Healthy Apple Baked Oatmeal Bars
You’ll love these baked oatmeal bars – they are easy, delicious, made with nutritious ingredients, and a delicious breakfast or snack to take on the go. The apple oatmeal bars are made with plenty of fresh apples, wholesome oats, and cozy and sweet honey and cinnamon. Simply mix, bake, and enjoy!
Many years ago, when this recipe was originally created, a friend asked for a nut-free healthy snack for our (at the time!) young toddlers – and this is what I came up with. There have been many tests and tweaks and now, with fresh pictures, these baked oatmeal bars deserve a spot in your baking rotation! And if you can do peanuts, be sure to try my apple dip next time.
If you love oatmeal recipes like this one, be sure to try my brown sugar oatmeal, fruit-soaked oatmeal, or banana oatmeal next time.
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
What You’ll Love About Apple Oat Bars
- Warm, cozy fall flavors
- Soft texture similar to a soft granola bar
- Made with wholesome and simple ingredients
- Nutritious breakfast made with whole grains and fruit
- Perfect breakfast for busy mornings or great for quick snacks
- Just 10 minutes prep time
- Freezes well
Ingredients
- Whole grain oats – Be sure to use old fashioned oats, not instant (quick oats) or steel cut oats. If you want these to be gluten-free oatmeal breakfast bars, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
- Whole wheat flour – You can use regular whole wheat, or white whole wheat, oat flour, regular flour (all-purpose), or your favorite gluten-free flour.
- Apples – Any variety of apples will work, we love Honeycrisp apples, Pazazz apples, Zestar or try granny smith apples for a tarter bar.
- Brown sugar – This adds a light sweetness, without too much sugar so I think it’s nicely balanced. You could also omit if you’re making this for really little eaters!
- Vanilla extract – Use high quality vanilla for best flavor.
- Cinnamon
- Baking powder
- Milk – I typically use whole milk, but you could use your favorite milk or milk alternative.
- Eggs – Use high quality eggs for best flavor.
- Honey – Only use honey if your kids are over age one, it’s not safe for babies! You can also use pure maple syrup.
- Butter – I love the flavor butter gives, but you could also use coconut oil if you wanted a dairy-free version.
- Extras – Want to add some additional flavor or sweetness? Try adding in chocolate chips, dried fruit (raisins or dried cranberries would be yummy!), or nutritious hemp, pumpkin, or chia seeds.
How to Make Apple Oatmeal Bars
This is an overview on how to make healthy baked oatmeal bars, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.
FAQs
Are apple bars healthy?
Yes, I developed this recipe to be a nutritious snack or breakfast! These bars are made with wholesome ingredients – whole grain oats, apples, and more. They are made with minimal sugar. You can also find the full nutrition stats below the recipe card.
Can I feed these to young toddlers?
Yes, these will work for young kids! If your feeding a baby under one, be sure to not use honey in the recipe, use maple syrup instead as babies under one can not have honey.
Can I omit some of the sugar?
Yes, while the flavor is best with a little added sugar, I completely understand not wanting to add a lot for young kids! You can omit the brown sugar and sweeten only with the apples and honey.
Storage Instructions
Store these individual bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. They don’t have any preservatives in them so they will mold at about day 4-5!
How to reheat oatmeal bars
Gently reheat the easy oatmeal bars in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Can you freeze oatmeal breakfast bars?
Yes, these breakfast bars freeze well for 2-3 months in freezer-safe bags. Take them out to thaw on the counter or put them right into a lunchbox and they’ll be ready to eat by lunchtime.
What to Serve with Baked Oatmeal Bars
Serve these apple oatmeal bars with a side or two for a full and balanced meal:
- Fresh fruit – Try berries, fresh citrus, or sliced bananas.
- Protein – Drizzle with peanut butter or serve with cottage cheese, milk, hard-boiled eggs, breakfast sausage, or nuts.
- Coffee – This one is obviously for the parents, but I know you deserve it! Try my cold foam over iced drinks, cappuccino, or latte.
How to Feed Oatmeal Bars to the Whole Family
I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in.
I came up with this recipe when my kids were young toddlers and we still enjoy it! It’s packed with nutritious ingredients, minimal sugar, and can be eaten in a variety of ways. Take pieces on the go for a quick snack or lunch dessert or heat in a bowl with a drizzle of milk for a delicious breakfast.
I would recommend serving a small piece of the healthy apple oat bars
if it’s a new or learning-to-like it food. Serve with a few sides like fruit and milk.
More Healthy Breakfast Recipes
If you like this apple oat bar recipe, you might also like some of these other healthy breakfast recipes:
Healthy Apple Baked Oatmeal Bars
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
HEALTHY baked oatmeal bars are packed with wholesome oats, apples, and lots of cozy and sweet flavors. It’s a filling breakfast or snack.
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 2 cups thinly sliced and chopped apple (about 2-3 medium apples)
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Prepare 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray or parchment paper.
