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.
Mrs. Valerie A. Handleton says
Would it work to use a nut flour instead of the flour? Thanks!
Erin Henry says
It could possibly work. However, we have not tried it, so we can't guarantee the results. Let us know how it goes!
Janine says
Needed much longer than 25 minutes to cook
Erin Henry says
Oven temps can vary, so cooking time may need to be increased so that it cooks all the way through.
Janis says
Just yum! I made this a second time & it’s better being I didn’t leave it in the oven as long & I used the convection option in my oven instead of the regular bake. Again, I added walnuts, chocolate chips & cinnamon. Thank you so much for such a yummy oatmeal bar recipe. I want to add that I struggle to swallow & can’t taste much being I went through 35 radiation & 6 chemo treatments for tonsil cancer, but this goes down pretty good if I drink milk with it. I’m always looking for a good healthy recipe like this, so thank you so much.
Thank you.....
Janis says
I made the yummy oatmeal bars! I added walnuts, 4 grain oatmeal f chocolate chips. Although they took much longer to bake than the recipe says, they look awesome.
Tami says
This recipe is really delicious! When I made up the dough it looked like cookie dough to me...so I decided to make cookies out of it! I got about 50 small cookies out of the recipe. So we have oatmeal breakfast bites now 🙂 Love it! Easy to grab a few in the morning.
Thanks for the recipe!
Erin Henry says
What a unique way to use the recipe, Tami! We'll have to give it a try. Thanks for the tip!
Mindy says
I finally decided to comment, I make these bars all the time and freeze some to grab for breakfast. Sometimes I make a few batches with different add ins at a time. I liked to add dried fruit (rasins, cranberries, even dates, and more) a bit of cinnamon, and plain is good too! I also add in pecans or walnuts sometimes as well. Any one I share these with always likes them too!
Erin Henry says
So glad you found the recipe, Mindy! It's a keeper for sure, and one of our most popular. Thanks for the review. We also love how versatile it is to make. You can add in so many things to change it up!
Jessica says
I would love to serve these with breakfast tomorrow morning. I am wondering if i can prep. the batter ahead of time, in the evening, and then bake it off in the morning. What do you think?
Erin Henry says
Hi Jessica, We have not tested the recipe this way, so we can not be sure of the results. However, in theory, it should be okay. The texture may be different since the oatmeal is soaking overnight, but the taste should be the same. Let us know how it goes!
Jessica says
Checking back in. These turned out great! I took them out of the fridge about 1/2 hour before baking. The teenagers were looking for the leftovers after school! We will be making these on the regular
Erin Henry says
Thanks for coming back and letting us know how it went! So glad it turned out great! Our kids just love these afterschool too!
Teach4th says
Delicious and very easy. I used honey, no salt, all white flour and egg whites instead of whole egg and added raisins. Amazing, and beautifully not-overly-sweet. I don't think a mistake can be made preparing these.
Erin Henry says
Thanks for the great review! This recipe is forgiving, and your modifications sound wonderful. Yes, these bars are not overly sweet, which is what we like about them.
Madison says
I am hoping to make this recipe tomorrow, is there any way I can add protein powder to them? And if so how much do you recommend?
Erin Henry says
Hi Madison, yes, protein powder is a good addition. You will need to be careful about the amount as that will change the recipe proportions. Although we haven't tried it, I would think 2 scoops of powder might be a place to start. Also, I would decrease the amount of flour equal to the amount of protein. One other thought is that the powder can make the recipe dry, so maybe add a little (1/4 cup) apple sauce to make sure it stays moist.
Jojo says
Hello. I just found your site and am looking forward to making your oatmeal bars. May I ask, is there a way to cut back on the butter? It seems like two sticks is a lot for an 8x8 dish.
Thank you so much for your input.
Erin Henry says
Hi Jojo, we have not tested the recipe any other way. However, if you decide to try it with less butter, we would recommend adding some apple sauce to make sure it isn't too dry.
Jojo says
Thank you so much, Erin. I appreciate your reply. I will give it a try using some apple sauce in your Oatmeal Bars in place of some of the butter. Separately, I did make your Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars over the weekend and they were delicious. I followed your recipe exactly as written - will definitely be making those again.
Thank you,
Jojo
Erin Henry says
So glad to hear it! These oatmeal bar recipes are so popular no matter the season.
Tonya says
Made them in a brownie pan-- So good! Also, did some honey, some brown sugar and added choc chips and raisins. REALLY satifying!
Erin Henry says
So glad you loved them, Tonya! We love all the add-ins too! The recipe is very satisfying.
Kara says
I added cinnamon chips (we love those things). So tasty! Can't wait to try them with chocolate chips or butterscotch chips.
Erin Henry says
What a wonderful idea to add cinnamon chips! Love it! Butterscotch chips are definitely good!
Laura Reese says
This recipe was perfect. We added chocolate chips! really loved it.
Erin Henry says
The chocolate is a good touch. Our kids love it when we add them.
Kristyn says
My kids can't get enough of these! We like to add chocolate chips, for our chocolate crave, but they have all our favorite flavors!
Erin Henry says
These are simple bars that satisfy just about everyone! Enjoy, Kristyn!
Emma says
They were so good! My whole family LOVED them! I added a mixture of butter and brown sugar on top, and it was delicious! I also greased the pan instead of putting parchment paper in the pan.
Erin Henry says
So glad you enjoyed them, Emma! They are delicious and your topping sounds amazing.
Shari says
I mixed up a batch of these a couple of days ago. The following modifications were made: Sprouted wheat flour for the WW, 45g coconut oil for one stick of butter, 1/3c brown sugar + 2tb maple syrup, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 c each of golden raisins and chopped pecans.
The flavor is subtle and really nice. The bars are a little dry, but I believe that is due to the changes I made to the original recipe and that I baked them a few minutes more than the instructions called for. Nonetheless the texture is pretty good - just need to have a napkin or little plate under the bar to catch crumbs.
I cut 21 bars of approx 178 calories each. I will definitely play with this recipe some more.
Erin Henry says
Glad you found a base recipe you can play with and make it your own, Shari. Enjoy!