These Applesauce Oatmeal Bars are a delicious easy-to-make dessert. With more than 150 Five-Star reviews and 200,000 shares on Pinterest, these oat bars are one of my most popular recipes.
Delicious Homemade Oatmeal Bars
This recipe first came about when I had a surplus of my home canned applesauce in my pantry. I adapted a favorite recipe for raspberry oat bars and used the applesauce instead of raspberry jam. The result is a delicious apple pie tasting bar!
My kids have always been my official taste testers and I know I have a winning recipe when they keep coming back for more. These bars disappear in no time at all.
Oatmeal Bars Recipe Ingredients
This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.
- 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.
How to make Baked Oatmeal Bars
In this section, I share step-by-step photos, cooking methods, techniques, and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures, and timing, check the printable recipe card below.
- 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.
3. Add half the mixture to the bottom of a greased pan. Press down firmly with your hands
4. Mix additional cinnamon with applesauce. Add on top of flour mixture in pan
5. Sprinkle on the remaining flour mixture.
6. Bake in a 325° oven for 40-45 minutes
7. Allow bars to fully cool before slicing
Oatmeal Bar Recipe Tips
- 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.
Oatmeal Bar Recipe FAQs
The bars will last for 2-3 days. Store covered at room temperature.
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.
Yes, these can be frozen. However, the bars are soft so it’s best to cut the bars and remove them from the pan. Then layer them in a freezer-safe container with sheets of parchment paper or waxed paper between each layer. Best used within 3 months.
More great desserts
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Oatmeal Bar Recipe
Equipment
- 9 x 13" Baking Dish
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (cut into small pieces, at room temperature)
- 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
- 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
- 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.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in February 2018.
Anastasia says
These are terrible. Really bland and they just crumble in your hand when you try to pick one up and eat it.
Kathy says
I'm sorry these didn't work for you.
Sandie Bee says
Hi, I’m trying to reduce my sugar intake. Will this recipe work with less sugar?
Kathy says
Hi,
Yes! You can reduce the sugar without any issues. Use unsweetened apple sauce and reduce the brown sugar to ½ cup.
Enjoy! 🙂
Brittany says
Can I use sprouted oats?
Kathy says
Hi Brittany,
I have not ever used sprouted oats before so I don't know how they would work.
Kathy
Alicia says
For the oatmeal bars, can I use a gluten free flour mix or a single gluten free flour to replace the wheat flour Also can I use a dairy free butter on place of the dairy butter?
Kathy says
Hi Alicia,
Yes, you can use a gluten free flour and a dairy free butter without any issues.
Enjoy!
Kathy
Dakota P says
Do you recommend freezing leftover?
Kathy says
Hi Dakota,
You can freeze leftovers. I would precut bars and freeze in a single layer in a freezer-safe bag or container.
Kathy
Victoria says
Can I make like a double or triple batch and freeze some for later?
Kathy says
Hi Victoria,
The only problem with making a larger batch is the size of the pan. This recipe already uses a 9x13" pan. I think it would be difficult to find a pan that is doubled in size.
Kathy
Martha says
Kathy! This is a perfect recipe! Fast, easy, uses
on-hand ingredients, the kiddos, and adults, love it!!
I’m going to try it with vegan butter due to 2yr old with dairy allergy, but I’m sure it will be great! Thanks for sharing! This is printed and in my TP (Tried and Proven) folder!
Kathy says
Thanks so much! And I love making it to the TP folder! 🙂 Yay!!!
Teresa says
This was super easy to make, though my processor did need a bit of help, it turned out wonderfully! I added a dash of nutmeg to the mixture and sprinkled a bit of sugar on top before baking and it was delicious. I used whole wheat flour and it worked great! Thank you so much for this recipe.
Kathy says
Thanks so much! 🙂
Janis says
Thank you for always putting the ingredient list within your instructions. It is a big-time saver and much appreciated.
Kathy says
You bet! So glad you find it helpful! 🙂
Heather says
Household favorite now!
Kathy says
Hooray!!! Thanks 🙂
Andi says
Is it APF or self rising?
Kathy says
All purpose
Jan says
Usually I follow a recipe but my husband has this thing about apple sauce so I was wondering if I could put in some chopped apple and some walnuts along with the apple sauce. Those he will eat. I hoping with the chopped apple and nuts he want notice the apple sauce.
Thank you
Have a great day
Kathy says
Hi Jan,
I haven't tried adding apples or nuts, but if you cut the apples small enough it should work. You could also use apple pie filling instead of the apple sauce. I also have another recipe that is very similar but it uses jam instead - Raspberry Bars.
Let me know what you do and how it turns out!
Kathy 🙂
Vickie says
Could you replace flour will all purpose gluten-free flour?
Kathy says
Hi Vickie,
Yes, as long as it's a 1:1 flour, like Bob's Red Mill.
Enjoy! 🙂
Heidi says
These are so much better than I was anticipating, just because recipes with oats tend to be hit or miss with us. These are definitely a hit! I'm so glad I decided to give them a try. I'll be making them again! Thanks for the recipe! 😊🤤
Kathy says
Thank you!!! I'm so glad they were a hit! 🙂
Vickie D says
Made this for a play date with my daughter's friends. Kids loved it! My husband thought it too plain. Next time I'm going to add some chopped apples on top of the applesauce and then add some chopped walnuts, a little more cinnamon (he likes extra cinnamon in everything!) and a dash of nutmeg to the remaining top mixture before sprinkling it on. This is a great dish for potluck, family parties, etc.!!
Kathy says
Thank you for your suggestions! 🙂
Ashley says
Sooo good and easy!
Kathy says
Thanks! So glad you enjoyed them!