Raisin Oatmeal Bars

To make the oatmeal bars extra special, top them with dairy-free yogurt and fresh fruit.  Otherwise, they’ll firm up while baking so grab one and have breakfast on the go.  These healthy oatmeal bars also work great for additions to school lunches or for a not-so-super-sweet dessert (top them with a dollop of sweetened coconut whipped cream and fresh berries).

The classic combination of cinnamon and raisin smells amazing when you start to mix the ingredients together but feel free to change out the dried fruit and nuts to suit your preferences. 

For more flavor options try chocolate baked oatmeal, vegan baked oatmeal with apples, mixed berry vegan baked oats, or blueberry lemon baked oat cups.

How to make cinnamon oatmeal bars

First, add the ground flaxseed to the milk and let it gel for 5-10 minutes while you prep the rest of the ingredients. 

Now mix all of the dry ingredients (oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt) in a large bowl. 

Then add the milk/flaxseed mixture, applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and stir well to combine. 

Next, fold in the raisins and walnuts. For easy removal, line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and pour the mixture in.  Smooth out the top and bake at 350 F (180 C) for 35-40 minutes. 

The top should have browned slightly and the oatmeal should have firmed up.  It will continue to firm up while cooling. 

Once done, cool the oatmeal cinnamon bars for 10-15 minutes in the baking dish then using the sides of the parchment paper as little handles transfer them to a wire rack to continue cooling.  Once cooled, cut into bars.  If you’re using cooking spray instead of parchment paper, let the oats cool completely in the pan to firm up, then cut them into bars.  

Storage

Once cooled and cut into bars, store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, or freeze.  If you want to freeze the breakfast bars, separate the layers of bars with a piece of parchment paper so they don’t stick together.

Tips

• Substitute the unsweetened applesauce with ½ cup of mashed ripe banana.
• Use either walnuts, pecans, or leave them out for a nut-free version of these vegan oatmeal raisin bars.
• The recipe is oil-free, but if you prefer more browning around the edges, lightly coat the pan with cooking spray.
• Stir well, there’s no risk of over-mixing and developing gluten because there is none.  
• The bars are naturally gluten-free, just make sure you are using certified gluten-free oats.  Oats are naturally gluten-free, but some brands are processed in factories that also process items containing gluten.
• The ground flaxseed will help with firming up the oat bars so they’re not falling apart in your hands, just make sure your flaxseed is ground.
• All ovens are different and the actual temperature inside your oven may not match what the display reads. With that in mind, an oven thermometer is helpful whenever you bake. 

More Recipes with Oatmeal

• Baked blueberry oatmeal cups
• Orange cranberry oatmeal bars
• Chocolate baked oatmeal
• Peanut butter and date energy balls with chocolate chips

As always, I hope you enjoy the recipe for these healthy oatmeal raisin bars!