Try this recipe for easy oatmeal bars your whole family will love! These healthy oatmeal breakfast bars are wholesome and delicious with no processed sugar.
Excellent for an on-the-go breakfast on busy mornings, post-workout, or a great snack idea! Just like our Blueberry Oatmeal Bars!
Everyone who tries this recipe says this is one of the best homemade oatmeal bars EVER! No electric mixer required! If you want a snack or breakfast idea that is healthy and yummy, this Oven Baked Oatmeal Bar recipe is wonderful.
This recipe takes only a few ingredients and is customizable with your preference for yummy add-ins. {Tip - Oatmeal Squares are also good with vanilla ice cream 🙂 }
We're also fans of Strawberry Oatmeal Bars and Raspberry Oatmeal Bars. The fruit makes them taste like a baked crisp but so much healthier! If you're a peanut butter lover, try our Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars!
Why We Love These Oatmeal Bars
We love Healthy Oatmeal Bars around here!!
- They're easy to make and taste incredible!
- They're perfectly baked and soft and chewy.
- They require simple pantry ingredients like whole grains and are a great grab-and-go snack.
Jump to:
Ingredient Notes
- Melted butter - the butter gives these bars a nice rich flavor, but you can also use coconut oil.
- Honey - you use honey in place of processed white sugar. Agave or maple syrup can also be used as a sweetener.
- Eggs - eggs act as a binder in the recipe, and large eggs are best.
- Baking soda
- Salt - we like sea salt or pink Himalayan salt.
- Pure vanilla extract - we always say the better the ingredients, the better the end result 😉
- Old-fashioned oats - traditional rolled oats bake up the best for a chewy texture. Quick oats tend to get too dense.
- Whole wheat flour - you can use all-purpose flour or a combination of regular whole wheat and white flour.
PRO TIP: If you prefer a moist oatmeal breakfast bars recipe, add ½ cup of apple sauce to the wet ingredients.
Variations
VEGAN Oatmeal Bars: Make the bars vegan by replacing the egg with a flax egg, using maple syrup, not honey, and substituting coconut oil for the butter.
GLUTEN-FREE: Make the bars GF by using certified gluten-free oats and using a 1:1 flour substitute.
Add-ins
The possibilities for tasty add-ins for this soft-baked oatmeal breakfast bar recipe are endless!
- Dried Fruit: Try any dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc.).
- More Spice: Add up to a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg.
- More Texture: Shredded coconut will do the trick!
- Chocolate: Dark chocolate chips or chocolate chunks. Or you can make our Chocolate Oatmeal Bar recipe.
- Rich Flavor: Try caramel chips.
- Nuts or Seeds: Chia seeds, sunflower seeds, or try nuts like walnuts or pecans.
- Sweetness: Add in M&Ms or Reese's Pieces.
You can also drizzle some pure maple syrup or almond butter over the top for a real treat!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Seriously, you can treat yourself to this wonderful and wholesome Oat Bar Recipe with one bowl and one pan.
1.) LINE YOUR PAN - In the first step, line your 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper. This makes it easy to get your oat bars out when they're done cooking. Now, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).
2.) COMBINE INGREDIENTS - Combine melted organic butter and honey (or sugar if using) in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, baking soda, salt, and vanilla, mixing well. Add the oats and flour (dry ingredients) and mix until well combined. (Add any optional mix-ins. See recipe notes for suggestions.)
PRO TIP: spray your measuring cup with non-stick spray before putting your honey in - it will slide right out!
3.) BAKE - Press the easy oat bars into your lined baking dish. Finally, bake your bars in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the center is set and the outside is golden brown.
Your whole house should smell wonderful at this point!
Expert Tips & Tricks
- Oats: This recipe is best if you use old-fashioned oats, not instant oats. It will get too dense otherwise.
- Flour: We like using the healthy option of whole wheat flour, but regular flour or a combination of the two will also work.
- Sweetness: These bars aren't too sweet because you make them with honey, so bake them with brown sugar if you prefer a sweeter recipe.
- Thickness: Some readers prefer these baked oatmeal bars to be thinner. If you do, too, use a 9x9-inch square pan.
- Oil or Butter: Readers like to substitute ½ of the butter with coconut oil and have good results. We use organic butter, which gives the best flavor!
