Apple Cinnamon Oat Bars
These chewy oat bars are packed with sweet diced apple and warm cinnamon, making them a lunchbox favorite kids actually ask for. They're naturally sweetened with brown sugar, easy to hold with little hands, and just as good for breakfast as they are for an after-school snack.
By YumYum Editorial · Kid-Friendly
Prep: 15 min · Cook: 28 min · Total: 43 min · Serves 12
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg (or 1 flax egg for egg-free)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups apple, peeled and finely diced (about 2 small apples)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
- In a large bowl, whisk together oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Toss the diced apple with lemon juice to prevent browning, then stir into the dry ingredients along with the melted butter, egg, and vanilla until a thick, sticky dough forms.
- Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan using the back of a spoon or damp fingers.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the center is set.
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, about 1 hour, before lifting out using the parchment overhang.
- Cut into 12 bars once fully cooled for the cleanest slices.