Applesauce Oatmeal Bars (3 Ingredients, No Added Sugar, No Eggs)

These Applesauce Oatmeal Bars are simple 3-ingredient cookies made with no gluten, no eggs, no dairy, no added sugar, but full of fall flavors and rich in fiber and protein.

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While the whole recipe is just below, don’t miss all my tips further down, including ingredient swaps, my cooking tips, and step-by-step shots!

Applesauce Oatmeal Bars

These Applesauce Oatmeal Bars are simple 3-ingredient cookies made with no gluten, no eggs, no dairy, no added sugar, but full of fall flavors and rich in fiber and protein.

4.84 from 6 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Servings: 9 bars

Calories: 146.4 kcal

Author: Carine Claudepierre

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Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

• ▢ 1 ⅓ cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats - (note 1)
• ▢ 1 ⅓ cups Unsweetened Applesauce - (note 2)
• ▢ ½ cup Peanut Butter - (note 3)

Optional – recommended to pick 1, or all options for flavors

• ▢ 1 teaspoon Cinnamon - (note 4)
• ▢ ½ cup Dried Raisins - (note 5)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• ▢ ⅓ cup Chopped Nuts - (note 6)

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8-inch x 8-inch pan with parchment paper. Oil with oil spray. Set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, add oats, applesauce, peanut butter, and any optional ingredients you like for a boost of flavor. I often add cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
• Stir with a rubber spatula a few times, until everything is very well combined, and it forms a thick, lightly wet batter. The batter gets a bit less wet as you stir, and as the oat fibers absorb the moisture.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, press firmly with the back of a rubber spatula to form an even bar.
• Bake the bars for 25-35 minutes at 350°F (180°C) until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle of the bar comes out clean.
• Let them cool down in the pan, at room temperature, for 10 minutes, then for 2 hours on a cooling rack before slicing. If you slice it hot or lukewarm, the bars crumble a little bit more. I recommend being patient, even popping the pan for 30 minutes in the fridge before slicing for easier cutting.
• Cut it into 9 bars and serve them plain or, if not sweet enough, serve on a plate with a dollop of dairy-free vanilla yogurt on top for a protein boost, berries, or banana slices, and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Notes

Note 1: Use gluten-free certified oats if needed, or quinoa flakes. You can also use quick oats.

Note 2: Or sweetened applesauce to add extra sweeteness. The recipe works with mashed banana, if you don’t like applesauce, or simply want something sweeter.

Note 3: Or almond butter, cashew butter. If nut-free, use sunflower seed butter or tahini – this last option is lightly bitter!

Note 4: or pumpkin pie spices or apple spices.

Note 5: To add a natural sweetness, you can also use dried cranberries or finely chopped pitted dates.

Note 6: I like chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds.

Storage: Store the bars in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days, or freeze in sealed freezer bags up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge the day before.

The nutrition panel is for 1 bar (recipe makes 9) without any optional ingredients.

Oven Mode: I use the fan-forced (convection) mode. If you have to use conventional mode, I recommend increasing the temperature by 25°F (15°C). The baking time should be the same, but it might take a few more minutes.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1bar (out of 9) | Calories: 146.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.4g | Protein: 4.8g | Fat: 8.2g | Saturated Fat: 1.6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 3.9mg | Potassium: 150.2mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 10.5IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 14.7mg | Iron: 0.8mg | Magnesium: 41.7mg | Phosphorus: 99.1mg | Zinc: 0.8mg

Ingredients and Substitutions

You only need 3 simple ingredients to make this recipe. Here’s how to pick and swap them.

• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats – This is the main ingredient that forms the structure of the bars. They provide a lot of fiber and a nice, chewy texture. You can also use quick oats or quinoa flakes.
• Unsweetened Applesauce – This ingredient provides natural sweetness and moisture while acting as a binder, so you don’t need eggs or oil in the batter. You can also use mashed banana for a sweeter result.
• Peanut Butter – The peanut butter adds a rich, nutty flavor, helps hold the bars together, and provides a good source of protein and fat. You can also use almond butter, cashew butter, or for a nut-free option, sunflower seed butter.
• Cinnamon – This warming spice pairs perfectly with the applesauce and adds a classic fall flavor. You can also use pumpkin pie spice.
• Dried Raisins – These add pockets of natural sweetness and a chewy texture to the bars. Finely chopped dates or dried cranberries also work well.
• Vanilla Extract – This enhances the overall flavor with a warm, aromatic note.
• Chopped Nuts – Adding nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds provides a satisfying crunch and a boost of flavor and healthy fats.

How to Make Applesauce Oatmeal Bars

Carine’s Baking Tips

Let me share a few more tips for perfect oatmeal bars.

• Customize the Flavors – The base recipe is great on its own, but you can also stir in mix-ins like dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, goji berries, or mini chocolate chips) for sweetness, or chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, pistachios, or almonds) for a crunchy texture and a boost of healthy fats.
• Add a Protein Boost – For a protein boost, you can stir in high-protein seeds like hemp seeds or add 2 to 3 tablespoons of your favorite protein powder. I recommend not adding more than that, as it can make the bars dry or crumbly.
• Serving Suggestions – If you want to make them sweeter, serve the bars with a drizzle of maple or date syrup, fresh berries, or sliced bananas on top.
• Make Them Sweeter – For a sweeter version of these bars, simply add 1/4 cup of coconut sugar or another granulated sweetener to the batter before baking.

More Oatmeal Bar Recipes

Healthy Oatmeal Bars

Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars