• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me

Beyond The Chicken Coop logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
×
Home » Desserts

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

Homemade Oatmeal Bars

Jump to Recipe

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

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

Check out all my baking recipes!

  • Homemade Croissants stacked on a cooling rack.
    How to Make Croissants
  • Homemade Focaccia Bread cut into squares.
    Homemade Focaccia Bread
  • A circle of round dinner rolls each with a different finished glaze.
    Bread Glazes
  • A loaf of homemade white bread on a wooden cutting board.
    Homemade White Bread
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. 

More Desserts

  • A slice of Rhubarb Coffee Cake on a small white plate.
    Rhubarb Coffee Cake
  • A slice of chocolate layer cake with the end piece sliced off with a fork.
    Chocolate Layer Cake
  • Chocolate Ganache with cocoa powder swirled on a layered cake.
    Chocolate Ganache
  • Brownie peanut butter cups stacked on a counter.
    Brownie Peanut Butter Cups

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauren says

    August 07, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    Could you halve this recipe and cook it in a smaller pan, maybe an 8x8? If so, how long would you bake it for?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      August 08, 2020 at 6:07 am

      Hi Lauren,
      You could halve this recipe. I think I'd start by reducing the baking by about 25 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.

      Reply
  2. Chuck says

    July 18, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    5 stars
    These are so awesome. Getting ready to make more. Love them!!! Thanks !

    Reply
  3. Steff says

    July 15, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! Great with coffee... not too sweet and so easy to make! Thanks

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 16, 2020 at 6:02 am

      Thanks, Steff! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Crista says

    July 06, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    5 stars
    I love this recipe. Kinda like apple crisp but easier, finger friendly, and a great way to use leftover applesauce. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 06, 2020 at 4:52 pm

      Thanks, Crista! It's one of our favorites too. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Nicole J says

    June 24, 2020 at 6:49 am

    Thank you for the recipe! Do you think I could prepare this and then freeze it? Should I completely bake and then just warm up, half bake, or not bake at all? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 24, 2020 at 9:24 am

      Hi Nicole,
      You can freeze these bars. I would fully bake and then after fully thawed you could reheat in the oven or serve at room temperature.
      Enjoy,
      Kathy 🙂

      Reply
  6. Darianna says

    June 21, 2020 at 7:23 pm

    Made this using vegan butter and unsweetened applesauce, and cut them into bite size squares. My nieces and nephews loved them, thanks for the easy snack recipe. Look forward to trying more.

    Reply
  7. Linda Catanzariti says

    May 30, 2020 at 9:20 am

    5 stars
    These were delicious! Only thing I changed was to use plant based butter for the vegans in my family. Worked perfectly

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      May 30, 2020 at 9:38 am

      Wonderful! Thanks so much for your comment!

      Reply
  8. A says

    May 23, 2020 at 6:08 am

    5 stars
    Do you think these will work with steel cut oats? I’m new to baking and am not sure if I would need to alter the recipe?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      May 23, 2020 at 6:31 am

      This will not work with steel cut oats. The oats will not soften while cooking.

      Reply
  9. Jessie Simon says

    May 19, 2020 at 11:00 am

    5 stars
    I broke the first rule of baking and didn't read the instructions before I started. My mixture wasn't mixing in the food processor so I ended up dumping everything in it at once. Also, I was short 1/2 cup of applesauce. I sliced an actual apple, thinking I would throw it in too, but I didn't. I poured out the concoction into the pan, placed the apple slices on top and baked for 30 minutes. Although it was completely wrong, it still tastes really good. We are enjoying it in the mornings with coffee. Not sure I need to make it the right way next time.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      May 19, 2020 at 4:33 pm

      Oh my goodness! I think this is how great recipes are created - by making mistakes! I think this turned out just perfect! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Alissa Jourdan says

    May 09, 2020 at 7:03 pm

    4 stars
    You know this will be good with 2 sticks of butter in the recipe! I made these today. My husband and I really liked them, but my two youngest not so much. I’m betting they’ll be good warmed up in the microwave and served with ice cream. Reminds us of Apple Crisp, so I feel it’s more like a dessert than a snack. I cut them up into bars and stored them in a container. I’m wondering if I should have put them in the fridge though, or at least put parchment or wax paper between the layers because the bars are mushing together now. I thought I had let them cool all the way first, but perhaps not. I will be trying more recipes from this site. Many sound good.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      May 10, 2020 at 5:42 am

      Hi Alissa,
      This recipe calls for 1 cup of butter which is equal to two sticks of butter. 🙂
      Have fun trying more recipes!
      Kathy

      Reply
  11. Kelly says

    April 28, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    My family loved them they were soft and full of flavor

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 29, 2020 at 5:49 am

      Hi Kelly,
      I'm so glad they all loved them! You'll be making them again and again! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Jasmine says

    April 19, 2020 at 11:29 am

    I have made other versions of oatmeal bars where I just melted the butter instead of pulsing it into the mixture. How do you think that would impact this recipe?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 19, 2020 at 12:21 pm

      Hi Jasmine,
      I haven't tried melting the butter when making this recipe so I don't know what the results would be. If you don't have a food processor, you could always use a hand mixer for making the oat mixture.
      Kathy

      Reply
  13. Wendy says

    April 18, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    5 stars
    Came out great! Did half the recipe since it’s just me and my daughter. Only had a pie dish so used that. Thank you so much! So lucky I had everything needed. With this quarantine I have been trying to find recipes with the things I have.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 19, 2020 at 5:01 am

      Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know. These are tough times and I'm glad you found something delicious you could make! Stay safe!

