Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars are a healthy, gluten free breakfast or snack recipe that taste decadent but are made without refined sugar.
As we creep closer to the season that shall not be named and anticipate spending more time indoors, I’ve been collecting activity ideas and, more importantly, healthy snack recipes to fill our time and bellies.
Because I don’t know about your kids, but if mine are indoors and even remotely bored, they’re asking for a snack.
I actually don’t mind when they request my healthy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars! This yummy, fall-inspired recipe tastes like you’re eating a big bowl of apple cinnamon oatmeal in bar form.
Dense, chewy, and perfect for breakfast or (the 57th) snack time!
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars are packed with heart-healthy old fashioned oats, coconut oil, tons of cinnamon, fresh apples, and are sweetened with pure maple syrup. No processed-sugar needed. Plus, for those of you who are banana-averse/allergic, these bars call for unsweetened applesauce as a binder/sweetener instead of mashed bananas. I recommend using Granny Smith apples but honestly, you can use whatever you prefer or have on hand.
How Long Do the Bars Stay Fresh After Baking?
These bars will keep just fine covered tightly on the countertop for 2-3 days, though I usually stash them in the refrigerator where they stay fresh for 4-5 days.
Can You Freeze Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars?
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars freeze beautifully! Bake, cool, then slice the bars, and then wrap individually in saran wrap. You can either thaw overnight in the fridge, or wrap in paper towels and microwave for 15-20 seconds, or until heated through.
How to Make this Recipe
Start by processing gluten-free old fashioned oats in a food processor or blender until you have oat flour then add to a large bowl with more whole oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Mix with a fork to combine.
In another bowl whisk together milk (any kind – I use unsweetened almond milk,) egg, pure maple syrup, unsweetened applesauce, melted coconut oil, and vanilla then add to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
If the melted coconut oil clumps up a little bit when combined with the cold milk and egg — that’s ok! It will melt right back down in the oven.
The last step is to fold in a grated Granny Smith Apple. I use Granny Smith’s for all my baked apple recipes because they hold up so well to baking, but truly any kind will work as they pretty much melt into the bars.
That said, you can chop the apples if you want to go for a more “apple crisp” experience – super good either way.
Pour the mixture into a greased 8×8 pan then bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees or until the edges are golden brown and the center is completely set.
Let the bars cool before slicing and devouring. Store leftovers in the fridge for quick and easy breakfasts or snacks, or individually wrap in saran wrap and toss inside the freezer. However you eat ’em – enjoy!
More Easy Breakfast Recipes
- Baked Oatmeal Cups
- Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Mini Egg Bites
- High Protein Overnight Oats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups certified gluten-free old fashioned oats, divided
- 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk, any kind, I use unsweetened almond milk
- 6 Tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 6 Tablespoons pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled then grated
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees then spray an 8×8″ baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Add 1 cup oats to a food processor or blender then process until oats have turned into flour (alternatively you could use a scant cup oat flour). Add flour to a large bowl with remaining 1-1/2 cups old fashioned oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt then stir with a fork to combine and set aside.
- In another bowl, add milk, applesauce, maple syrup, coconut oil, egg, and vanilla then whisk to combine. Pour into dry ingredients then stir until just combined. Fold in grated apples then pour batter into prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center has set. Cool before slicing into bars then store in the refrigerator, or individually wrap bars in saran wrap and freeze.
Notes
- If you don’t have a box grater, you can finely chop the apples.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I feel your pain! My second child is a horrible sleeper! She is 11.5 months old and wakes up 3-4 times every night to nurse still. She throws epic fits when I try to rock her instead of nursing so I have no idea how to stop nursing at night! My son was the best sleeper so I’m at a complete loss on what to do! (And I am also living off of carbs!!)
SAME! I know cutting off nursing at night will (hopefully….probably) fix the problem but actually doing it will be torture. My oldest is the best sleeper too so I’m just like ?.
These look yummy ;)’ I do have one little question though……can I make these with soy milk instead of almond milk and something else to substitute the egg? My niece and nephew have dairy, egg and nut allergies.
Hi Cynthia! Absolutely to soy milk – that is just fine – though I don’t know about the egg. You could try making a flax egg, though I just don’t know if it will be strong enough to keep the bars together. At the very least you could turn them into a crumble for yogurt or ice cream!