- More Moisture: If you prefer a moist bar, add ½ cup of unsweetened apple sauce to the wet ingredients.
Note: Every oven cooks differently. Your cooking time may vary.
Tips for Storing
To Freeze:
- Bake your bars as directed and allow your healthy oatmeal bars to cool completely.
- Cut into bars, then wrap individually in foil or plastic.
- Place wrapped bars in a freezer bag for later.
Thaw for at least one hour at room temperature before eating.
To Store: Layer the homemade bars between waxed paper in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Bring back to room temperature before serving. You can wrap individual bars in plastic wrap for lunches.
The Benefits of Oatmeal
Did you know? Oats are among the healthiest grains on earth. Cool, huh! They're a gluten-free whole grain and a great source of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and heart-healthy!
Recipe FAQs
Oatmeal Bars are a healthy breakfast because they contain fiber from the oats that fill you up and help reduce cholesterol. You make these bars with no processed sugar and whole wheat flour, so they're wholesome and delicious.
Cook oatmeal bars in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the middle is cooked through.
Yes, you can absolutely substitute coconut oil for butter in this recipe.
More Oatmeal Bar Recipes
If you love oatmeal, try Crockpot Oatmeal. It's hearty and filling and made overnight in your slow cooker. Or make Baked Oatmeal Cups. They're packed with oats and blueberries!
Love this healthy and Easy Oatmeal Bars recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.
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Printable Recipe
Easy Oatmeal Bars Recipe
Equipment
- 8x8 pan
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic melted butter (2 sticks)
- ½ cup honey (or ¾ cup brown sugar)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups old fashioned oats (not instant)
- 2 cups whole wheat flour (or a combo of white and whole wheat depending on your preference)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and position oven rack to middle position.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together melted butter and sugar. Add eggs, baking soda, salt, and vanilla, mixing well. Add in oats and flour and mix until well combined. (Add any optional mix-ins. See notes for suggestions)
- Spread mixture in a parchment-lined 8x8 inch baking dish. Bake in a 350° F oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I updated the images for this recipe on February 28, 2018.
Jacklin says
My family and I made the easy oat meal snack bar, we loved them! Not to dry, yet the right texture. So glad I came across your page, thanks for sharing. Blessings to you!
Erin says
Yay! Glad you enjoyed them. We just love this recipe. Blessings to you too!
Theresa (@DearCreatives) says
These look so tasty! pinning for later, and shared. Thanks
Erin says
Hi, thanks, Theresa! Appreciate the share! These bars are so good, I know your followers will love them!
Kristin @ Peppermints and Cherries says
This recipe looks tasty, and the nutritional information is helpful. I never take the time to figure that out! The optional add-ins are a great idea, and I was thinking of adding dried cranberries and chocolate chips.
Erin says
I love your add-in ideas for these oatmeal bars, Kristin! I've tried many combos, but not this one....yet! Enjoy the bars!
Brady says
This looks like a great basic recipe to experiment with. Curious about the nutritional data--I assume it's for one square, but it's impossible to tell what that means if the recipe makes anywhere from "9 to 16."
Erin says
Good question Brady. The nutrition calculator used 16 squares for it's calculation, so it'd be slightly more if you cut your bars into 9 squares.
Lyndsay says
Love these oatmeal bars!! I have had them pinned for a while and have made them more times than I can remember and have never been disappointed!! When I am trying to eat a little better I will use coconut oil instead of butter and have also used almond flour or coconut flour in place of some of the whole wheat flour. So so good!! I always crave oatmeal and grainy things while pregnant and nursing so these have been great!! My 2nd baby is 16months old and I am due in 3 months so I have enjoyed these bars quite a bit!! Thanks for the awesome recipe!! One this family if defiantly keeping!!!
Erin says
I so thrilled to hear you've been enjoying these bars, Lyndsay. My family devours them and I too use coconut oil sometimes and they turn out great. I haven't tried Almond Flour, but I like that idea too. Congrats on your second baby!!
Emma says
Hello!
Is it possible to substitute the butter with canola oil or coconut oil? Will it still taste the same?
