These soft-baked apple oatmeal breakfast bars are naturally sweetened and a perfect way to start your day! Flour, butter, oats, honey, and chopped apples combine for a delicious, cozy treat.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nCan you think of anything better than having dessert for breakfast? But you don\u2019t want a sugar overload first thing in the morning?<\/p>\n
That was my goal when I recently ended up with a whole bunch of extra apples.<\/p>\n
Something that felt like a treat, but I could still happily serve to start our day. And these apple oatmeal breakfast bars are perfect!<\/p>\n
APPLE OATMEAL BREAKFAST BARS<\/h2>\n
These apple oatmeal breakfast bars feel like dessert, but they\u2019re healthy enough for breakfast.<\/p>\n
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- Simple ingredients.<\/strong> Whole wheat flour and oats, naturally sweetened with honey.<\/li>\n
- Kid-friendly. <\/strong>You\u2019ll get some extra mom points for serving these oatmeal breakfast bars instead of a boring bowl of oatmeal.<\/li>\n
- Freezer-friendly. <\/strong>Great for double or triple batches.<\/li>\n
- Super affordable. <\/strong>About $4 for the whole recipe!<\/li>\n
- Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options<\/strong> for easy substitutions.<\/li>\n
- Taste like apple pie <\/strong>but they\u2019re not overly sweet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Plus, we\u2019re using oatmeal, which is high in fiber<\/a>, and butter for healthy fats<\/a> to provide some sustenance to hold everyone over to lunch. (Or snack time, LOL!)<\/p>\n
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APPLE OAT BREAKFAST BARS RECIPE INGREDIENTS<\/h2>\n
Most of my recipes can be made with ingredients you already have on hand, simply because I don\u2019t think you should have to make a trip to the store for special ingredients to serve a good meal!<\/p>\n
This healthy oat breakfast bars recipe is no different. Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve made this multiple times using a variety of apples\u2026 Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, red delicious\u2026 it all depends on the type of apple you like to eat and what\u2019s available. I like to use two varieties, simply to get a mix of flavors!<\/p>\n
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HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY OAT BARS<\/h2>\n
These healthy oat bars come together pretty quickly once you have the apples diced. So, start by chopping the apples up and then follow these simple instructions.<\/p>\n
Step 1. Preheat the oven<\/strong> to 350F. Line a 9\u201d x 9\u201d glass baking dish<\/a> with parchment paper<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Step 2. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer,<\/a><\/strong> combine the dry ingredients: flour<\/a>, salt<\/a>, baking powder<\/a>, baking soda<\/a>, and cinnamon<\/a>. Cut in the butter using two knives, your fingers, or the paddle blade. The mixture should resemble coarse breadcrumbs. Scoop out 1 cup and set aside.<\/p>\n
Step 3. Add the oats<\/a> and honey<\/a> to the mixture in the bowl<\/strong> and use your fingers or a spatula<\/a> to mix together without creating a paste.<\/p>\n
Step 4. Pour this mixture into the prepared pan<\/strong> and press down firmly and evenly to create a crust.<\/p>\n
Step 5. Add the apple cores and leftover apple pieces<\/strong> (if any), plus lemon juice and vanilla extract, to a food processor<\/a> or blender<\/a> and process until the mixture looks like thick applesauce. Make sure to discard the seeds first.<\/p>\n
You will need about \u00bc cup of this mixture, so add additional apple pieces if necessary. You can also simply use \u00bc cup of applesauce.<\/p>\n
Step 6. In a medium bowl<\/a>,<\/strong> combine the pureed apple mixture with the diced apples and stir well. Pour evenly over the crust.<\/p>\n
Step 7. Sprinkle the reserved crumb topping over the apples<\/strong>, pressing down lightly.<\/p>\n
Step 8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, <\/strong>or until the topping is golden brown. Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely at room temperature for about 2 hours.<\/p>\n
For best results, place in the refrigerator for 2 hours before cutting.<\/p>\n
One important note! These bars won\u2019t hold their shape well until they\u2019re cool. I HIGHLY recommend baking these the day before you want to serve them so that they have time to cool and chill in the refrigerator. This also gives the naturally occurring pectin in the apple time to do its magic to the filling.<\/p>\n
