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.
If you’re a fan of baked oatmeal, try Strawberry Oatmeal Bars and Raspberry Oatmeal Bars! They’re delish!
Table of Contents
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.
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 Chewy Cherry Oatmeal Bars
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 for Making Cheery Oat Squares
- 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.
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 for Cherry Oatmeal Squares
- You can use coconut sugar in place of brown sugar. Use a 1:1 substitution.
- To make these cherry bars gluten-free, make sure to 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.
To Store Cherry Oatmeal Bars
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.
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, just take your cherry Oatmeal Bars out of the freezer and set 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 then 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
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. It was updated with enhanced instructions and images on August 6, 2020.
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