Oatmeal Cranberry Bars Recipe

Introduction

These Oatmeal Cranberry Bars are a perfect balance of tart cranberries and sweet, crumbly oat topping. They’re easy to make and ideal for breakfast or a wholesome snack any time of day.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups rolled oats
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¾ cup butter, cold and cubed
• 3 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 2 tablespoons flour (for crumble)
• ⅓ cup brown sugar (for crumble)
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter (for crumble)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine ¾ cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 cups rolled oats, baking powder, and sea salt for the oatmeal bars.
3. Step 3: Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients and mix with your hands until the mixture becomes crumbly.
4. Step 4: Press this crumbly mixture evenly into a 9×13 inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
5. Step 5: Spread the cranberries evenly over the pressed base.
6. Step 6: In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons flour, ⅓ cup brown sugar, and cinnamon for the crumble topping.
7. Step 7: Add 2 tablespoons butter to the crumble ingredients and mix until coarse crumbs form.
8. Step 8: Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the cranberries.
9. Step 9: Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.
10. Step 10: Allow the bars to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing into squares.

Tips & Variations

• Use frozen cranberries if fresh aren’t available; no need to thaw before using.
• Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the crumble topping for extra crunch.
• For a sweeter bar, sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top after cooling.
• Press the base mixture firmly to create a sturdier bar that holds together better.

Storage

Store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat briefly in the microwave to enjoy them warm and soft.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use dried cranberries instead of fresh or frozen?

Dried cranberries will work, but they are sweeter and less tart than fresh or frozen. You might want to reduce the brown sugar slightly to balance the sweetness.

How do I make the bars gluten-free?

Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and ensure your oats are labeled gluten-free for a safe alternative.

Oatmeal Cranberry Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 85 reviews

These delicious Oatmeal Cranberry Bars combine a buttery, crumbly oat base with tart cranberries and a sweet cinnamon brown sugar crumble topping. Perfect for a snack, breakfast treat, or dessert, they are easy to make and bake into a flavorful, wholesome bar.

• Author: Clara
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 12 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Oatmeal Bars

• ¾ cup flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups rolled oats
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¾ cup cold butter, cubed
• 3 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen

Brown Sugar Crumble

• 2 tablespoons flour
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the bars evenly.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients for Bars: In a large bowl, combine ¾ cup of flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 cups rolled oats, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon sea salt. Stir well to distribute all the dry ingredients evenly.
3. Add Butter and Form Crumble: Add ¾ cup of cold, cubed butter to the dry mix. Using your hands, work the butter into the mixture until crumbly. The texture should resemble coarse crumbs or sand.
4. Press into Baking Dish: Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Press the crumbly oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the dish to form the base layer.
5. Add Cranberries: Spread 3 cups of cranberries evenly over the pressed oat base layer. The cranberries can be fresh or frozen, whichever you prefer.
6. Prepare Crumble Topping: In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons flour, ⅓ cup brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and mix with your fingers or a fork until a coarse crumb topping forms.
7. Sprinkle Crumble: Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar crumble mixture over the layer of cranberries, covering them completely.
8. Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, until the crumble topping is golden brown and the cranberries are bubbling.
9. Cool and Slice: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool for at least 30 minutes to let them set. Once cooled, slice into bars and serve.

Notes

• Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. For longer storage, keep them refrigerated for up to a week or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Variations: You can substitute dried cranberries if fresh or frozen are not available; reduce sugar slightly if dried cranberries are used as they are sweeter.
• Butter Tip: Use cold butter for the crumbly texture; if butter softens too much, chill the mixture before pressing into the pan.

Keywords: oatmeal cranberry bars, cranberry bars, oatmeal bars, cranberry dessert, crumbly bars, baked bars, easy dessert