If you want to serve them warm, you can \u2013 but you\u2019ll definitely need a spoon to serve and eat, LOL.<\/p>\n
TIPS AND IDEAS FOR BREAKFAST BARS<\/h2>\n
Just a few tips and ideas for breakfast bars I\u2019ve learned over the course of making these many times:<\/p>\n
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- Let these bars cool COMPLETELY before cutting.<\/strong> This is at least two hours on the counter, and I highly recommend refrigerating them before cutting and serving.<\/li>\n
- If you store these bars in the freezer, <\/strong>be sure to cut them first and wrap the bars twice to prevent freezer burn.<\/li>\n
- Make these gluten-free<\/strong> by using a gluten-free flour substitute<\/a>. Oat flour<\/a> works in this recipe, too!<\/li>\n
- Make dairy-free oatmeal breakfast bars<\/strong> by substituting coconut oil<\/a> for butter.<\/li>\n
- Resist the temptation to slice apples thinly,<\/strong> instead of in chunks. This method results in bars that are very hard to cut into squares\u2026 although they\u2019re just as delicious!<\/li>\n
- Swap out the apple layer.<\/strong> Did you make this Chunky Homemade Applesauce<\/a>? Or a simple Apple Pie Jam<\/a>? Try substituting \u00bd-\u00be cup of that in place of some of the apples for another delicious variation.<\/li>\n
- Or try a different fruit! <\/strong>Chopped pears or peaches would also be yummy in this breakfast bars recipe.<\/li>\n
- Since this is a healthy breakfast bars recipe,<\/strong> they\u2019re not overly sweet. If you\u2019re looking for more of a dessert, drizzle the finished bars with a bit more honey or some Salted Caramel<\/a> for extra sweetness.<\/li>\n
- Add some nuts!<\/strong> Walnuts<\/a>, cashews<\/a>, or almonds<\/a> on top would taste delicious.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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CAN I REALLY START MY DAY WITH OATMEAL BREAKFAST BARS?<\/h2>\n
These apple oatmeal breakfast bars look delicious, but can I really start my day with them? Yes!<\/p>\n
Full of fiber and carbohydrates, and without a sugar overload, these baked oatmeal bars are a great option for breakfast for those who like baked goods but don\u2019t want to eat empty calories like pop-tarts or pastries.<\/p>\n
To help hold you over and keep your blood sugar stable, add protein. This can be a side of meat, like Breakfast Sausage<\/a> or Bacon<\/a>, or a glass of Almond Milk<\/a> with protein powder mixed in.<\/p>\n
You also want to make sure you\u2019re getting enough produce. One of my favorite ideas for breakfast bars is to add a green smoothie<\/a> on the side \u2013 I get my produce, and I can add my favorite collagen for that protein boost!<\/p>\n
OAT BREAKFAST BARS FAQS<\/h2>\n
\n\n\nAre oat breakfast bars soft or crunchy?<\/h3>\n
\nThis oatmeal breakfast bars recipe turns out soft and chewy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nWhat oats are best for breakfast bar recipes?<\/h3>\n
\nOld-fashioned or rolled oats are going to give you the best texture. Instant oats are too small of pieces, and steel-cut oats will not soften enough during baking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nDo you need to peel the apples for oatmeal breakfast bars?<\/h3>\n
\nNo peeling is necessary! I actually prefer to leave the peels on the apples because there is so much nutrition and fiber in the peel. That\u2019s also where you\u2019ll find the pectin, which helps the apple layer firm up as the bars cool.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nHelp! My oatmeal breakfast bars are dry and crumbling and falling apart! What should I do?<\/h3>\n
\nLet\u2019s troubleshoot! Juicy apples with the peels on will add more moisture and pectin to the finished bars than peeled, drier apples. Letting the bars cool completely AND refrigerating them will give you a firmer finished texture than bars that are still warm. I used einkorn flour<\/a>, which absorbs the liquid from the butter and honey more slowly than wheat flour. The good news is, even if this breakfast bars recipe turns out crumbly for you, it still tastes amazing when eaten with a spoon!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
MORE FAVORITE OATMEAL RECIPES FOR BREAKFAST<\/h2>\n
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WATCH HOW TO MAKE EASY OATMEAL APPLE BREAKFAST BARS<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
\n - If you store these bars in the freezer, <\/strong>be sure to cut them first and wrap the bars twice to prevent freezer burn.<\/li>\n
- Kid-friendly. <\/strong>You\u2019ll get some extra mom points for serving these oatmeal breakfast bars instead of a boring bowl of oatmeal.<\/li>\n
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