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Home » Desserts

Published: Feb 28, 2020 · Modified: Oct 16, 2021 by Kathy

Homemade Oatmeal Bars

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

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.

A stack of four oatmeal bars with an applesauce filling.

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!

A glass baking dish filled with an oatmeal dessert.

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

Small bowls filled with brown sugar, oatmeal, cinnamon and butter.

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.

  1. Place butter, flour and brown sugar into a food processor. Pulse until mixture becomes coarse crumbs.
  2. 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.

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.

A flour mixture in the bottom of a glass casserole dish.
Applesauce topped with a crumbly mixture in a glass baking dish.

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

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.

Can Oatmeal Bars be frozen?

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

  • Peach Crumb Bars
  • Apple Bundt Cake
  • Chocolate Cupcakes
  • Chocolate Mousse
Oat bars stacked on a white plate.

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

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A stack of four oatmeal bars with an applesauce filling.

Oatmeal Bar Recipe

Kathy Berget
Delicious layers of oats with an applesauce filling. 
4.93 from 164 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 55 minutes 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, 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

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.

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

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

This recipe was originally posted in February 2018. 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    April 02, 2020 at 6:38 pm

    Are there any alternatives for using a food processor that would have the same result? Mine isn’t big enough. Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 02, 2020 at 7:12 pm

      Hi Amanda,
      You could place all the crust ingredients in a bowl and mix with your hands. The butter needs to be soft and just massage the butter right into the oats and sugar. This will take a bit longer but will work just fine!
      Happy Baking!
      Kathy

      Reply
      • Wendy says

        April 18, 2020 at 8:50 am

        Instead of a food processor could we use a blender? I have a Ninja. Or possibly a handmixer for a stand mixer? Would any of those work as well?

      • Kathy says

        April 18, 2020 at 8:53 am

        Hi Wendy,
        I would use a hand mixer. Make certain your butter is very soft so it can be easily mixed into the oats and flour. Let me know how they turn out!
        Kathy

      • Wendy says

        April 18, 2020 at 8:55 am

        Thank you for the quick response! Trying to make today on this rainy day in FL!

  2. Katie Borkowski says

    April 01, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    has anyone tried freezing these?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 02, 2020 at 6:41 am

      Hi Katie,
      I have not tried freezing these.
      Kathy

      Reply
  3. Lisa Milazzo says

    March 30, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    So easy and so good!!. Something sweet during quarantine. I’d love to make these a little healthier.

    Reply
  4. Kristi says

    March 30, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    How do you store them? Refrigerate?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 30, 2020 at 3:08 pm

      Hi Kristi,
      I store the bars at room temperature. You could refrigerate them too if you wanted.
      Kathy

      Reply
  5. Steph says

    March 23, 2020 at 5:56 am

    I only have coconut flour and almond flour on hand...could I use either one?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 23, 2020 at 6:01 am

      Hi Steph,
      I'm afraid I've never cooked with either of those flours so I don't know how they'd be in this recipe.

      Reply
  6. Eunice Walach says

    March 18, 2020 at 7:55 am

    Beautiful Recipe ❤️made These as a Golfers snack that He can take for a long day on Course.I don’t have food processor,I had no issues with 2 knives,I did Add a product I keep in freezer,Paradise Meadow Bakeing Cranberries, With , Walnuts👌👍Thank You

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 18, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      So glad you made this work for you! Hope the golfing went well!!!

      Reply
  7. Byenia says

    March 10, 2020 at 8:51 pm

    5 stars
    Made a half batch of this recipe tonight (in a glass 8x8 dish) and adore it! So good! Enough to where I'm seriously thinking of making this again in a couple days to share with others. Thanks for this terrific recipe!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 11, 2020 at 4:55 am

      Thank you for your wonderful comment! I am so glad you love this recipe as much as we do! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Madison says

    March 10, 2020 at 2:27 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe today with a few adjustments (instead of 2 cups of applesauce I did 1 cup of applesauce and 1 cup of apple butter and I added chopped pecans) and I’m absolutely obsessed! They turned out so good!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 10, 2020 at 6:48 pm

      Thanks, Madison! I love the changes and addition of nuts! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    March 03, 2020 at 7:07 am

    5 stars
    I would most definitely enjoy these for dessert, a snack or even breakfast! They look super yummy Kathy!

