Oatmeal bars are a perfect way to use what in your pantry. They are an easy dessert recipe and our apple butter filling makes them the perfect sweet and savory treat. If you don't have apple butter in your pantry, there are many other common spreads you can use (see the list below.)
These dessert bars can be made in just 45 minutes and you probably already have all the ingredients just sitting in your pantry, waiting to be used.
As a bonus, they can easily be turned into a make-ahead recipe as they freeze well for up to two months. Read on and we'll show you exactly how to do all of this.
About these
A day or so ago we had a childless afternoon in our house, hence I returned home to an unusually quiet home on an unusually frigid day.
Using the oven to take the chill out of a cold day is always a great excuse to bake a yummy dessert. We do this often with things like Danish kringle, open-face apple pie, and of course our family favorite of shoofly pie!
The outside temperature never made it above 15 degrees below zero throughout the day and so I decided to use the magical heat of an oven ready to bake.
The kitchen began the transformation to a warm and cozy haven and this is how a new recipe came into the world.
Ingredients for this Oat Bars Recipe
- Old-fashioned rolled oats
- Flour
- Brown Sugar
- White Granulated Sugar
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Butter
- Apple Butter or substitute (See suggestions below)
How to make these
(New to baking? Learn how to make cookies from our own in-house professional chef, CIA-trained Chef Kat.)
Start by preheating your oven to 350° and then gather all of the ingredients listed above.
Next, assemble the shortlist of kitchen tools and equipment for this recipe:
- A mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- A 9" x 9" baking pan
- Start by placing 2 cups of old-fashioned oatmeal in a medium-size mixing bowl.
- Add 1 cup of all-purpose flour.
- Measure and add ¾ cup of granulated sugar.
- Then add ¼ cup of brown sugar.
- Add the salt and cinnamon and mix it all together.
- Then, add and stir in the softened butter.
- Transfer the half of the mixture to a greased 9" x 9" baking pan.
- Reserve the remaining crumbs to use as a topping.
Use the bottom of a drinking glass to firmly pack the base in the pan.
Next, add the magical ingredient: Apple Butter!
Then pat firmly before baking for 30 minutes.
Be sure and try this oatmeal bar cookie recipe; I know you're going to love it!
Common recipe questions
These can be stored at room temperature for up to two days, in a sealed container. Otherwise, they will keep in the refrigerator for 5 days.
If you don't have apple butter, you can use things like:
- Fig preserves
- Apricot preserves
- Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread (Nutella)
- Pumpkin butter
- Ripe Bananas
- Jelly (Grape, Apple, or Strawberry)
Can this dessert be frozen?
You can make these oatmeal bars ahead of time and freeze for up to two months. Here is the best way to enjoy them as a make-ahead dessert:
1. Bake and Freeze Method
- Prepare as directed and allow to completely cool.
- Cut portions as desired.
- Using a flat surface like a cookie sheet, platter, or large plate, line the bottom with plastic kitchen wrap and leave plenty of extra wrap to cover the top of the bars.
- Double-wrap the bars, making sure there are no air pockets between them and the plastic wrap.
- Place a date label on the outside (to remind you of when you made them), and place in your freezer.
- Remove from freezer 6 to 12 hours before serving to allow them to thaw at room temperature.
2. Freeze and Bake Method
- Prepare as directed but do not bake.
- Wrap the entire baking dish, with the unbaked bars, in plastic kitchen wrap. Press down lightly on the wrap to make sure you get out any air pockets. Wrap in a second layer and place the dish in the freezer.
- Allow thawing in the refrigerator 12 hours before ready to bake and serve.
- Bake as directed.
This easy recipe for oatmeal bars is perfect for the holidays, or any time of the year. If you're looking for another year-round dessert recipe, be sure and try our forgotten cookies!
Other recipes that use apple butter
(Be sure and check out our own recipe for Crock-Pot Apple Butter.)
- Apple Butter Dredged Pork Cutlets
- Apple Butter Meatloaf
- Raisin Apple Butter Bread
- Scottish Tea Cookes with Apple Butter
- Herb Pork Pinwheels with Apple Butter and Chevre
- Apple Butter Muffins
- Sage and Apple Butter Gnocchi
More Easy Dessert Bar Recipes You Might Like
See all of our bar recipes and our complete collection of easy dessert recipes!
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Homemade Oatmeal Bars with Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup butter softened to room temperature.
- 1 cup apple butter
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In large mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, sugars, salt and cinnamon.
- Add butter and stir until creamy.
- Pat half of the mixture into baking pan.
- Spread apple butter evenly over crumb layer.
- Sprinkle remaining crumbs over apple butter and press down gently.
- Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden.
- Transfer pan to wire rack and cool completely.
Video
Notes
- If you don't have apple butter, consider substituting any of the following:
- Pumpkin Butter
- Fig Preserves
- Apricot Preserves
- Chocolate and Hazelnut Spread (like Nutella)
- Grape, Apple, or Strawberry Jelly
- Ripe Bananas
Cynthia
WOW, these were so good! I was hesitant to try but decided to give these a shot. I mixed all the dry ingredients together night before and in morning softened the butter and finished making. Using regular oats gave these bars a delicious texture. I had made some homemade apple butter in my crockpot and used in this recipe. Yum!
Crystal
Can these be frozen?
Dan from Platter Talk
Yes, these can be frozen for up to three months. Double-wrap them in kitchen wrap and ensure all the air is out. Thaw overnight before using.
Mary
Can a person use granola cereal in place of oatmeal?
What would the recipe adjustments be?
Dan from Platter Talk
I would not use this substitution. They are very different ingredients with different baking properties.
Lilly
Can I use coconut oil instead of butter?
Darlene Geyer
Do you have to use old fashioned oatmeal? Can I use quick instead?
Dan from Platter Talk
Yes, quick oats should work fine.
Staci Barber
These were fantastic! We have a pear tree and I make pear butter every fall and this recipe is just the perfect way to showcase the spiced pear deliciousness! I did decrease the white sugar to 1/2 cup, but other than that followed everything else to the letter. Thanks for sharing, this is now one of our favorites!
Virginia Rafter
Do you have a recipe for apple butter
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks for the question, Virginia. We have a batch of apple butter in the crock-pot at this very moment! You're going to love this apple butter recipe, be sure and try it! https://www.plattertalk.com/slow-cooker-apple-butter-2/
Amy Jo McCord
Yummy. The only change I made was to substitute 1/2 c. of the oatmeal for chopped, toasted walnuts. As far as the technique. I just put all the dry ingredients into Cuisinart, pulsed a few times. I left my butter ice cold and cut into small cubes. I added that to the dry ingredients and pulsed until I had I good, crumbly consistency, and proceeded with the recipe from there. I cooked mine for 40 minutes and they were perfection with minimum crumble.
Dan from Platter Talk
Amy, thank you so much for this great feedback. It sounds like you owned this recipe which is exactly what needs to be done for the best results, every time!
Melissa
Easy directions, delicious, not overly sweet, and great recipe to use apple butter i made! Warm w a scoop of ice cream....ahhh
Cara
These were delicious but turned out more like a crumb cake than bars. Half the batter was absolutely not enough to fill a 9 by 9 square pan. Next time I'll double the recipe.