These healthy apple pie oat bars are my six-year-old current obsession. This recipe was one I originally created when my children were much younger, toddlers in fact.
But, it has remained on my baking roster for snacks and lunchboxes.
Why This Recipe Works
- A soft oat bar perfect for young children
- Refined sugar-free
- Easy recipe
- Free from wheat and nuts, options for egg and dairy free.
Ingredients you will need
To make my apple pie oatmeal bar you will of course need oatmeal. I use two types:
- Traditional rolled oats
- Quick cook oats
- Apple sauce - unsweetened.
- Egg or chia seeds
- Maple syrup or honey
- Butter or coconut oil
- Cinnamon
Ingredient Notes and Substitutes
- Egg/Chia seeds: You can use either an egg or chia seeds to bind this recipe
- Butter/oil: you can use either melted butter or melted coconut oil in this recipe.
- Oatmeal: I like to use a combination of both quick cook and traditional rolled oats, I find this gives these oat bars the best texture. You can make them with all quick cook oats or all traditional rolled oats.
- Applesauce: I use unsweetened apple sauce, apple purée or apple baby food can also be used.
I am an ambassador for Countdown supermarket, they support my blog by providing ingredients for recipe creation and testing. I used rolled oats, apple sauce, butter, and cinnamon from their range in this recipe.
How to Make Apple Pie Oat Bars
Below are illustrated step-by-step instructions to make my Soft Oat Bar Recipe, if you prefer just the written instructions then head straight to the printable recipe card or the quick recipe video below.
Prep: Preheat your oven to 180 degrees celsius or 375 Fahrenheit, and line a baking tray (I use a 20-centimetre square cake tin).
Step one: In a mixing bowl, combine the oats, chia seeds (if using) and cinnamon
Step two: Add the melted butter and apple purée, mix to combine.
Step three: Press the mix into the bottom of the baking tind so that it is an even layer, it should be around 1.5-2cm thick. Bake at 180 degrees celsius or 375 Fahrenheit for 25 mins, it should be firm to the touch but not hard.
Step four: Cool and slice into squares or bars.
Enjoy!
Top Tips
Here is how you can make these soft apple oatmeal bars perfectly every time!
- For a softer bar use all quick cook oats
- If you use all traditional rolled oats the resulting bar is yummy but can be a little crumbly.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into bars or squares.
FAQs
Absolutely, these apple pie oat bars can be frozen in an airtight container for up to four months.
In regards to the ingredients, yes they are absolutely fine, just be sure to leave out the honey. The texture of these oat bars is nice and soft and not crunchy which also makes them useful as finger food for little ones. As with everything though, babies develop their chewing and swallowing at different speeds, so you need to use your own judgment as to whether these oat bars are ok for your baby.
Other snack bar recipes you may enjoy
- For a quicker alternative to these check out my porridge fingers
- For older children my homemade energy bars or popcorn bars are delicious.
Healthy Apple Oat Bars
Ingredients
- 1 Cup quick cook oats
- 1 Cup rolled oats
- 2 Tablespoon chia seeds
- 1.5 teaspoon cinnamon
- 30 grams coconut oil or melted butter
- 1 cup apple purée or applesauce 260g
- 1-2 Tablespoon maple syrup or honey optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees celsius or 375 Fahrenheit
- In a medium bowl, mix the oats, chia seeds (if using) and cinnamon
- Add the coconut oil or melted butter apple purée and egg (if usuing ), mix to combine
- Line a baking tray (I use a 20 centimeter square cake tin)
- Press the mix into the bottom of the baking dish so that it is an even layer, it should be around 1.5-2cm thick
- Bake at 180 degrees celsius or 375 Fahrneheit for 25 mins, it should be firm to the touch but not hard
- Cool and slice into squares
Video
Notes
- These apple pie oat bars can be frozen in an airtight container for up to four months.
- For a softer bar use all quick cook oats
- If you use all traditional rolled oats the resulting bar is yummy but can be a little crumbly.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into bars or squares.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Egg/Chia seeds: You can use either an egg or chia seeds to bind this recipe
- Butter/oil: you can use either melted butter or melted coconut oil in this recipe.
- Oatmeal: I like to use a combination of both quick cook and traditional rolled oats, I find this gives these oat bars the best texture. You can make them with all quick cook oats or all traditional rolled oats.
- Applesauce: I use unsweetened apple sauce, apple purée or apple baby food can also be used.
Angela says
Dear Stacey, Do these bars suit 15 months old baby? My baby is 15 months old, I always found breakfast is hard to prepare. May I please ask if your breakfast recipes are suitable for baby under 2 years old? Thank you very much, warm regards
My Kids Lick The Bowl says
If your baby has started and is managing finger foods then these should be fine
Angela says
Dear Mum, are these bar suitable for baby under 2 years old? Thank you
My Kids Lick The Bowl says
Yes they would be
Katrina says
Yum! These look perfect for a lunchbox option! I usually only buy rolled oats, could I just blitz them up to use instead of buying quick cooking oats as well?
My Kids Lick The Bowl says
Yes you can, I just find that if I use all rolled oats the final slice is too crumbly
Camille says
With this apple pie oat bar recipe, are the chia seeds supposed to be soaked first or can they just go in straight from the packet?
My Kids Lick The Bowl says
Straight in!
Mariclare Bowden says
My 4 and 6 year olds love these! Thank you!
Monica says
Where can I get that cute food storage container from? Thanks!
My Kids Lick The Bowl says
Its a little lunchbox co bento 2 box
Samantha Moger says
These are amazing the kids love them!
Especially my fussy 2 yr old.
Do you have any other flavour/variations to change it up a bit? I use apple and pear purée at the moment but haven’t experimented with anything else yet.
Thank you for this amazing recipe!!!!
My Kids Lick The Bowl says
you can substitute the apple sauce for very well mashed bananas