Easy Oatmeal Bars Recipe – Yum!

by Erin Henry on Oct 9, 2015 (updated Jan 15, 2025)

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!

Baked Oatmeal Bars next to a bowl of honey with a glass of milk in the background.

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.

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 8×8-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 9×9-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.

Two Oatmeal Bars stacked on each other with a glass of milk in the background.

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

Are oatmeal bars healthy?

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.

How long do you cook oatmeal bars?

Cook oatmeal bars in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the middle is cooked through.

Can you use coconut oil instead of butter?

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!

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I updated the images for this recipe on February 28, 2018.SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave