Description
These chewy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars are a perfect nutritious start to your day or a wholesome midday snack. Made with heart-healthy rolled oats and naturally sweetened with applesauce and dried cranberries, they are easy to prepare, great for meal prepping, and packed with delightful flavors of cinnamon and walnuts.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup almond milk
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- ¼ cup walnuts, finely chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing the edges to hang over for easy removal later.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine rolled oats, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until evenly mixed.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, unsweetened applesauce, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Combine Mixtures: Pour the dry ingredient mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Stir gently and then let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and oats to soften slightly.
- Add Nuts and Fruit: Fold in the finely chopped walnuts and dried cranberries evenly throughout the batter.
- Prepare for Baking: Spread the combined mixture evenly into the prepared square pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Bake the Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Using the parchment paper edges, lift the bar slab from the pan, then cut into 16 equal bars and serve.
Notes
- You can substitute dried cranberries for raisins or chopped dried apricots depending on your preference.
- For a nut-free version, omit the walnuts or replace with seeds such as pumpkin or sunflower.
- These bars keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- To make them dairy-free, ensure the almond milk is unsweetened and free from additives.
- Adding a pinch of nutmeg or ginger can enhance the warm spice profile if desired.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
