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These Apple Breakfast Bars are made from simple, wholesome ingredients like oats, Greek yogurt, milk, and fresh apples, and have a warm, cozy flavor in every bite! They make the perfect grab-and-go breakfast in the morning or as a portable snack after school. Such a nutritious and delicious way to celebrate apple season!
Healthy Apple Oatmeal Bars for Breakfast
Oats are a mainstay in our pantry and featured prominently in many of my recipes! Not only are they inexpensive, but they’re also loaded with a special type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which can help delay how quickly your blood sugar rises, keep you full for longer, support digestive health, and help your kids keep their hearts healthy!
Whole grain oats are the base of these healthy apple cinnamon oatmeal bars and contribute a wonderfully nutty flavor that makes them even more delicious. We have them in the fridge all the time!
If your family loves oatmeal, you’ll also want to check out this Peanut Butter Apple Oatmeal!
Why We Love This Apple Oat Bar Recipe
- Just sweet enough, thanks to a little maple syrup and fresh apples
- Like the best apple baked oatmeal in bar form
- Formulated by a Registered Dietitian to be high in fiber and low in sugar
- One batch makes enough for 8 large bars or 16 smaller ones!
- Inexpensive, affordable alternative to prepackaged breakfast bars
- Can be served cold or warmed up
- Great source of whole grains & fiber
Ingredient Notes
- Rolled oats: I recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats, which have a better texture than quick oats when baked.
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon: For that warm cinnamon flavor. You can also try apple pie spice to play up the fall flavors.
- Salt: If making these apple oat bars for babies, skip the salt.
- Egg: To bind the oat mixture together and add a little extra protein.
- Plain Greek yogurt: This will soften the bars to make them more tender and add protein.
- Milk or milk alternative: Any type of unsweetened milk will work.
- Pure maple syrup: Be sure to use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup made with corn syrup.
- Pure vanilla extract
- Fresh apples: Crisp apples keep their texture better after baking, and you can use either sweet or tart ones. I like Pink Lady, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith apples.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 7×11 inch rectangular baking dish or a 8-inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Combine oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in large bowl. Whisk together yogurt, milk, maple syrup, egg and vanilla in another bowl; pour over oat mixture and stir to combine. Add chopped apples and mix until incorporated.
- Pour mixture into prepared dish and spread out with spatula until evenly distributed.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until edges are golden brown and knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the apple oatmeal mixture fully cool before cutting to allow the bars to firm up before serving. Cut into 8 larger bars or 16 smaller bars.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
RECIPE TIPS
- If you want the apples to be more subtle, you can also grate them instead of chopping them.
- Grease the baking dish well to prevent the baked oatmeal from sticking to the pan. You can also line the pan with parchment paper for easier removal.
- Allow the cooked apple oatmeal bar mixture fully cool before cutting and removing from the baking dish. It needs time for the oats to absorb some of the extra moisture and firm up. If you try to take it out of the pan too soon, it will be stickier and harder to cut into bars.
Recipe FAQs
Pop the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. If you’re a batch baker like me, make two batches and freeze one for a month of easy breakfasts.
You can truly use any kind of apples. My boys often prefer sweeter apples with a firm, crisp texture, like Gala or Cosmic Crisp. Honeycrisp apples are a great option, too!
I often like to use my homemade applesauce instead of sugar or oil in baked goods, but it’s not the best replacement for the fresh apples in these healthy breakfast bars. If you want to use some applesauce, use a small amount to replace some of the yogurt.
Storage Guidelines
- Allow the leftovers to cool to room temperature. Store extra bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or wrap individual portions in plastic wrap and freeze for up to a month.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve these whole grain breakfast bars as a quick breakfast on busy mornings. Just pop them in the microwave for about a minute to warm them up, and you’re good to go! To make them more filling, pair them with these toppings or sides:
- A drizzle of melted peanut butter
- Extra yogurt
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Fresh apple slices or another fresh fruit
- A little green smoothie
- Scrambled eggs or mini egg bites
Recipe Variations
- To make gluten-free: Choose certified gluten-free oats to avoid cross-contamination. The remaining ingredients are naturally gluten-free but look for ingredients processed in gluten-free facilities when possible.
- To make dairy-free: Replace the regular milk with your favorite unsweetened non-dairy milk and your favorite plant-based yogurt, or use unsweetened applesauce instead. It may not have the exact same texture, but it will be close.
- Play with the fillings: Instead of apples, feel free to use chopped pears (ideally a firmer variety). These apple oatmeal breakfast bars are also great with chopped nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, or even a tablespoon or two of ground flaxseed or hemp hearts for extra healthy fats. There are lots of options!
More Delicious Bars
- Apple Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
- 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars
- Strawberry Banana Oat Bars
- Banana Pumpkin Bars
- Nut Free Breakfast Bars
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup milk or milk alternative
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups diced apple, peeled (about 2 medium apples)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 7×11 inch rectangular baking dish or a 8-inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Combine oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in large bowl. Whisk together yogurt, milk, maple syrup, egg and vanilla in another bowl; pour over oat mixture and stir to combine. Add chopped apples and mix until incorporated.
- Pour mixture into prepared dish and spread out with spatula until evenly distributed.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until edges are browned and knife inserted in centre comes out clean. Let apple oatmeal mixture fully cool before cutting to allow the bars to firm up before serving. Cut into 8 larger bars or 16 smaller bars.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month.
Notes
- If you want the apples to be more subtle, you can also grate them instead of chopping them.
- Grease the baking dish well to prevent the baked oatmeal from sticking to the pan. You can also line the pan with parchment paper for easier removal.
- Allow the cooked apple oatmeal bar mixture fully cool before cutting and removing from the baking dish. It needs time for the oats to absorb some of the extra moisture and firm up. If you try to take it out of the pan too soon, it will be stickier and harder to cut into bars.