    Reply
  10. David @ Spiced says

    March 02, 2020 at 4:38 am

    5 stars
    These sound delicious, Kathy! And the recipe is super easy, too. Robbie loves oatmeal and apple sauce...so it stands to reason that these bars would be a hit here, too. I'll have to make him a batch - and Dad might have to "steal" several bars first. You know, for quality control and all. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Jennifer says

    January 14, 2020 at 9:20 am

    5 stars
    Looks delicious, instead of flour, how about 1:1 baking mix? I know it has a nice nutty flavor. Definitely about to try!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      January 14, 2020 at 6:40 pm

      Hi Jennifer,
      I'm afraid I haven't tried using a 1:1 baking mix so I'm not certain how it would work in these muffins.
      Kathy

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        January 14, 2020 at 9:19 pm

        I am going to give it a try, I will let you know! I think the nutty flavor will go perfect with these!

      • Kathy says

        January 15, 2020 at 6:02 am

        Keep me posted! I'd love to hear how they turn out! 🙂

    • Christy says

      March 01, 2020 at 7:50 am

      Hello- if I double this recipe do I use one or two 9x13 pans?
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Kathy says

        March 01, 2020 at 10:48 am

        Hi Christy,
        If you double the recipe, I'd put it into two pans.
        Enjoy! 🙂

      • Christy says

        March 01, 2020 at 6:20 pm

        Thank you 👍

  12. Vanessa says

    November 26, 2019 at 12:37 pm

    Thanks for sharing! How far ahead of time can I make it?

    Reply
  13. Suzanne says

    November 26, 2019 at 12:35 pm

    This looks so good! It is nice to have other options than apple pie when you want to whip something up quickly to bring for dessert!

    Reply
  14. Nav says

    September 24, 2019 at 12:36 am

    Hi, which flour do you use use in these please?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 24, 2019 at 4:40 am

      I use all-purpose flour.

      Reply
  15. Ti says

    August 11, 2019 at 9:33 am

    5 stars
    Totally love this recipe. I added a little more cinnamon but it was delicious it's a definite keeper. I also did not have a food processor and I used my hands oh, of course with gloves to mix it up.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      August 11, 2019 at 9:41 am

      Thanks! These are one of our favorites. A little extra cinnamon adds so much flavor! Good job on figuring out a way to make without a food processor!

      Reply
  16. Linda says

    May 14, 2018 at 4:57 am

    I don't own a food processor. Can this be made without one to pulse as per directions.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      May 14, 2018 at 5:42 am

      Hi Linda,
      You could make this without a food processor. You could use two butter knives, a pastry blender or your fingers. You just want to get the butter and flour and oatmeal into pea sized pieces. Let me know how it turns out!
      Kathy

      Reply
  17. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    February 12, 2018 at 1:41 pm

    Love all the cinnamon in these Kathy! Teenagers can eat a lot! I remember those days!

    Reply
  18. David @ Spiced says

    February 12, 2018 at 5:27 am

    Oh my gosh, I can't imagine how fast 3 teenagers would destroy a recipe like this one! I love a good oatmeal bar, and I'm totally going to have to keep this one in mind for next apple season when we have homemade apple sauce coming out of our ears. Literally. (Well, maybe not literally...but close to it...haha) Looks delicious, Kathy!!

    Reply
  19. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    February 12, 2018 at 5:22 am

    5 stars
    I started to clean out our pantry this past weekend too and there was stuff there I totally forgot about! You certainly put that apple sauce to good use with these oatmeal bars 🙂 Delish!

    Reply
  20. allie says

    February 10, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    Hi Kathy - these bars look fabulous. I would never find a jar of homemade apple sauce just sitting around in my pantry... you are so good about making homemade. The bars look fantastic and no wonder they disappeared fast. I've been freezing small portions of treats like this to make sure that Jon and I get some! Four boys in the house - you get the picture...

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      February 11, 2018 at 7:24 pm

      Four boys! Yep, I'll bet you can't keep anything around for long at all! I'll need to try popping a few in the freezer! Good idea!

      Reply
    • Juliana says

      August 17, 2019 at 8:05 pm

      I haven’t tried the recipe yet but would you be able to put these in the freezer to save for a later date/time?

      Reply
      • Kathy says

        August 17, 2019 at 8:25 pm

        Hi Juliana,
        I freeze a lot of foods, but I have not tried freezing these bars. My instincts say they should freeze just fine, but I haven't actually tried it. Please let me know if you do!
        Thanks 🙂

      • Katie says

        January 24, 2021 at 10:10 am

        Is it possible to make this without a food processor?

      • Kathy says

        January 24, 2021 at 10:13 am

        Hi Katie,
        Yes, this can be made without a food processor. Here are the two methods I suggest:

        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.

        Enjoy!
        Kathy 🙂

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I'm Kathy, and I love to create delicious recipes from scratch utilizing many ingredients that we grow and raise. I'm a recipe creator, food photographer, and cookbook author!

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