- Cut apples. Using a mandoline slicer, thinly slice apples. Then roughly chop the apples so you have very thin pieces that are about a ½ inch x ½ inch. (I usually cut apples in half and then use mandoline slicer on the peel side first, carefully making my way to the apple core.
- In a large bowl, mix together oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Stir in cut apples.
- In a medium bowl, melt butter. Add in milk, honey, eggs, and vanilla and whisk together until combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until combined.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish and spread out in an even layer with the back of a spatula if needed. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown.
- Let cool before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Apple Type: You can really use any apple here, but Honeycrisp, Pazazz, zestar, gala, or pink lady apples all work well
- You can also make these into mini bites by baking them in a mini muffin tin. You’ll want to cut down on the baking time by about 5 minutes and you’ll also have some extra batter; it’s the perfect size for an individual baking dish.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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Yum, I love oatmeal in any form and especially when it is easy to transport! I will be making these this week and I know Sloane will love them too!
I hope she approves, I know she has a high standard for baked goods! 😉
we just made these. I wasn’t sure what to do with the butter. Mine turned out a little bit more cake like than your pictures. Not sure what I did wrong, but they were still good.
Hi Arianne, thanks so much for writing, I just added the butter into the instructions. Sorry about that! You just dot it on the top, so it really just adds flavor, doesn’t do much else. Glad you liked them!
I just made these. They came out a little more cake like. I am putting them back in the oven a little longer as the
top is brown but underneath is still wet. I did substitute almond milk. I think it might be better with a half cup of milk instead of a cup. Just thinking out loud. They are good, though.
Hi John! How did it turn out with a little extra time in the oven? They definitely are more cake-like than granola bar, so hopefully they turned out just right!
In an effort to make these plant based, I made these with a couple of substitutions – almond milk, and peanut butter instead of eggs. The honey is questionable – but, decided to change that next time. They turned really good. Will definitely be making these again.
I’m so happy to hear this, Sharon! Thanks so much for sharing your swaps too, I know others will appreciate it!
Hi, Emily~
I’m glad to find you ^^
I’m korean and also live in Korea.
So.. I’m just confused what kind of measuring cup you used. Cause 1 cup means usually 200millimeter in Korea. Thanks ~~ and take care amid outbreak of Covid 19.
Do have to refridgerate these?
You can store them at room temperature for 2-3 days or freeze them! They freeze really well.
They were decent. I didn’t love the texture, it was a little tough but maybe I just don’t like oats like that. They don’t taste like store bought which is good and bad. I guess I thought they’d taste different but always worth trying new recipes.
This recipe makes a delicious, nutritious oat apple breakfast bar. Keep them in the freezer, and a 30 second microwave zap yields a quick and tasty breakfast! Will definitely bake these again! A winner.
Thanks Deborah! So glad you enjoyed them. I just took one out of the freezer for my daughter’s lunch. 🙂
This is a family favorite! Dan and I really like eating these bars as much as our grandgirls! They have just a hint of sweetness, and satisfying, as well as high on the yum factor.
I followed the directions. They were very good. A little crumbly.
Hi Emily! I love your content. I’m making these bars tomorrow as the next day is my first day back to full-time work and I need a quick breakfast. Do you think quick oats would work? Maybe just be a little more mushy? I have a huge Costco container of quick oats, so I might give it a try and see what happens. Thanks!
This is one of our favorite breakfast bars ~ moist, flavorful and just sweet enough.
Making up a batch soon for lunches! 🙂
I make this recipe every 2 or 3 weeks. It is easy and healthy. I have learned to chop the apples small and not to overcook. When I put all of the ingredients together and stir Inlet them sit and soak up the milk before I put them in the oven.. Yummy
Thanks Marj, glad you are a fan!
Could I omit the flour and add protein powder to make them healthier. I’m not able to eat anything with carbohydrates in it and would love to try these.
Hi Crystal, the flour sort of acts as a binder in these bars so I’m afraid the protein powder wouldn’t work in the same way, but let us know if you try it out! Maybe if you blended the mixture together so it wasn’t quite as chunky?
It was okay. Kinda flavorless though.
Hi Debby, sorry you felt it was flavorless!
This recipe sounds great! I’m looking forward to making it today.
There’s only one small issue. The adds do not go away when I hit the print recipe option. I would use up way too much ink if I have to print adds. Is this something you’re able to change on your end?
Anyways, thanks for the recipe!
Hi Stephanie, the ads won’t actually print. They do sometimes show up on the print page, but they won’t print! I just confirmed with my ad network and we tested it. Hope you love the oat bars!
I did the sugar substitute by adding maple syrup perfect amount of sweet and sticks with the “breakfast” bar theme. Loved it warm out of the oven. I added pecans as well.
This looks so good! What a great combination of flavors!
You need a ‘’jump to recipe’’ icon! After cooking, baking for 50-60 years it’s nice to not read all the flutter that preludes a recipe!
I have one at the top of the post! 🙂