I detest anything coconut – could you use melted butter?
Sure! That or vegetable oil could work.
Hang in there! My youngest was a horrible sleeper up until around age 1. She would wake 2-4 times per night just to nurse for *seriously* like a minute and then fall right back to sleep in my arms. Once I weaned her she was great! Now she sleeps like a champ!! So hold on hope that it might get better. I know at the time is was SO HARD! But hopefully it’s just a phase.
I’m really hoping weaning is the solution because, like the sucker that I am, I do feed him every time he wakes up just to get him back down quickly. I’m probably creating this whole situation, but dangit change is hard.
This posting brought back memories…….I had 4 girls in 5 years. When I brought the last one home from the hospital….she was a premie a little under 5 pounds. I had 3 of them in diapers. And this last little peanut was cute…..but rarely slept through the night for the first 3 years of her life. And she cried a lot. I remember laying in bed at night with a pillow over my head…..praying she would just stop crying. Or I would sit in the rocking chair and rock her and she would still cry. When she would talk, she would cry and say I want my daddy! Daddy worked nights…..so I would tell her, he will be home in the morning. We would repeat this for hours. Then in the morning she would wake up like nothing had happened in the night. I frankly don’t know how I did it looking back. I feel your pain……seriously! Being a stay at home mom of several small children is not easy.
Oh my word, Sheri – you are The Woman!! Thanks for your encouraging message – I know (well, hope) that we’ll look back on this time in several years with rose colored glasses, but it sure is tough in the moment.
Can’t wait to try these. They look great. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Pam! I hope you love them. :)
Well (raise hand), I’m a mom of a terrible sleeper too. And sadly she almost 5 and we rarely get a solid nights rest. I thought for sure by now, we Would all be sleeping! Maybe by the time she has 16? LOL. I hope for your sake that Cam will sleep sooner
Sending stay asleep vibes to your daughter, Jill! ;)
Oh man, I feel your pain! My babe is 10.5 months old and we have no idea what we are going to get on a given night. 2-3 wake ups or a one hour scream fest ? bring on the snacks
Ughhhhh!!! Thank goodness for delicious carbs.
Just commenting to offer solidarity as a mom of a not so good at sleeping one year old. I know it’s rough. Thank goodness for coffee and yummy carbs. :) Also can’t wait to try this recipe! Your Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast bars are my six year old’s favorite breakfast. I’m sure he’ll like these too because he’s a big fan of apples.
Thank you, Joni! I’m actually feeling better hearing these messages from parents in the same miserable boat. :) Hope these bars become a new favorite for your family!
My second kid was a terrible sleeper too. I did everything “right” with this one and still wakes at night (age 4). :/
Oy, Julie! Thank goodness for coffee and carbs.
Mothers of crummy sleepers unite! I remember reading your Insta post about Cam’s sleep stuff when he was a few months old and nodding in sympathy. Sleep problems are the WORST! We had some success doing a modified version of The Sleep Lady’s method (Kim West). The only part I did significantly differently was I would pick him up to soothe him. Little man knows what he wants and would get infuriated if I tried to sue him from bedside. That really helped a lot as prior to that he would sleep for a couple hours then be up Every. Single. Hour. ? ugh!!
The bars look delicious!! I’m always on the hunt for nutritious, toddler/husband friendly snacks, ha!
Oh gosh, pretty sure my baby was not infuriated by litigation! ? *soothe* him from bedside.
Hehe, I knew what you meant! That’s what we need to do – soothe crib-side versus pick up to rock. The real issue here is that I’m a softie and just HATE seeing his sad little face. So tough to give tough love. ?
I’m out of coconut oil. What can I substitute?
I didn’t test these with anything other than coconut oil, but I bet you’d get the same results with vegetable oil.
Oh Kristen, I am so sorry that Cam is a poor sleeper. My boy will be a year old next week and is also a tough sleeper. I did everything “better/differently” than I did with my daughter, and still got another poor sleeper. I feel like Facebook friends and other bloggers constantly brag about how well their babies sleep and it makes me so frustrated! But know that you’re not doing anything wrong – these are just the cards we have been dealt. I feel your pain!
Our little guys must be the same age – Cam will turn 1 next week too! Well, just remember when you’re awake in that rocker at 3am…I probably am too. ;) We are not alone!