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    Home » Recipes » Bars & Brownies

    Healthy Oatmeal Bars

    by Mindy Boyd · Published: Dec 24, 2022 · Updated: Dec 24, 2024

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    ⏲️ 45 minutes mins
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    Our Healthy Oatmeal Bars recipe replaces the oil or butter that is traditionally in oatmeal bars with unsweetened applesauce making them a healthier version. These easy oatmeal bars make the perfect addition to breakfast or a healthy snack or dessert.

    Nine oatmeal bars on white parchment paper with the recipe title written above it.

    This recipe makes a large batch so they are a great option for a grab-and-go treat on busy mornings. We chose to add white chocolate chips and dried cranberries to our bars but there are many delicious variations, I will give you some ideas a little later on.

    Close up overhead shot of the entire glass baking dish with oatmeal bars in it.

    The best thing about our oatmeal breakfast bars recipe, other than eating them of course, is we keep it as simple as possible by mixing them by hand in one bowl. We combine the wet ingredients first and then add the dry ingredients so we only have to dirty one large bowl.

    Close up view of one whole oatmeal bar with part of other bars around it.

    Ingredients:

    Just simple ingredients are all you need to make these delicious bars.

    See recipe card below for exact measurements.

    The ingredients needed to make the recipe with text telling what each ingredient is.

    Ingredient Notes

    Oats – we use quick oats (also known as instant oats) because we like the texture. You can use old fashioned oats if that is what you have.

    Applesauce – I keep unsweetened applesauce on hand and use it instead of butter (even melted butter) or oil in many recipes. You can even do that when making a boxed cake mix.

    Eggs – we use large eggs.

    Flour – I use all purpose flour.

    Milk – whole milk is what we buy and keep on hand. You can use whatever milk you have.

    Chocolate Chips – any variety will work here, we love white chocolate chips.

    Cranberries – I love the combination of dried cranberries and white chocolate.

    How to Make Our Oatmeal Bar Recipe

    1. Preheat oven to 375°. Coat a 13″ X 9″ baking dish with cooking spray.
    2. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the sugar and applesauce until well combined. Add eggs, milk and vanilla and whisk. Add oats, flour, baking powder and salt and mix until well incorporated. Mix in white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
    3. Pour the oat mixture into an even layer in the prepared pan and bake 35 – 40 minutes or until edges become golden brown and start to pull away from the sides of the pan. Allow bars to cool before cutting.
    A collage of numbered images showing the first 4 steps to make the recipe.
    A collage of 4 numbered images showing the next steps to make the recipe.

    Storage

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. As with any fresh home baked treat the longer they are around the drier they get.

    Pro Tips

    Allow cold ingredients to come to room temperature. We take our eggs, applesauce and even our milk out of the fridge about an hour before we plan to make these oat bars. Bon Appetit has a great article about how to do this quickly if you are impatient like me.

    Separate the dried cranberries. They tend to stick together so we separate them so they are distributed more evenly.

    Reserve some of the chocolate chips and dried cranberries to add to the top before baking to make your bars look like ours. 

    Side view of several oatmeal bars with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.

    Substitutions & Variations

    • You can swap some of the white flour with whole wheat flour to make these better for you.
    • Swap white chocolate chips with milk chocolate chunks or dark chocolate chips.
    • Make apple oatmeal bars by swapping the cranberries and white chocolate chips for small pieces of fresh chopped apple and add about a teaspoon of cinnamon.
    • Use your favorite dried fruit.
    • Add some nuts. Nuts have healthy fats that are part of a healthy diet.
    Side view of three oatmeal bars stacked on top of each other.

    Are Healthy Baked Oatmeal Bars Good For You?

    They can be, especially when compared to other breakfast options such as donuts and some muffins, pancakes, waffles and French toast. These oatmeal bars have wholesome ingredients such as oats, milk and eggs. Plus we have swapped the fat for applesauce. We live with the philosophy of everything in moderation and the sugar in these bars is relatively low when compared to the amount of other ingredients.

    Close up of the side of one oatmeal bar with the title of the recipe written under it.

    Easy Oatmeal Recipes

    These recipes are great if you want a healthy bowl of oatmeal that is taken to the next level!

    Blueberry

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    Apple Cinnamon

    Baked Oatmeal Recipes

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    Healthy Oatmeal Bars

    Mindy Boyd
    Healthy Oatmeal Bars recipe replaces the oil with unsweetened applesauce to make these a great option for breakfast or a healthier dessert.
    5 from 10 votes
    Print – Email Required Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 bars

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
    • 3 eggs
    • 2 cups milk
    • 2 tsp vanilla
    • 3 cups quick cooking oats
    • 2 cups flour
    • 2 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1 cup white chocolate chips
    • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
    Get Recipe Ingredients

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    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375°. Coat a 13" X 9" baking dish with cooking spray.
    • Combine sugar and applesauce in a large bowl and whisk until well combined. Whisk in eggs, milk and vanilla. Add oats, flour, baking powder and salt and mix until combined. Mix in white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. Pour the oat mixture into an even layer in the prepared pan.
    • Bake 35 – 40 minutes or until edges become golden brown and start to pull away from the sides of the pan.
    • Allow to cool before cutting into 24 bars.

    Notes

    Did you make this recipe? We would love it if you would leave us a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review below!
     
    Nutritional information is approximate.
     
    See tips, notes, and suggestions in the post above.
     
    Bookmark this page to find it quickly when you are ready to make this recipe!

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 66IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was with a comment below.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chuck Carey says

      December 12, 2024 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      Hi Mindy, I’m 71 yr. Old who loves to cook/bake. I was looking for a snack that would be a little bit healthier instead of a bag of cookies from the store. I found this one on your site over a year ago. This is the 5th or 6th time I’ve made it. My wife & I love these as well as my granddaughter. I love how dense the bars are yet light and very flavorful. Thank you for creating the recipe. Chuck C.

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        December 12, 2024 at 3:46 pm

        You’re welcome, Chuck! We love that they are dense a flavorful too. I am so glad your family likes them!

        Reply
    2. Pat says

      February 23, 2024 at 5:08 pm

      In list of ingredients there is baking powder, in the directions you say to stir in baking soda.
      Which is it?? Or is it both?

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        February 23, 2024 at 6:55 pm

        I made a typo and have edited the recipe, the ingredient photo shows baking powder. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!

        Reply
    5 from 10 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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