Cherry Apple Oat Bars
Cherry Apple Oat Bars have a chewy oat crust, sweet-tart cherry apple fruit filling, and a crumbly crunchy oat topping. These bars are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or warm with a side of ice cream for dessert. Plus, they’re easy to make and totally freezer-friendly!
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Why You’ll Love These Bars
- Perfect balance of flavors: The tart cherry filling and sweet apple sauce mingle beautifully with cinnamon-spiced oats. It’s easy to change up the fruit filling! Try apple cinnamon, blueberry or even strawberry.
- Simple, wholesome ingredients: No complicated steps or hard-to-find items—just pantry ingredients you probably already have on hand!
- Great for snacks or dessert: These bars make an excellent on-the-go breakfast, an after-school treat, or a delicious dessert with a side of vanilla ice cream.
- Freezer friendly: Make a double batch and freezer half up to 3 months.
You’ll Need
Find the full, printable recipe with exact measurements at the bottom of this post. Read on for more details and tips!
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9×9 Baking Dish and parchment paper or nonstick cooking spray
Crust & Topping: old-fashioned oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, brown sugar, melted butter, applesauce, and vanilla.
Filling: canned cherry fruit filling, applesauce, and fresh lemon juice for brightness.
How To Make It
Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper or a light grease.
In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar. Stir in melted butter, applesauce, and vanilla extract until crumbly and well mixed.
Press half the oat mixture firmly into the pan as the crust. Bake for 10 minutes.
While the crust bakes, mix the cherry fruit filling, applesauce, and lemon juice. Spread this filling evenly over the warm crust.
Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the filling as a topping.
Bake 30–35 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
Cool completely before slicing in 9 bars. Tip! Chill the pan in the fridge 30 minutes before cutting for clean slices.
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Tips
- Use unsweetened applesauce for a natural sweetness that won’t overpower the fruit filling.
- Chilling before slicing is key for neat bars that hold together well.
- For an extra touch, drizzle warm bars with a simple vanilla glaze or sprinkle with a little coarse sugar before baking for a sparkly crunch.
Serving
These bars are fantastic on their own or paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an easy dessert. They also travel well, making them perfect for lunchboxes, picnics, or afternoon coffee breaks.
Try These Next
- Boy Boy Restaurant’s Strawberry Pie
- Pumpkin Pie French Toast Casserole
- Fruity Biscuit Pie Bombs
- Chocolate Lasagna
- Grandma’s Spice Cake
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re craving a fruity snack or a quick dessert that feels homemade and wholesome, these Cherry Apple Oat Bars deliver. They’re a crowd-pleaser with the perfect mix of tart and sweet, chewy and crumbly—ideal for any time you want a little taste of fall.
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Cherry Apple Oat Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper or a light grease.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar. Stir in melted butter, applesauce, and vanilla extract until crumbly and well mixed.
- Press half the oat mixture firmly into the pan as the crust. Bake for 10 minutes.
- While the crust bakes, mix the cherry fruit filling, applesauce, and lemon juice. Spread this filling evenly over the warm crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the filling as a topping.
- Bake 30–35 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
- Cool completely before slicing in 9 bars. Tip! Chill the pan in the fridge 30 minutes before cutting for clean slices.
