Apple Oat Bars
You know what they say about apples and doctors…
But raw chunks of apples are a choking hazard for babies and kids under the age of 4, per the CDC. So check out this tasty, fun, safe way to serve apples to babies and kids!
These nutrient-dense, mildly-sweet Apple Oat Bars are a great snack or breakfast-bar option. The mixture of unsweetened applesauce, a hint of vanilla, and a dash of cinnamon gives them a subtle, delicious sweetness. Packed with oats and milk, these Apple Oat Bars are not only nutritionally rich, but filling as well. Top them with a drizzle of almond butter or yogurt for an even greater nutrient boost.
One of the best parts of these Apple Oat Bars is that they’re ideal for everyone in the family, babies and toddlers included. They are soft in texture which also makes them easy for babies to manage as a finger food.
Additionally, if you opt for cow’s milk as an ingredient, these bars offer a great way to serve a top allergenic food to babies which may help reduce the risk of food allergy.
Note that this recipe is a sneak peek from my latest cookbook, Safe and Simple Food Allergy Prevention: A Baby-Led Feeding Guide to Starting Solids and Introducing Allergens with 80 Family-Friendly Recipes!
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One of the best things about this recipe is that you probably already have everything you need to make them in your pantry. Let’s look at some of the key ingredients:
Apple Sauce
Oats
Milk
Learn about the Ingredients
Apples
Apples are highly nutritious and a good source of both fiber and vitamin C. Applesauce goes through various processing and cooking methods to form a puree which can have an overall effect on its nutritional value, but it still offers plenty of health-promoting nutrients and lends a mild, natural sweetness to recipes. I recommend choosing unsweetened applesauce to help keep added sugars low.
Alternatively, you can make your own applesauce with apples that are on their way out. I currently have 4 apples that are not suitable for eating (according to my kids), so it’s highly likely that they will be used to make these Apple Oat Bars.
Oats
In addition to apples, the star ingredient of these Apple Oat Bars are oats!
Oats offer an array of nutrients including protein, magnesium, and phosphorus (just to name a few), however, the fiber in oats is what I find most interesting. Oats contain soluble fiber that supports digestive and cardiovascular health, among other benefits.
Milk
Lastly, milk… so many milks to choose from! Any type of milk will work well in this recipe as long as you stick to one cup if making one batch, but I love using oat milk for the purposes of this recipe to make the batter creamier. Cow’s milk and soy milk also work well!
Instructions
Step 1
Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2
Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl and then add to the wet mixture.
Step 3
Place mixture into a parchment lined 8 x 8 inch baking dish.
Step 4
Bake at 375 degrees F for 40 - 45 minutes until bars are a light golden brown.
Step 5
Let bars cool in the pan for an additional 20-30 minutes.
Step 6
Cut into 12 bars and top with a drizzle of your favorite nut butter or yogurt and serve.
If you enjoy this recipe, I would be so grateful if you would rate it and leave a comment! The star ratings help more people find my recipes and articles. Thank you!
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Apple Oat Bars Recipe
Apple Oat Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup quick-cooking oats
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1¼ cups unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil or melted ghee
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons almond butter
- 3 tablespoons plain, full-fat yogurt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line an 8 × 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, flours, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, milk, coconut oil, and vanilla.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet and beat until combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake until the bars are light golden brown, 40–45 minutes.
- Cool on a cooling rack for 20–30 minutes, then cut into 12 bars.
- Drizzle the top with almond butter or yogurt and sprinkle with cinnamon, if you like. Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
142.6Fat
8.02 gSat. Fat
2.73 gCarbs
14.6 gFiber
2.16 gNet carbs
12.44 gSugar
3.87 gProtein
4 gSodium
75.25 mgCholesterol
2.44 mg
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