Oatmeal bars are a wonderful alternative to pre-packaged snacks. These hearty and healthy Cherry Oatmeal Streusel Bars are easy to make and taste amazing. They are very satisfying for breakfast or snack time.
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Cherry Oatmeal Streusel Bars
As a busy family on the go, it’s easy to gravitate towards pre-packed snack bars, but we prefer to bake something more nutritious for our family. These bars do the trick. Cherry Oatmeal Bars are wonderful with your coffee as well!
No one even knows there’s a superfood hidden inside. Everyone thinks they’re simply delicious!
Our love of oatmeal bars started with this recipe for Easy Oatmeal Bars. It’s now a family favorite and our most pinned recipe on Pinterest. It’s healthy and vegetarian. You can Pin it here to make it later.
If you’re a fan of baked oatmeal, try Strawberry Oatmeal Bars and Raspberry Oatmeal Bars! They’re delish!
More Incredible Oat Bar Recipes
Blueberry Oatmeal Bars – delicious recipe made with fresh blueberries.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars – High in protein and very satisfying!
Cranberry Oatmeal Bars – perfect for a seasonal treat.
Chocolate Oatmeal Bars – for you chocolate lovers!
How to Make – Step by Step Instructions
Chewy Cherry Oatmeal Streusel Bars are easy to make; the prep time is about 10 minutes.
To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an 8 or 9-inch square baking pan with foil or parchment paper, extending foil over edges.
Step 1 – Mix Dry Ingredients
Now, grab your medium bowl.
Stir together the first 5 ingredients (oats through flaxseed meal)—Reserve 1/2 cup oat mixture for streusel topping. Stir baking soda into the remaining oat mixture.
Step 2 – Mix Wet Ingredients
Next, in a small bowl, combine the next four ingredients (egg whites through vanilla); stir into the oat mixture in your medium bowl until combined.
Stir in cherries, and then spread batter into your prepared baking pan.
Step 3 – Make Streusel Topping
Using a pastry blender or fork, cut butter into reserved streusel topping in your medium bowl until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Next, stir in pecans (or whatever nuts you are using).
Sprinkle topping evenly over batter.
Step 4 – Bake
Finally, bake for 25-30 minutes or until the center is set and the top starts to golden. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
When cool, using foil or parchment, lift out of the pan. Cut into bars. Enjoy!
This delicious recipe makes about 16 bars.
Tips & Tricks
- If you don’t have dried cherries on hand, no problem. You can substitute dried cranberries or any other kind of dried fruit when making these cherry-oat squares. We recommend apricots, blueberries, or raisins.
- You can use old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats in the recipe.
These bars go great in lunches or double as a coffee cake to enjoy with your favorite morning beverage. They also make a tasty after-school treat – we mean snack!
The streusel topping is one of the best parts!
Substitutions
- You can use coconut sugar in place of brown sugar. Use a 1:1 substitution.
- To make these cherry oatmeal bars gluten-free, use gluten-free oats, and use all-purpose gluten-free flour instead of regular flour.
- Feel free to use coconut oil or butter in place of the vegetable oil.
- Use whatever nuts you like in the recipe. Pecans and walnuts are our favorite.
How to Store
Layer your cherry oatmeal bars between waxed paper in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring back to room temperature before serving.
This is the best way to eat your oatmeal and be healthy! Enjoy!
Can You Freeze Tart Cherry Oatmeal Bars?
Yes! Oatmeal bars freeze very well. Bake and then cool completely. Wrap individually in plastic wrap and then place in an airtight freezer-safe container—label, and date and then freeze.
They will last in the freezer for about 3 months. To thaw, take your cherry Oatmeal Bars out of the freezer and set them on the counter until ready to eat.
We have all the tips on how to prevent freezer burn!
Let Us Know How It Goes!
If you try these Cherry Oatmeal Bars or any other recipe on Suburban Simplicity, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let us know how it went in the comments below; we love hearing from you! Better yet, use the hashtag #suburbansimplicity if you make the recipe.
