Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars (Printable)

Soft and chewy bars featuring oats, cinnamon, and maple syrup for a wholesome start or snack.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup whole wheat flour
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
07 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
08 - 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
09 - 1 large egg
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Add-Ins

11 - 1/3 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans, optional)
12 - 1/3 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang for removal.
02 - In a large bowl, mix rolled oats, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - Whisk together maple syrup, melted butter (or coconut oil), applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined.
05 - Fold in chopped nuts and dried fruit, if desired.
06 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Allow bars to cool completely in the pan. Use parchment overhang to lift out and cut into 12 bars.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're ready in under an hour, and you'll have a full week of grab-and-go breakfasts waiting in your container.
  • The maple syrup and cinnamon create this cozy, almost cake-like sweetness that feels indulgent even though you're really just eating oats and whole grains.
  • You can make them dairy-free or vegan without any fussing—the recipe adapts beautifully to whatever your kitchen has on hand.
02 -
  • Don't overbake them trying to get the center completely set—a tiny bit of residual moisture is what keeps them chewy, not dry and crumbly.
  • Cooling completely in the pan is the difference between bars that fall apart and bars that hold together; I learned this the hard way.
03 -
  • Don't skip the parchment paper overhang—it's the easiest way to get the whole batch out of the pan in one piece and makes cleanup effortless.
  • If your bars seem to be browning too quickly around the edges, tent them loosely with foil for the last few minutes of baking.
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