperature.

What type of applesauce do I use?

You may use any type of applesauce in these bars. I use my homemade applesauce but store bought works great too. Use sweetened or unsweetened applesauce.

Oat bars stacked on a white plate.

More great desserts

  • Peach Crumb Bars
  • Apple Bundt Cake
  • Chocolate Cupcakes
  • Chocolate Mousse

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Check out all my baking recipes!

  • Homemade Pop Tarts
  • Sour Cream Cookies
  • Raspberry Shortcake
  • Blueberry Banana Muffins
A stack of four oatmeal bars with an applesauce filling.

Oatmeal Bars

Kathy
Delicious layers of oats with an applesauce filling. 
4.93 from 102 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people
Calories 324 kcal

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • 9 x 13" Baking Dish
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter (cut into small pieces)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 cup oats

Filling

  • 1½ - 2 cups applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325° 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. 
    1 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 cups flour
  • Add cinnamon and oats. Pulse just until incorporated. 
    1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, 1 cup oats
  • 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.
    1½ - 2 cups applesauce, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pour filling on top of oat mixture. Spread evenly over oat mixture.
  • Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over applesauce. 
  • Bake in a preheated 325° oven for 40 - 45 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. 
  • Some people prefer not quite as much applesauce filling. You can use 1 ½ cups instead of the 2 cups.
  • Allow bars to cool before slicing
  • Store any leftover bars in a covered container
If you don't have a food processor:
  • 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1BarCalories: 324kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 3gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 141mgPotassium: 105mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 485IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1.5mg
Keyword oat bars, oatmeal applesauce recipe, oatmeal bars
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

This recipe was originally posted in February 2018. 

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Comments

  1. Janet says

    March 19, 2022 at 3:32 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent! Thanks for a keeper. We have ours with vanilla ice cream.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 19, 2022 at 3:56 pm

      Thank you!!! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Terri says

    September 04, 2021 at 11:36 am

    This is a very nice recipe, I’d like to make more recipes from beyond the chicken coop seeing this recipe went so well!
    I like when recipes actually work!
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 04, 2021 at 3:13 pm

      Thank you!!! I appreciate you leaving a comment and I hope you enjoy many more delicious recipes! 🙂
      Kathy

      Reply
  3. Neb says

    August 25, 2021 at 11:14 am

    3 stars
    at best these were "ok" i used homemade applesauce from an early picking of Chehalis apples so a bit tart apple sauce i made them 1x as listed just bland
    2nd batch i doubled cinnamon lots better but still lacking flavor 3rd batch 3x cinnamon and added raisin's soaked in a bit of bourbon and walnuts then they were "good"
    just my 2cents

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      August 25, 2021 at 11:24 am

      Thank you for your feedback. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Alicia says

    August 22, 2021 at 10:07 am

    Hi! I'm wondering if I could use coconut oil instead of butter for this recipe. Trying to stay away from dairy. Thanks!! Alicia.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      August 22, 2021 at 11:12 am

      Hi Alicia,
      I have not ever used coconut oil in baking before. But I did a quick Google search and it looks like you can replace the butter for coconut oil with a 1:1 ratio. Give it a try and let me know how they turn out!
      Kathy 🙂

      Reply
    • Neb says

      August 25, 2021 at 11:19 am

      remember butter has about 18% water in it so wile you can sub 1 to 1 butter with coconut oil it might come out a bit greasy or dry as ur not getting that 18% liquid in your recipe

      Reply
  5. April S. says

    June 30, 2021 at 8:45 am

    How long are these good for if stored on the counter in an airtight container? I didn’t have a food processor so I used a hand mixer (ninja blender didn’t work haha) so my crumble was bigger and they were very soft once cooked but delicious reheated/toasted!! YUM!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 30, 2021 at 4:42 pm

      Hi April,
      These should be good for 2-4 days stored on your counter. Glad you are enjoying them!
      Kathy 🙂

      Reply
  6. Paula says

    May 28, 2021 at 4:55 pm

    5 stars
    These bars are delicious and so easy.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      May 29, 2021 at 6:09 am

      Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Gayle Marie says

    February 08, 2021 at 12:28 pm

    4 stars
    I made these last week for my 20 mos old grandson. He and the kids loved them. My daughter compared them to that "Christmas Crack" that you can't stop eating!!
    I added some dried cranberries and was afraid they would absorb liquid, so I used the full 2 cups of applesauce. They took forever to cook and still came out a bit too soft but oh they were delicious!!! ❤
    I have another batch in the oven.......used 1 stick of butter and 1/2 cup of solid coconut butter. Hoping once the coconut butter melts, it doesn't ruin the crust and crumble on top. I still put in dried cranberries but decreased the unsweetened applesauce to about 1 1/2 cups. Will cook them longer but keep any eye on them.
    Once the kids cut into them, I'll let you know how they came out with the substitution. BTW, my adorable blonde haired, blue eyed grandson walks around with one piece in each fist and don't try to ask for one little bite. Oh no, no, no.......!!!! Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      February 08, 2021 at 5:41 pm

      Hi Gayle,
      How fun you are and how lucky to have your grandbabies! The dried cranberries sound like a great addition. Let me know how the 2nd batch turns out. I've never used coconut butter before so I'm curious how it is.
      Thank you!
      Kathy

      Reply
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I'm Kathy, a busy working mom who loves to cook from scratch, grow a garden, and raise farm animals. Take a look around and find all my recipes, gardening tips, and country living antics..

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