      Reply
  14. KHam says

    April 16, 2020 at 12:23 pm

    3 stars
    I didn’t have a food processor so I crumbled it by hand. The topping stayed too powdery and gave a major flour taste. Not sure if it’s because I mixed by hand or what. Would be tasty otherwise.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 16, 2020 at 12:43 pm

      I believe the butter didn't get incorporated fully into the mixture. That would cause the crumbly, floury taste.

      Reply
  15. Emily Covarrubias says

    April 10, 2020 at 7:16 am

    I made these yesterday using store-bought unsweetened applesauce (still naturally sweet, especially after adding the cinammon 🙂 ). I served them to my kids for breakfast this morning and they were a big hit! Question: the recipe calls for 2 c flour, 1 c oats. To make them more oatmeal-y, do you think that could be switched? 1 cup flour to 2 cups oats? Just curious!
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 11, 2020 at 6:37 am

      Hi Emily,
      I'm so glad everyone loved them. I don't if the crust would hold together if you adjusted the oats and flour ratios. You could give it a try. It nothing else, they could eat it with a spoon instead of like a bar. Let me know how they turn out.
      Kathy

      Reply
  16. Debby says

    April 08, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    Is this a cookie that could be put in the freezer?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 08, 2020 at 3:47 pm

      Hi Debby,
      I haven't ever tried freezing these bars. My guess would be that they would freeze well, but I need to give a try to be certain. Let me know if you try freezing them.
      Kathy 🙂

      Reply
  17. Eydie says

    April 06, 2020 at 9:39 am

    5 stars
    Delicious and SO Quick & easy to make, I added a bit more cinnamon, because I love cinnamon & used unsweetened applesauce.
    One thing though. They turned rather soggy overnight, I let them cool thoroughly & covered the dish, but I took them to work & put them back in the oven for maybe 20 minutes & still delicious👍 I had made them on Sunday just for the purpose of treating my coworkers
    As a single person next time I may make 1/2 recipe and keep them for myself in the refrigerator

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 06, 2020 at 4:41 pm

      Thanks! Great tip about reheating in the oven. Ours usually don't last long enough to have any leftover!

      Reply
  18. Jackie says

    April 04, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    I have to go purchase applesauce to make this recipe, any recommendations for store bought? Sweetened vs. unsweetened vs. cinnamon applesauce? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 04, 2020 at 5:12 pm

      Hi Jackie,
      I usually use my homemade applesauce which is lightly sweetened. You can use any type of applesauce - so pick your favorite!
      Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
  19. Kendra says

    April 04, 2020 at 1:08 pm

    Do you think coconut oil would work instead of butter? We are almost out of butter but have all the other ingredients and my kids want to bake!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 04, 2020 at 1:21 pm

      Hi Kendra,
      I think you could use coconut oil instead of butter! It's time to get a little creative when we start to run out of our basic ingredients. Let me know how they turn out!
      Happy Baking,
      Kathy

      Reply
  20. Ashley says

    April 04, 2020 at 9:34 am

    4 stars
    I can not wait to try these. I defrosted some applesauce the other day and we arent going through it as quickly. So this will help!!

    Reply
« Older Comments
Newer Comments »
4.93 from 164 votes (128 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

The author holding a chicken.

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!

More about me →

Grilling Time

  • Skewered shrimp on a plate.
    Honey Lime Shrimp
  • Grilled ribs on a bed of lettuce.
    Smoked Baby Back Ribs
  • Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers on a white dinner plate.
    Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
  • Grilled chicken thighs on a white plate.
    Italian Dressing Chicken
  • Flatbread rounds on a brown paper bag.
    Grilled Flatbread
  • Grilled lemon chicken breast on a plate with baby potatoes and a green salad.
    Honey Lemon Chicken
  • A glass jar filled with an orange glaze with jalapenos.
    Jalapeno Apricot Sauce
  • A whole chicken on a can of beer on the grill.
    Beer Can Chicken on Grill

Popular Recipes

  • A single muffin topped with a crumbly topping on a plate.
    Banana Oatmeal Muffins
  • Breakfast sausage cooked in the oven.
    Breakfast Sausage in Oven
  • Crispy fish fillets topped with lemon wedges.
    Pan Fried Walleye
  • Gravy pouring over a pile of mashed potatoes.
    Homemade Brown Gravy
  • Crispy fish cakes on a white platter with lemon wedges.
    Fish Cakes
  • Pasta twirled around a fork and in a large white bowl.
    Garlic Butter Pasta

Cookbooks

Two cookbooks piled on a counter.

Featured In...

Beyond the Chicken Coop recipes have been featured in many different sites.

Footer

↑ back to top

Beyond the Chicken Coop recipes have been featured in many different sites.

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Disclosure Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 Beyond the Chicken Coop LLC ®

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.