Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars Recipe

I had no idea how easy it was to make my own oatmeal breakfast bars! And these apple cinnamon breakfast bars are definitely my family’s favorite on-the-go breakfast or snack option. They’re packed with apple cinnamon flavor and made with basic, wholesome ingredients. And the methods couldn’t be simpler. Your whole family is going to love this recipe!

My boys love oatmeal breakfast bars. They love them so much the bars were starting to become a big part of the grocery bill. Then I learned how easy - and cheap! - it is to make them myself. It only takes 4 steps and ingredients you probably have in your kitchen already. 

These apple oatmeal bars are also a lot healthier than the boxed stuff, so they’re better for my family. You can also use this easy recipe to make all sorts of breakfast bars! Add some craisins or dried blueberries and a little lemon zest into the mix. Or sweeten things up a bit with some chocolate chips and banana. You may never need to buy boxed breakfast bars again. 

Why I Love These Cinnamon Apple Breakfast Bars

• Oatmeal apple bars are a great way to use up extra apples.
• You can make this breakfast as healthy or as decadent as you’d like.
• These breakfast bars are great for school lunches or as a great portable snack any time of the day.
• Super easy to make, bake and reheat throughout the week. Great for meal prep and easy breakfasts!
• Fun fact: In the UK and some other parts of the world, these breakfast bars are called “flapjacks.”

Recipe Ingredients for Healthy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars

Old fashioned rolled oats - use rolled old-fashioned oats for best results. Check the label if you want to ensure a GF variety.

All-purpose flour - You can use a gluten free brand like Bob’s Red Mill or certified oat flour for a GF option.

Cinnamon - ground cinnamon is sort of the standard go-to, but consider subbing 1-2 tsp of apple pie spice instead if you have it on hand. Fresh ground nutmeg, used sparingly, is a nice addition as well.

Baking soda - Make sure it’s fresh/in-date for best results.

Salt - Omit if desired. Salt adds a nice contrast to the sweetness.

Eggs -  For an eggless option, try using some extra applesauce or use ground flaxseed make a flax egg for the binder.

Brown sugar - light or dark brown sugar can be used. You can also replace a portion with raw sugar or coconut sugar if desired.

Butter, melted - salted or unsalted butter will both work for this recipe. If you are using salted butter, you might opt to skip adding the extra salt from the recipe. Use a dairy-free butter to make these bars DF.

Applesauce - Sweetened or unsweetened applesauce works. You can use plain store-bought apple sauce or use this easy recipe to  make your own applesauce in the crockpot beforehand.

Pure maple syrup - you can substitute honey or agave for the maple syrup.

Vanilla extract - Flavoring extracts are very concentrated, so be careful not to use too much.

Apples - peeled, cored and grated - Slice apples last to avoid browning/oxidation. If they do begin to brown, squirt with fresh lemon juice or soak them in a bowl of lemon water. Pat dry with a paper towel before adding them to the mixing bowl to avoid excess moisture getting in the batter.

How to Make Easy Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. 

Step 2

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Mix these dry ingredients well to combine.

Step 3

Add the eggs, brown sugar, butter, applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla to the large mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture until combined. Fold in the grated apples.

Step 4

Spread the mixture in an even layer inside the prepared baking dish. Use a rubber spatula to press into the corners.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown around the edges. 

Step 5

Let sit in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully lift the parchment onto a flat surface and cut into squares.

Recipe Notes

• Omit the brown sugar entirely for a super healthy breakfast option. My boys don’t exactly love this version, but if I drizzle a simple icing over the top they’re all in. And it’s still less sugar. You can also see a list of natural sweetener options below.
• Feel free to add raisins or other dried fruit to the batter for extra texture and flavor.
• Spruce these up by adding a simple streusel crumble. All you need is equal parts flour and brown sugar, and some melted butter.

Best Apples For Baking

Any type of fresh apple will work in these breakfast bars, but some apples will definitely hold up to baking better than others. Choose crisp apples and stay away from the kind with a soft, mealy texture to them.

Here are some good varieties in no particular order that stand up to heat well: 

• Honeycrisp Apples
• Golden Delicious
• Granny Smith Apples
• Crispin
• Fuji
• Pink Lady 
• Braeburn

Notes: 

1. Gala, Macintosh, and Red Delicious will work for this recipe. But note that softer apples like these don’t stand up to heat as well and the result could be a mushier muffin.
2. Tart apples like Granny Smith tend to have a more distinguished flavor in baked goods

Natural Sugar Substitutes for Baking

If you’re looking to avoid granulated sugar, try some of these natural sweetener options

• Honey
• Maple syrup
• Agave nectar
• Chopped or pureed dates
• Fruit puree
• Really ripe bananas
• Coconut sugar

How Long Does Applesauce Last in the Fridge

Store-bought applesauce will stay fresh for anywhere between 7-14 days after it has been opened when stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator. That means keep it off the door.

Homemade applesauce, because it contains no preservative, will be at its best for 4-6 days after it’s made. Again, keep it in the coldest part of the fridge.

For more information about how to store applesauce, check out this helpful article from Pip and Ebby.

What’s the Difference Between Steel Cut & Rolled Oats

Steel cut oats - also called "coarse oats," or "Irish oats,”- are less processed oat groats than rolled oats. They are the least processed type of oats and are closer to the whole grain and all the health benefits that come along with that.

Because they are denser, they do take longer to cook and will absorb less liquid. They also have a firmer, chewier texture and a more robust, nutty flavor. And they are higher in fiber than old-fashioned oats.

What To Put In Oat Bars

Use your favorite mix-ins to add a personal touch to your breakfast bars. Great options include:

• Crunchy or creamy peanut butter, almond butter, or other nut butters
• Unsweetened coconut flakes
• Chocolate or peanut butter chips - or both to give a these bars the sweet treatment
• Dried fruits - blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, peaches, apricots, etc. You really can’t go wrong. Fresh fruit should be used sparingly because of its moisture released when baking.
• Nuts - crushed cashews, peanuts, or almonds are great add-ins to your bars 
• Seeds - sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia or flax seed, etc 

How to Serve Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars

Serve these apple cinnamon bars as part of a great breakfast with fruit and yogurt or on their own. 

My favorite way is to add a schmear of peanut butter on them for breakfast or when having them as a healthy snack.

These bars aren’t just for breakfast either! They also make a great dessert option. Use them as the base for ice cream or top them with some jam and a dollop of whipped cream.

How to Store Apple Oatmeal Bars

Allow the breakfast bars to cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stored properly, these bars will be at their best for 7-10 days.

You can also freeze these breakfast bars for up to 2 months in a freezer safe bag. I like to put a small piece of parchment paper between the bars so they don’t stick together when freezing.

More Healthy Breakfast Recipes

• Healthy Breakfast Muffins
• Steel Cut Oatmeal Bars
• Homemade Granola with Honey
• 5-Ingredient Blueberry Granola Bars