Easy Cranberry Oatmeal Bars (healthy)

Cranberry Oatmeal Bars are the perfect breakfast, snack idea, or dessert, especially at holiday time! Chewy and slightly sweet with a bit of tartness makes this recipe a winner! Oh, and you’ll love the crumb topping!

You’ll want to try our Strawberry Oatmeal Bars and our incredible Blueberry Oatmeal Bars!

Whether plain or with added fruit, we gobble up easy oatmeal bars for breakfast or snacks.

Our latest kitchen creation is Cranberry Oatmeal Bars which are slightly sweet but have a lovely tartness thanks to the cranberries that really shine.

This time of year, we love cranberries for the sauce, of course, but they’re great for décor & more! 

That’s why we love this recipe for Cranberry Oat Bars. It’s easy and tastes wonderful, but it packs a nutrient punch with cranberries and whole wheat, plus it’s low in refined sugar.

Ingredient Notes

The other thing we love about this recipe is that it’s easy to bake up with ingredients in your pantry.

Crust & Crumble Topping

• Salted Butter
• Vanilla Extract – pure vanilla extract.
• Whole Wheat Flour – or all-purpose flour.
• Old Fashioned Oats – we prefer old-fashioned oats because they produce bars with a nice chewy texture.
• Honey – or maple syrup.
• Brown Sugar
• Ground Cinnamon
• Orange Zest – freshly grated.
• Sea Salt

Cranberry Filling

• Fresh Cranberries
• Orange Juice
• Whole Wheat Flour
• Coconut Sugar – or granulated white sugar
• White Chocolate – optional, but great for drizzling! 

We usually keep a bag, or two of whole cranberries tucked in the freezer because they’re suitable for up to a year. That way, we can enjoy them all year long! 

So, buy two and freeze one! There are so many Things You Can Do With Leftover Cranberry Sauce!

Instructions

Crust and crumble topping

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place the oven rack in the middle position.
2. Line the bottom of an 8×8 pan with parchment paper, foil, or non-stick cooking spray.
3. To make the crust & crumble, place the whole wheat flour, regular oats, honey, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, orange zest, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in melted butter and vanilla until just combined. The mixture should be a little dry and crumbly, then reserve 1 cup of the mixture. This will be your crumble topping.
4. Add the oat mixture to the prepared baking pan—press the mixture into the bottom of the pan in an even layer.

Cranberry filling

1. Place cranberries, orange juice, coconut sugar, and flour in the same bowl you mixed the oat mixture and stir to combine. Place the cranberry mixture over the crust in an even layer.
2. Evenly sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture over the top of the cranberries.
3. Finally, bake the bars for 45 minutes. If they start to get too brown, cover them with foil for the last few minutes of baking. Remove the bars from the pan and let sit for 10 minutes. Drizzle with a little white chocolate if you wish. Cut and enjoy! 

Topping Idea

Now, if you wanted to go festive, you could drizzle a little white chocolate over the top. This turns your Cranberry Oatmeal Bars into something extraordinary!

They remind us of cranberry bliss bars when they have the drizzle, but they are a little healthier 🙂

Tips for the best Cranberry Oat Bars

• Oats: This recipe is best if you use old-fashioned oats, not instant oats.
• Note:  If you prefer a sweeter bar, you can always add more sugar to this recipe.
• We like using the healthy option of whole wheat flour, but regular flour also works.

Storing

• To extend the life of your bars, layer the bars between waxed paper in an airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 – 7 days. Bring them back to room temperature before serving, or reheat them in the microwave for 30 seconds.
• You can freeze Cranberry Oatmeal Bars for up to 3 months in an airtight freezer-safe container.

FAQs

How can I make this recipe gluten-free?

If you need a gluten-free recipe, use certified gluten-free oats and replace the flour with a gluten-free 1:1 mix.

Can I use dried cranberries?

This oat bar recipe is made with fresh cranberries and isn’t tested with dried cranberries. Therefore, we don’t recommend using dried. 

Can I use frozen cranberries? 

Frozen cranberries have a higher moisture content, so we don’t recommend using them in this recipe as the filling may get too runny.

More oatmeal bar recipes

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Easy Oatmeal Bars
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

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Cranberry Holiday Décor

Cranberries are authentic and can help bring your creative ideas to life during the holidays! We love their vibrant color and natural look, especially on a holiday table.

Everyone likes the ambiance of a pretty holiday table, and if it’s easy and inexpensive, all the better!

Not only does using cranberries accent our table holiday décor by filling candle holders and sprinkling them around the table, but they’re also a nifty idea to hold dinner seating place cards.

The idea is simple and completely doable for anyone, no matter your creative skill or decorating level.

1. Gather as many votive candleholders as you need so each guest has one.

2. Either print out or handwrite the names for your place cards. Cut them out.

3. Fill your votives with Cranberries and tuck the card between the cranberries. Voila! You have an easy decor idea that brings your table to life!

Tip:  Your votives don’t all need to match. As long as they are similar in color or shape, the variety on your table will look fabulous.

Stock up now on Fresh Cranberries, so you’ll have plenty for your favorite cranberry recipes and holiday crafts! Don’t forget you can freeze them, so buy an extra bag!