Easy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars for Quick Mornings
This oatmeal breakfast bars recipe is perfect for busy mornings, offering a nutritious grab-and-go option. Packed with hearty oats, walnuts, and dried cranberries, these bars are soft-baked and easy to make in one bowl. They can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, making them an ideal meal prep choice.
This oatmeal breakfast bars recipe is an excellent choice for meal prep, especially for those hectic mornings. The bars are soft, chewy, and filled with nutritious ingredients like walnuts and dried fruit, making them a wholesome grab-and-go breakfast option. The recipe is straightforward, requiring only one bowl for preparation, which simplifies the cooking process.
To create these delicious bars, start by whisking together the wet ingredients, which include eggs, applesauce, brown sugar, milk, coconut oil, and vanilla. Once combined, add in the baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. Next, incorporate the oats, chopped walnuts, and dried cranberries, stirring until everything is well-coated in the egg mixture.
It’s essential to let the oat mixture sit for about 20 minutes. This step is crucial as it allows the oats to hydrate properly, ensuring an even moisture level throughout the bars. While the mixture rests, prepare an 8x8-inch baking pan by greasing it and lining it with parchment paper, and preheat your oven to 350°F.
After the resting period, transfer the oat mixture into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 35 minutes, or until the center is set. Once baked, allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting them into your desired portion sizes, whether that be 16 smaller bars or 9 larger ones.
For storage, let the bars cool to room temperature and then seal them in an airtight container. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days. If you wish to make a larger batch, these bars freeze well too. After cooling completely, place them in an airtight container and freeze for up to three months. To enjoy a frozen bar, you can quickly defrost it in the microwave or let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
These oatmeal breakfast bars are not only a convenient meal prep option but also a delicious way to start your day. If you enjoy these, consider exploring other healthy breakfast ideas to keep your mornings varied and nutritious.
