Cranberry Oat Bars
Indulge in the perfect balance of tart and sweet with these irresistible Cranberry Oat Bars! Featuring a buttery oatmeal crust and crumbly topping, these bars sandwich a vibrant cranberry filling enhanced with fresh orange zest and juice for a zesty twist. Made with simple pantry staples like rolled oats, dried cranberries, and brown sugar, this quick and easy recipe comes together in just 15 minutes of prep time. Perfect for a holiday treat, breakfast on-the-go, or an afternoon snack, these bars are as versatile as they are wholesome. Bake up a batch of these visually stunning and flavor-packed bars for a dessert that will impress every time.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups Old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1.5 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 cup Light brown sugar
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, melted
- 0.5 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 1 cup Dried cranberries
- 0.5 cup Granulated sugar
- 0.25 cup Orange juice
- 1 tablespoons Cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons Water
- 1 teaspoons Fresh orange zest
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving overhangs for easy removal later.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, and salt. Stir to combine.
Pour the melted butter and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients. Stir until the mixture resembles a crumbly dough.
Press two-thirds of the oat mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form an even crust. Reserve the remaining mixture for the topping.
In a small saucepan, combine the dried cranberries, granulated sugar, and orange juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries soften and the sugar dissolves (about 5 minutes).
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water until smooth. Add this mixture to the cranberry mixture, along with the orange zest. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens (about 2-3 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the oat crust in the baking dish.
Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture over the cranberry layer, pressing down gently to create a crumb-like topping.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and set.
Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cool, lift them out using the parchment paper overhang and cut into 12 squares or bars.
Store the Cranberry Oat Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
4614 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 206.0 g | 264% | |
| Saturated Fat | 123.8 g | 619% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 517 mg | 172% | |
| Sodium | 1301 mg | 57% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 667.2 g | 243% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 31.0 g | 111% | |
| Total Sugars | 404.4 g | ||
| Protein | 41.2 g | 82% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 301 mg | 23% | |
| Iron | 15.3 mg | 85% | |
| Potassium | 1292 mg | 27% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