Thanks
Erin says
Yes, Emma, many readers have substituted a different oil and they seems to turn out great. No dramatic difference in flavor.
AGS says
These were good. They would have been better with a sprinkle of course sugar or sea salt on top, perhaps.
Erin says
Good tip, Ariel. Thanks for sharing.
Polly says
I am a newbie to your website. I found it while searching for healthy snacks and meal ideas for families. I just made the oatmeal bars with half butter/half coconut butter and I’m over the moon! They are just delicious! I have a feeling you will be my new go-to site for healthy recipes! Thanks for the great recipe and blog!! Looks like I could lose a day or two just enjoying time reading through it!
Erin says
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoy the blog, Polly! I hope you come back soon to see what I'm cooking up!
Grace Adams says
Brown sugar can be replaced by honey equally, up to 1 cup in a recipe. If more than 1 cup of brown sugar is required, you may need to add only 2/3 to 3/4 per cup of sugar (i.e. if the recipe calls for 2 cups of brown sugar, use only 1 3/4 cups of honey).Honey contains more fructose than sugar or brown sugar, and has a much higher water content, which means the end product could be a bit sweeter and more moist when using honey. I suggest reducing the amount of other liquids by 1/4 cup for every 1 cup of honey to keep balance in the recipe.Foods made with honey will brown quicker, so lower the cooking temperature by 25 degrees or so to avoid burning. For baked goods, add 1/4 tsp. of baking soda per cup of honey to reduce acidity and decrease the food’s density.
Heidy says
Hi Erin, I just made these bars and must have done something wrong. The only thing I did differently was half butter and half coconut oil and cut back a little on the flour because the mix seemed way too dry. Oh, and my pan was 9x9. They tuned out really dry. I've never been the best at baking in my 56 years lol and I really try to stick to the recipe as much as possible. I'm thinking if I add a splash of milk and blueberries in a dish they'll be good and if nothing else my dog likes them lol.
Thanks for the recipe,
Heidy
Erin says
This recipe is on the dry side, so depending on your elevation, maybe it cooked too long. You could always add some applesauce to the batter to make it more moist. I like your idea o blueberries and milk! That would be wonderful 🙂
Bonnie says
I used rolled oats because I didn't have the old fashioned. I also had the quick oats and in retrospect, I should have used the quick. Anyway, they were edible but a bit on the dry side and not very sweet but I prefer that. However, I made them for my son and he said they were okay so feel bad about making a substitution that didn't quite work. Use the old fashioned per recipe or I think the quick would probably work but no rolled oats for anyone who is reading this.
Will try again when this batch is gone.
Erin says
Good advice! I like this recipe because it's not so sweet too, but for someone looking for something more sweet, they could definitely sub out the honey for the brown sugar. Also, it is on the drier side, but still very yummy in my opinion. You could try adding 1/4 cup apple sauce if you want it more moist. Enjoy!
Julie says
Just took them out of the oven and the house smells amazing! These are dense and thick and delicious! Almost like a hearty cake; I added mini chocolate chips, dried cranberries, cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg. I might try them in a slightly bigger pan the next time. Great recipe ?
Erin says
I love your combination, Julie!! I'll have to try it. Thanks for sharing. Yes, these do make the house smell amazing. Since they are so dense, they make a good breakfast 🙂 Enjoy!
Barbara says
These look delicious. i LOVE IT 🙂
Erin says
Yes, total yum! Thanks for stopping by!
Asra says
Can you use quick oats instead of old fashioned??
Erin says
Hi Asra, I image you could. The old-fashioned oats seems to add the right amount of texture to this recipe, but the flavor should be the same if you used quick cooking oats. Let me know how it goes! Erin
Carole says
Delicious! For the 1 cup of butter I used half butter and half of sugar free homemade apple sauce. I have made this twice in 7 days. 1st batch. For the fruits I added .5 cup of fresh diced cranberries and .5 cup of diced walnuts. 2nd batch for the fruits I added 1 cup of diced fresh peaches and 3 tablespoons of sunflower seeds. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Erin says
Oh, my goodness, Carole, I love your substitution of apple sauce and your fruit/nut/seed choices!! They sound amazing. Since you made it twice in a week, I'm guessing the apple sauce worked out well. I'm going to try that!