Apple Oatmeal Bars
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These healthy apple oatmeal bars are perfect for breakfast meal prep. They slice cleanly, pack well and are a kid-friendly snack you can feel good about.
If you love cozy apple bakes but want something breakfast-friendly, these apple oatmeal bars are for you. Think the same warm flavors as my apple cinnamon baked oatmeal in a soft, chewy bar with sweet apple bites and just the right amount of maple. Mix in one bowl, bake, slice and you’ve got a grab-and-go breakfast or snack that packs perfectly for school or work.
Table of Contents
Why You Gotta Try This One
There are a lot of reasons these live on repeat at our house.
- Portable and kid-approved: They hold together well, so they are easy to pack for school, workouts or errands.
- Wholesome and satisfying: Hearty oats, real apple and a touch of maple make them sweet but not over the top.
- Simple to prep: Stir, bake and slice. They freeze well, so you can stock the freezer for busy weeks.
- Healthy: These bars are packed with simple, nutritious ingredients. Plus, they’re vegan, dairy-free + gluten-free.
Ingredients Needed
You only need a few wholesome staples to make these cozy apple oatmeal bars. Find the full ingredient list and amounts in the recipe card below.
- quick oats – the base that gives these bars a soft, chewy texture and helps them hold together.
- unsweetened applesauce – adds moisture and natural sweetness while reducing the need for extra oil. I love making homemade applesauce, but unsweetened store-bought works too.
- pure maple syrup – a natural sweetener that pairs perfectly with apples and cinnamon.
- ground flaxseed – acts as the binder so the bars stay vegan and adds fiber and omega-3s.
- coconut oil – keeps the bars tender and moist.
- cinnamon – brings that warm apple-pie flavor we love.
- apple – use a crisp, sweet variety like Honeycrisp, Gala or Pink Lady. No need to peel; the skin adds fiber and texture.
Find the full ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Make Apple Oatmeal Bars
Step 1: Take 2 cups of the quick oats and blend them in a blender or food processor until you get a fine flour consistency.
Step 2: In a large bowl, mix the oat flour with the remaining 1 cup oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
Step 3: Stir in the applesauce, maple syrup, ground flaxseed, melted coconut oil and vanilla until combined, then fold in ¾ cup chopped apples.
Step 4: Press the batter into a parchment-lined 8×8 inch pan, top with the remaining apples and bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes, until set and a toothpick comes out clean.
Tips for Success
- Check for doneness: Ovens can vary, so start checking your bars a little early to ensure they don’t overcook. They’re done when firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Don’t skip the cooling time: Allow your bars to cool completely before cutting them. This will make sure that they hold their shape and don’t crumble when cut.
- Double the batch: If you have a 9×13 dish and want to meal prep for the week, you can easily double the recipe. Just remember to adjust the baking time accordingly.
What to Serve With Apple Oatmeal Bars
I like these bars with a drizzle of nut butter for breakfast or a midday snack. If you want more protein or a cozy drink with them, try one of these pairings:
- Hard boiled eggs: I’ll typically eat 1 or 2 hard boiled eggs with a bar.
- Protein shake: A protein shake is a great option when it comes to amping up the protein in your breakfast. I have a few different protein shake flavor variations you can check out.
- Egg dish: Serve these bars with these egg white bites or baked egg muffins for another quick, easy and portable breakfast option.
- A warm drink: If you love Starbucks like I do, try my healthy homemade pumpkin spice latte. It pairs perfectly with these bars.
How to Store
At room temperature: Once cooled, place the apple oatmeal bars in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for about 2 days at room temperature.
In the fridge: These bars will stay fresh for up to 1 week in the fridge. I like using glass storage containers or Stasher bags for storage.
Freezing: These bars will last for up to 3 months in the freezer in a freezer-safe container. To enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours at room temperature.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Apple Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 3 cups quick oats, divided
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¾ cup applesauce
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 medium apple, chopped (about 1 cup), divided
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray and set aside.
- Put 2 cups of the quick oats in a blender or food processor and blend until you’ve created oat flour.
- Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and stir to combine.
- Add applesauce, maple syrup, flaxseed, coconut oil and vanilla and mix well until combined.
- Gently fold in about ¾ cup of the chopped apples.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Scatter remaining apple chunks on top, gently pressing them down.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until the bars are cooked through and a toothpick insured comes out clean.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 8 bars and serving.
Notes
- Egg swap: If you do not need these bars to be vegan, use 1 large egg in place of the flax mixture.
- Oat flour option: You can use store-bought oat flour. Use 2 cups total oat flour for the recipe.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days, or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge or warm gently before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!
WOW, these are so amazing! I subbed in 1 cup of Apple Pie protein powder from Just Ingredients for one of the cups of oat flour. Because I use Zego protein rolled oats, I went just a tad under 2 cups for those to make sure nothing looked too dry with the subs I made. Texture was perfect – even the batter tasted so yummy, haha. Upped the cinnamon to 2 TSPs and they baked perfectly just as directed. Super protein and fiber loaded. Another EBF hit! 🙂
These are very good with just enough sweetness. Mine turned out rather dry for some reason. Could be because I had to use rolled oats rather than quick oats because that’s what I had on hand. Doesn’t matter that they’re a bit dry – the flavor is still great. Thanks for this recipe!
Hi Heather – Yes, I would recommend using quick oats for best results, could be the cause for them being dry. Thanks for sharing your review, I am glad you are enjoying these!
I made these following the recipe, but did add some nutmeg & a handful of craisins. I found the batter quite thick & seriously difficult to spread in the pan. All in all I liked the bars, though i think I’ll up the spices a bit. This will make a nice handy breakfast on the go for me since its basically apple cinnamon oatmeal in bar form.
Sounds delicious, Rose. Glad you found this recipe and are enjoying it. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!
These were simple to make and turned out perfectly! I made them for my toddler, but couldn’t resist eating one as soon as they were cool enough! 🤭 I will be making these again!
Aw this makes me so happy to hear, Veronica. I am so glad that you and your toddler are loving these and they turned out great for you. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
Can you just use store-bought oat flour instead of processing your own? if so, how much would you use? I’m assuming the 2 cups processes down to less once a flour? Thanks! Love your recipes 😋
Hi Sarah – you can use 2 cups of store-bought oat flour. Hope you love these!