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Cherry Oatmeal Streusel Bars Recipe
Equipment
- 8x8 inch baking pan
- medium mixing bowl
- parchment paper
- small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup flaxseed meal (ground flaxseed)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 egg whites (lightly beaten)
- 1/2 cup fat-free milk (or milk alternative)
- 1/3 cup canola oil (butter or coconut oil can be substituted)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dried cherries (pitted)
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 or 9-inch square baking pan with foil or parchment paper, extending foil over edges.
- In a medium bowl stir together the first 5 ingredients (through flaxseed meal). Remove 1/2 cup mixture for streusel topping. Stir baking soda into the remaining oat mixture.
- In a small bowl, combine the next four ingredients (through vanilla); stir into oat mixture until combined. Stir in cherries and then spread batter in prepared baking pan.
- Using a pastry blender or fork, cut butter into reserved streusel topping until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; stir in pecans. Sprinkle evenly over batter.
- Bake 25-30 minutes or until the center is set. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Using foil or parchment, lift out of the pan. Cut into bars. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you don't have dried cherries on hand, no problem. You can substitute dried cranberries or any other kind of dried fruit. We recommend apricots, blueberries, or raisins.
- You can use old fashioned or quick-cooking oats in the recipe.
To Store
Layer the bars between waxed paper in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring back to room temperature before serving. Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator. ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on March 25, 2016. We updated it with enhanced instructions and images on August 6, 2020.
This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure policy here.
Rachael Yerkes says
absolutely love these! cherry and oatmeal together is always good! my sons favorite treat
Erin Henry says
Perfect! So glad your son enjoys them!
patti says
These look wonderful. I think I’m going to try them with almond or coconut flour. Thanks
Erin says
Oh, that sounds great, Patti. Let me know how it goes. Almond is my favorite, but coconut would be great too!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton says
Erin, these looks so delish and it won’t be hard for me to make these gluten free, I’m really excited. I eat a granola bar or 2 each day, I can carry them in my purse, it’s hard to find gluten free snacks on the go. These will be perfect! And they will save me a bunch of money, it gets expensive when you eat a couple of these everyday! Thanks for the recipe, sharing it!
Erin says
Yes, it does save you a ton of money to make bars yourself vs buying them. My kids love to take bars on the go, so recipes like this really help keep them satisfied and my grocery bill low 🙂
Charlotte says
These look like they would go perfectly with afternoon tea, just delicious looking! I love that they are healthy too, although I don’t think anyone would be able to tell! I have loads of oats in the cupboard so will have to give these a go next! Thanks for linking this week 🙂
Georgina says
These look lush, thanks for sharing a healthy snack. I love cherries so this will be a weekend bake for sure. #YumTum
Erin says
Thanks for stopping by! Cherries are my favorite too! Healthy and delicious!
Angelina says
oh how yummy!!! They sound delicious. Thanks for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things!
Erin says
Thanks, Angelina! It’s a great party!
Lynn says
Another great recipe and one I need to make soon. Just so happens we have another Robotics competition this weekend…think these would be perfect to take for a bunch of hungry teens.
Thanks Erin and wishing you a lovely day.
Hugs, Lynn
Shirley Wood says
Oatmeal is one of my favorite foods. I’m also a big fan of cherry and streusel so this recipe is so for me! Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday.
Courtney says
I will definitely be making these, as soon as I pick up some wheat germ, they sound delicious! Thanks Erin!
Erin says
Great! I hope you and your family enjoy them, Courtney. I love the crumbly streusel topping the best. And the cherries of course 🙂
Kathryn says
My husband’s favorite part of coffee cake is the streusel. I’ve been asked to triple it in the past! These would be a huge hit at my house. Thanks!
Erin says
Mine too!! I love the streusel topping. Triple topping?? Now, that’s over the top 🙂
Marilyn says
Oatmeal is so healthy. Thank you for offering another way to use it! Pinned and shared. Thanks for linking up at #ThursdayFavoriteThings! I hope you will join me Monday at #OverTheMoon!
Erin says
I love the heath benefit you get from oatmeal. Plus the recipes are so tasty! My family just loves them!
Michelle says
These look amazing and so healthy too. Would love for you to link these at my Party At My Place link up. Always looking for delicious and healthy recipes. Happy Easter and visiting from Ms. Toody Goo Shoes Best of the Weekend link up.
Erin says
Thanks for visiting, Michelle! Healthy and good tasting recipe are my favorite. Happy Easter to you!