Applesauce Oatmeal Bars

These Applesauce Oatmeal Bars make a convenient, portable and delicious option for breakfast on the go! They’re easy to make and pack a ton of warm and comforting flavours. Enjoy them as is or pair them with yogurt or nut butter for an extra boost in protein to jump start your morning!

Originally posted on January 27, 2020. Updated November 19, 2024.

 

Why you need to try these bars

Baking is one of my favourite hobbies, especially when I need some quiet time to myself. Not only do I get some down time but I’m also left with delicious baked goods! Making these Applesauce Oatmeal Bars is no exception! It’s a fun recipe to whip together and then breakfasts or snacks are ready for the rest of the week!

This recipe is incredibly simple to make. It’s a “toss it all in a bowl” approach, saving time and extra dirty dishes. You don’t even have to peel the apple, just chop it up and throw it into the batter!

The aroma that accompanies this recipe once it comes out of the oven is enough to entice you to bake these. Throw in the fresh apples, a heaping amount of cozy spices and some variations of almonds and walnuts, and you cannot go wrong with this bar.

The final result isn’t too sweet, so they make an energizing breakfast or snack option. Plus, you can pair them with a ton of other foods to make it more filling, if needed. For example, I love adding some yogurt to these warm bars. You could also lather on a layer of nut butter or enjoy a handful of nuts and seeds on the side for extra protein.

Since the holidays are coming up, you could make these oatmeal breakfast bars for a festive brunch or give someone a batch as a present. A tasty gift made with love!

I’ve shared some recommendations when it comes to ingredient substitutions and add-ins so you can make them your own. I can’t wait for you to try these!

 

Ingredients needed

Here’s what you need to make these Apple Oatmeal Bars:

• Oats
  • I recommend smaller oats in this recipe like old fashioned rolled oats or quick oats instead of large flake oats. This will ensure the bars aren’t too crumbly.
• All purpose flour
  • See below for recommendations for a gluten-free option.
• Apple
  • You can use whatever type of apple you have at home but some of the best apples for baking are honeycrisp, jonagold and granny smith!
• Applesauce
  • I use sweetened applesauce in this recipe.
• Almond butter
  • This provides a rich depth of flavour and some extra protein.
• Brown sugar
  • You can use any type of brown sugar here.
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract and cinnamon
  • These ingredients create a cozy flavour that pairs so well with apples!
• Baking powder and salt
• Walnuts
  • This is an optional ingredient.

Substitutions and add-ins

If you don’t have some of the recommended ingredients or you would prefer to make some substitutions, here are my suggestions:

• Gluten free flour
  • I recommend using equal parts of a 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour. Make sure your oats are also certified gluten free to achieve an entirely gluten free bar.
• Unsweetened applesauce
  • You can use this in place of sweetened applesauce.
• Peanut butter, other nut butters or seed butter
  • If you don’t like or don’t have almond butter available, feel free to use peanut butter or any other type of nut or seed butter!
• Pecans or almonds
  • If you want a crunchy texture but aren’t a fan of walnuts, use chopped pecans or almonds instead!
• Maple syrup
  • For extra sweetness, especially if you swap to unsweetened applesauce, you can add about 1 tbsp of maple syrup to the batter. Alternatively, you can drizzle some on top of the baked oatmeal bars once they have cooled.
• Chocolate chips
  • Adding chocolate chips to the batter would be delicious! Toss about ⅓ – ½ cup of chocolate chips alongside the chopped apples or sprinkle some on top before they go into the oven.

 

How to make Applesauce Oatmeal Bars

I always try to make recipes quick and simple so that your time is used efficiently, especially during the holidays! These oatmeal bars take no time at all to whip together.

• Before we get started with the batter, make sure you preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare an 8×8” baking dish by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper. 
  • TIP: I always scrunch my parchment paper into a ball before unraveling it and placing it in the baking dish. This helps make the parchment paper stay in place better.
• In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, almond butter, eggs and vanilla extract and mix well. Now add the dry ingredients: rolled oats, all purpose flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir until it is just combined. Set this aside while you chop the apple into bite sized pieces. Don’t worry about peeling it!

• Add the chopped apple and chopped walnuts (optional) to the batter and mix together.

 

• Pour this batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it out using a spatula. Try to make sure it’s evenly distributed throughout the pan for a consistent bake.

 

• Place this dish in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool for at least 10 minutes before pulling up the parchment paper and removing the bars from the dish. 
• Slice the baked oatmeal into 12 or 16 bars or squares and enjoy!

 

What to pair these bars with

You can absolutely enjoy these oatmeal applesauce bars on their own. They’re so easy to quickly grab when you’re running out the door!

However, if you want to boost the nutrient profile of them even more, you can pair them with a variety of other foods and ingredients. Here are some suggestions:

• dollop of Greek yogurt
• slather of nut butter or seed butter on top
• extra applesauce on the side
• handful of nuts or seeds
• smoothie
• hard-boiled egg (or two) for extra protein

Storing and freezing

You can store these Applesauce Oatmeal Bars in a few different ways.

• Once they are fully baked and cooled, you can keep them on the counter for 2-3 days.
• Prolong the shelf-life of the bars
  • They can also be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days. This helps to prolong the shelf life of them before freezing.
• Freezing
  • If freezing, once the bars have baked and cooled to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container. This could be a glass or plastic container or even a freezer bag! Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, either take them out 1-2 hours in advance or microwave them for 30 seconds, or until they reach your preferred temperature and texture. Enjoy!

Oatmeal bar nutrition

As a dietitian, I try to ensure most of my recipes provide a variety of nutrients to support your overall health. Depending on the size of the bars, this nutrition information will vary. If cutting the baked batter (containing walnuts) into 12 pieces, each serving will provide roughly:

• 4.5 grams of protein
• 2 grams of fibre
• A significant source of omega 3 fatty acids
• A variety of B vitamins as well as vitamin E
• Minerals like iron, magnesium and zinc

 

Dietary considerations

It’s important to me that I make sure my recipes are suitable for most dietary preferences, or at least have some substitutions available. If you or someone you’re cooking for has dietary restrictions or you just prefer to make some adjustments to this recipe, here are ways to accommodate that!

• Gluten free: use a 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour instead of the regular all purpose flour and opt for certified gluten free oats.
• Nut free: use a seed butter instead of almond butter and omit the optional walnuts.
• These muffins are already vegetarian and dairy free.

 

Regardless of how you make them, I hope you love these bars!

More apple recipes

• Carrot Apple Muffins
• Apple Pie Overnight Oats
• Apple Walnut Chicken Salad
• Healthy Apple Oatmeal Muffins
• Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup (with apple)

 

If you make these Applesauce Oatmeal Bars, I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!