3 Ingredient Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bars Recipe

Introduction

These 3 Ingredient Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bars are a simple, wholesome snack perfect for busy days. With just applesauce, nut butter, and oats, they come together quickly and offer a deliciously chewy texture with a warm cinnamon flavor.

A close-up image shows a stack of four thick oatmeal bars, each layer densely packed with light brown oats and a slightly rough texture. The bars have a chunky and chewy look with some oats sticking out unevenly. They are placed on a white marbled surface, with a few loose oat pieces and cinnamon sticks beside them. The background is plain white, making the oatmeal bars the clear focus. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (252 g) sweetened cinnamon applesauce
  • 6 tbsp (100 g) natural peanut butter or natural almond butter
  • 2 cups (186 g) quick oats

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8 inch by 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal later.
  2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the applesauce and peanut butter or almond butter until fully combined and uniform in color.
  3. Step 3: Add the quick oats to the mixture and stir until they are evenly mixed in. Taste the batter and adjust sweetness if desired. If using any mix-ins, add them now.
  4. Step 4: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and use a spatula to spread it evenly, smoothing the surface.
  5. Step 5: Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bars look set and the surface is dry.
  6. Step 6: Allow the bars to cool completely before lifting them from the pan using the parchment overhang. Cut into bars and serve.

Tips & Variations

  • For a sweeter bar, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup before baking.
  • Add mix-ins like chocolate chips, dried fruit, or an extra teaspoon of cinnamon for more flavor.
  • If using rolled oats, pulse them in a food processor until about the size of quick oats for better binding.
  • Use unsweetened cinnamon applesauce and adjust sweetness as you prefer.
  • Regular applesauce plus 2 teaspoons cinnamon works well too if cinnamon applesauce is unavailable.

Storage

Store uneaten bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage. To reheat, warm briefly in the microwave or enjoy at room temperature.

How to Serve

The image shows a close-up of nine oatmeal bars arranged in a grid pattern on a white marbled surface, each bar having a single thick layer composed of visible oats mixed with a golden brown binding ingredient, giving them a rough and chewy texture. Two pairs of cinnamon sticks are placed diagonally on the top left and bottom right corners of the bars, adding a warm brown contrast. A small white bowl filled with oats is partially visible in the top right corner, complementing the scene with a light natural touch. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other nut butters?

Yes, natural peanut butter or almond butter works best, but cashew or sunflower seed butter can be good alternatives depending on your preference.

Can I make these bars gluten-free?

Yes, just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats to keep the recipe gluten-free.

Print

3 Ingredient Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bars Recipe

These 3 Ingredient Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bars are a simple, healthy, and delicious snack or breakfast option made with only sweetened cinnamon applesauce, natural peanut or almond butter, and quick oats. Baked to a soft, chewy texture with a naturally sweet cinnamon apple flavor, they are perfect for a wholesome treat on the go or a nutritious homemade snack.

  • Author: Clara
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25-30 minutes
  • Yield: 9 bars (about 9 servings) 1x
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup (252 g) sweetened cinnamon applesauce
  • 6 tbsp (100 g) natural peanut butter or natural almond butter

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups (186 g) quick oats

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8 inch by 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides to make it easier to lift the bars out after baking.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweetened cinnamon applesauce and natural peanut butter or almond butter. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is uniform in color and fully combined.
  3. Add Oats: Add the quick oats to the wet mixture and stir until the oats are evenly incorporated into the mixture. Taste the batter and, if you prefer a sweeter bar, add 1-2 tablespoons of your preferred sweetener such as honey or maple syrup. Optionally add any mix-ins at this point, like chocolate chips or dried fruit.
  4. Pour and Spread Batter: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to spread it evenly across the pan, smoothing the surface to ensure even baking.
  5. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes until the bars look set, cooked through, and the surface is dry to the touch.
  6. Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool fully in the pan. Once cooled, lift them out using the parchment paper overhang and cut into bars for serving.
  7. Store: Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them fresh.

Notes

  • These bars are lightly sweetened for healthiness. Taste the batter before baking and add more sweetener if desired.
  • Mix-ins like chocolate chips, dried fruit, or extra cinnamon (about 1 tsp) can be added for variety and enhanced flavor.
  • Rolled oats can be used but pulse them in a food processor until they’re the size of quick oats to improve binding.
  • You can use regular (unsweetened) applesauce and add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon if you don’t have cinnamon applesauce on hand.
  • Unsweetened cinnamon applesauce works too; just add sweetener if you want more sweetness.
  • The bars should be stored airtight in the fridge or freezer to maintain freshness and texture.

Keywords: 3 ingredient bars, oatmeal bars, cinnamon apple bars, healthy snack, quick oats bars, peanut butter bars, easy baked bars, no refined sugar snack

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating