Breakfast

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars are the perfect breakfast staple that are made with old fashioned oats, banana, cinnamon and apple. They are vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar free and made in under 30 minutes! 
three apple oatmeal bars stacked on top of each other.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • These apple cinnamon oatmeal bars are the perfect meal prep for the entire week.
  • It is made in one mixing bowl.
  • These oatmeal bars have zero added sugar but are sweetened with banana and apple.
  • They taste amazing warmed up or cold.
  • These gluten free oatmeal breakfast bars are soft, fluffy and naturally sweetened.
  • This recipe is vegan, plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar free.
  • You may also like chocolate chip, pumpkin, or birthday cake oatmeal bars.
apple oatmeal bars that are sitting on a wooden circle serving board that are cut into showing 9 slices.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Below are the main ingredients and substitutions for these Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars. I encourage you to scroll down to the recipe card for full list of ingredients and instructions.

Old fashioned oats and oat flour is really the only ingredient that you can use for this recipe. If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, make sure you are using gluten-free oats.

To make oat flour, simply blend oats in a blender for 20-30 seconds.

Since this recipe has no added sugar, use over-ripe bananas for the best results.

Ground flax adds fiber and helps create texture in these oatmeal bars, you can omit.

Almond butter acts as the healthy fat in this recipe. You can use any type of nut or seed butter or switch to coconut oil, vegan or regular butter in replace.

Vanilla extract is great for added flavor, you can omit if you don’t have.

Baking powder helps give these oatmeal bars that fluffy texture.

A pinch of sea salt help balance out all the flavors.

A dash of cinnamon gives this recipe that warm aroma and flavor.

Fuji apples are crisp, sweet and refreshing. You can sub any type of apple that you’d like, I’d stick to red just for sweetness. If you use green it will be slightly on the sour side.

a bowl of diced Fuji apples

Taste and Texture

These oatmeal bars are chewy, fluffy and have a very sweet but subtle flavor. The apples are still sweet and give a lovely crunch with each bite. I personally love to top mine off with matcha almond butter for added flavor.

How to make

My favorite thing about this recipe is that it’s made in one single bowl, which is great for easy clean-up. Please reference the recipe card at the bottom of this page for a more detailed list and instructions.

  1. Mash bananas until there are little to no chunks left. I use a fork, but you can also use a potato masher.
a bowl of mashed banana
  1. Add in the almond butter, vanilla extract and ground flax and mix until well combined.
  2. Next, add in the oat flour, old fashioned oats, cinnamon, sea salt, and baking powder. Mix with a rubber spatula until mixture is well incorporated. It will be thick, that’s okay.
a bowl of oat flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon and sea salt
  1. Fold in the diced Fuji apples last and then add the batter to a greased or lined 8×8 baking sheet and then bake!
a bowl of oat apple battter
  1. Let cool before removing from the pan. Slice into and enjoy!
the apple batter in an 8x8 baking dish

Tips and Tricks

Generously coat the 8×8 baking dish with non-stick coconut oil spray, or line it with parchment paper so that the oatmeal bars don’t stick.

Use a fork or potato masher to really break down the banana so that there are little to no chunks left.

Insert a toothpick in the center to make sure the oatmeal bars are done baking, if it comes out clean it’s ready to go. If it comes out with oatmeal on it, bake for an additional 2-5 minutes.

Additional variations

These oatmeal bars are totally customizable and can be made so many different ways. Try these different add-ins in replace for the apple.

  • chocolate chips, dairy-free or regular
  • nuts such as pecans, walnuts, cashews, etc.
  • add in a different fruit like peaches, pears, blueberries, strawberries, etc.
  • sprinkles
an apple oatmeal bar that's topped with matcha almond butter

How to serve and store

I love to make these oatmeal bars at the start of the week to have a quick and healthy breakfast on hand throughout.

Store these oatmeal bars in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 4 days.

Warm them up in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, or enjoy cold.

Pack them up in lunches for a quick mid-day snack, they taste amazing at room-temperature too.

Add some more nut butter on top like nutella, almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter.

Frequently asked questions

Are these oatmeal bars vegan?

Yes, these oatmeal bars are completely dairy-free, vegan and plant-based.

Are these bars gluten-free?

Yes! However, if you are gluten sensitive then I recommend making sure that you are using gluten-free certified oats. It will show on the front package.

Can I use another type of fruit?

Absolutely, check out my additional variations section above.

Other recipes you may like

If you make these Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars, I would really appreciate a comment and rating down below, under the recipe card. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me over on InstagramTiktok or Pinterest!

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars are the perfect breakfast staple that are made with old fashioned oats, banana, cinnamon and apple. They are vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar free and made in under 30 minutes!
4.3 based on 6 reviews
PIN RECIPE
PREP TIME:
10 minutes
COOK TIME:
18 minutes
TOTAL TIME:
28 minutes
Author - Hannah

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups mashed over-ripe banana (about 3 large bananas)
  • 1/2 cup almond butter, can sub any other nut or seed butter
  • 1/4 cup ground flax
  • 1.5 cups old fashioned oats
  • 3/4 cup oat flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 cups diced Fuji apples, can sub any other red apple

SCALE:

1X

YIELDS:

9 bars

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper, or generously grease and set aside. 
  2. In a large mixing bowl, add in the over-ripe bananas and then mash with a fork or potato masher until there are little to no chunks left. 
  3. Add in the almond butter, vanilla extract and ground flax next and mix once more. 
  4. Next, add in the old fashioned oats, oat flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sea salt. Mix with a rubber spatula until ingredients are well combined. Batter will be thick. 
  5. Fold in diced apples last and mix until they are well incorporated into the batter. 
  6. Add the batter to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. 
  7. Bake for 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
  8. Let cool completely before slicing into and enjoy! 

Notes

  • Store these oatmeal bars in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 4 days.
  • Warm them up in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, enjoy cold or at room temperature.

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Leave A Comment And Rate This Recipe!

Rating:

I made this recipe about a month ago because I was trying to find a way to use up some overly ripe banana. I thought this was the perfect recipe as I also had a ton of apples that I didn’t want to go to waste. I whipped these bars up on a Sunday morning and had one each morning before school! Followed the recipe exactly with no substitutions and I will definitely make them again when I have the time! Very delicious and reminded me of baked oatmeal! A great recipe for college students heading out the door for morning classes!

Hi Lexi! Ah that’s so awesome to hear! This recipe is definitely one of my favorites to prep ahead of time. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for the comment and rating. I hope you have an amazing weekend! xx

Hi, can you tell me how many grams are in the ingredients? 🙂 Thank you 😋

Hi Vanessa! I’m very sorry but I measure with cups so I wouldn’t be able to tell you. My best advice is to try and use google and plug in the ingredients and see if it is able to calculate for you. Let me know how it works out!

I’m gonna try it fooor suree😍😍
U have a new follower😁😁

Got in to your Instagram post by chance and your recepis are what I need now with me getting in to phase of diabetes. I haven’t tried them but the combination speaks.

Hi there, I hope my recipes bring value to your diet. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Hi Hanna,
I stumbled across this delicious recipe on the net and would like to try it. Unfortunately, I cannot find the full list of ingredients and instructions described by you. Can you help me further? Thank you!

Kind regards

Hi Jes, there is a recipe card right above this comment section. Or, if you’re at the top of the page click the “just to recipe” button and it will take you to the recipe card. Let me know if you still can’t find it.