Soft Baked Apple Cinnamon Oat Bars
These Soft Baked Apple Cinnamon Oat Bars are the perfect combination of fall’s best flavors: cinnamon, apple, and nutmeg. Topped with a Cinnamon Peanut Butter Drizzle, these homemade oat bars are simply irresistible!
Healthy oat bars are a wholesome snack or breakfast option for those chill fall days. Naturally sweetened with apples, applesauce, and dates, these soft baked bars are sure to become a seasonal favorite in your home.
What makes these cinnamon oat bars special, though, is the cinnamon peanut butter drizzle that we put on top of the cooled bars. Trust me, you won’t want to skip this step! The combination of sweet autumn apple and savory peanut butter creates a tasty combination that makes this healthy fall snack an even more delicious treat.
KEY INGREDIENTS
Unsweetened applesauce
Dates
Coconut oil, melted
Vanilla
Apple
Oat flour
Spices
Walnuts
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CINNAMON OAT BARS
The full recipe for these autumn oat bars is below, but here’s a quick overview on how to make it:
Blend the Wet Ingredients: In a blender, combine applesauce, pitted dates, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Blend until you achieve a smooth consistency. This mixture will serve as the sweet base of your bars.
Mix in the Grated Apple: Pour the blended mixture into a medium bowl and fold in the grated apple. This adds moisture and a delightful apple flavor.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In the same bowl, add the oat flour, baking powder, and spices: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Mix everything together until well combined.
Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, smoothing it out evenly. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean.
Cool and Slice: Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
Peanut Butter Drizzle: Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl until smooth. Drizzle the sauce on top of the cooled oat bars, and serve!
ARE OAT BARS HEALTHY?
These Soft Baked Apple Cinnamon Oat Bars are not just tasty; they’re also healthy! Made with wholesome ingredients like apples, oats, dates, and walnuts, they provide a great source of fiber and energy.
Plus, they’re naturally sweetened with dates and apples, making them perfect for a guilt-free snack or breakfast on-the-go with no added processed sugar!
MORE FACTS ABOUT THESE OAT BARS
SUBSTITUTIONS: Although oat flour is used in this recipe, you can certainly try to substitute it with almond flour or gluten-free flour if you prefer. Keep in mind that the texture may vary slightly. Also, feel free to customize the mix ins! Add raisins, dried cranberries, or even chocolate chips for a twist. Just be mindful of adjusting the sweetness if you add more dried fruits.
HOW TO STORE: Store these oat bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. For longer freshness, you can refrigerate them or freeze them for up to three months. Defrost at room temperature before serving.
VEGAN AND GLUTEN FREE: These bars are vegan-friendly since they don’t contain any animal products! To make them gluten-free friendly, be sure to use gluten free oats.
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Apple Cinnamon Oat Bars
Ingredients
- 1 c unsweetened applesauce
- 6 dates, pitted
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 medium apple*, peeled and grated
- 1 1/2 c oat flour**
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 c walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 c peanut butter***
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a xx loaf pan with parchment paper, and set aside.
- Add the applesauce, dates, coconut oil, and vanilla to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a medium bowl, and mix in the grated apple. Now add the oats, baking powder, and spices. Mix until combined.
- Sprinkle the chopped walnuts on top and fold until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pan, and smooth it until it's flat.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack before slicing into bars.
- Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl until smooth.
- Drizzle the sauce on top of the cooled oat bars, and serve.
Notes
*I used a granny smith apple, which I like because it's easy to grate without getting too mushy, and it's not too sweet. Feel free to experiment with different types of apples.
**If you don't have oat flour on hand, you can make your own by placing 2 c of oats in a food processor and blending until it forms a powder!
***You can certainly swap the peanut butter for another nut butter that you like, e.g. almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.
These Soft Baked Apple Cinnamon Oat Bars are the perfect combination of fall’s best flavors: cinnamon, apple, and nutmeg. Topped with a Cinnamon Peanut Butter Drizzle, these bars are simply irresistible!