Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 cup (252 g) sweetened cinnamon applesauce
- 6 tbsp (100 g) natural peanut butter or natural almond butter
- 2 cups (186 g) quick oats
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8 inch by 8 inch (20 cm by 20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy removal of the bars later.
- Mix ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweetened cinnamon applesauce and natural peanut butter (or almond butter). Stir thoroughly until the mixture is uniform in color. Then add the quick oats and mix until they are evenly incorporated. You may taste the mixture and adjust sweetness if desired. If you want to add any additional mix-ins like nuts or dried fruit, fold them in now.
- Prepare for baking: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to spread the mixture evenly across the pan’s surface and smooth it out to ensure uniform thickness.
- Bake: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bars look set and cooked through. The surface should be dry and firm to the touch.
- Cool and serve: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely before lifting them out using the parchment overhang. Cut into 12 bars and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them fresh.
Notes
- You can substitute almond butter for peanut butter to make these bars nut-allergy friendly if using sunflower seed butter.
- For extra texture and flavor, try adding mix-ins like chopped nuts, raisins, or shredded coconut.
- Make sure bars are fully cooled before cutting to prevent crumbling.
- Store bars in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.
- The recipe is naturally gluten-free if using gluten-free oats.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Snack Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
