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These cranberry oatmeal bars are the ultimate mix of tart and sweet with layers of cranberry sauce, buttery oats, and a warm cinnamon crumble. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple, cozy dessert perfect for holiday gatherings.
Love fruit desserts? Try healthy apple crisp, blueberry crumble bars or gluten-free dutch apple pie next.
These cranberry oatmeal bars are easy to make, bursting with cranberry flavor, and have a deliciously crumbly oat topping. I’m adding them to my list of favorite recipes with crumb topping along side coffee cake muffins, apple banana bread, and pumpkin streusel muffins.
With a buttery base and a hint of cinnamon, these bars are perfect for holiday tables, making them one of my new favorite Thanksgiving desserts. Throw them in the lineup with pecan pie cobbler and pumpkin pie bars and you won’t regret it.
Need another Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t pie? Try pumpkin cookies, Taylor swift chai cookies, or snickerdoodle apple pie bars.
Ingredients You Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make these cranberry oatmeal bars. For exact measurements, check the recipe card below.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness to both the crust and crumble topping.
- All-Purpose Flour: Use gluten-free if needed.
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: make sure it’s rolled oats and not quick cooking oats. Purchase gluten-free certified if needed.
- Cinnamon and Salt: A touch of warmth and balance to the flavors.
- Light Brown Sugar: Sweetens the bars and adds a hint of caramel flavor.
- Cranberry Sauce: Use whole cranberry sauce. Homemade cranberry sauce or store-bought.
Recipe Variations
- Make it vegan – Substitute vegan butter for the unsalted butter.
- Try other fruit fillings – Swap cranberry sauce for blueberry or cherry preserves.
- Add white chocolate – Stir white chocolate chips into the oatmeal crumb mixture.
- Add chopped nuts – Add a handful of walnuts or pecans to the topping for extra crunch.
- Use gluten-free oats and flour – Use certified gluten-free oats and flour.
- Healthy cranberry oatmeal bars – swap the brown sugar for coconut sugar and make your own naturally sweetened cranberry sauce. Swap the butter for coconut oil if you prefer!
How to Make
Here are the simple steps, with photos, to make this cranberry oatmeal bar recipe. Skip to the recipe card for the printable version.
Step 1. Make the Crust and Crumble: Combine the melted butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl and stir until crumbly.
Step 2. Press the Crust: Press all but 1 ish cups of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a parchment line baking pan.
Step 3. Add Cranberry Layer: Spread the cranberry sauce evenly over the crust.
Step 4. Final Layer and Bake: Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture over the cranberry sauce. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Cool completely before serving!
Expert Tips
- Check your bake time. Ovens vary, so check the bars at 45 minutes. They’re done when the top is golden and the cranberry sauce is bubbling.
- Let them cool completely before cutting. You can put them in the fridge or freezer to speed this up.
- Try homemade cranberry sauce. Making your own cranberry sauce adds fresh flavor and a bit of tartness.
- Use old-fashioned oats. They provide the best texture and hold up well during baking.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! These bars store well and can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge. In fact, making them in advance is ideal to give them enough time to set before cutting.
You can use any jam or preserve, like raspberry or blueberry, for a different flavor. If you want a similar tart flavor, try homemade cranberry sauce with fresh or frozen cranberries.
I don’t recommend quick oats in this recipe. Old-fashioned oats hold up better in the crumble and create a sturdier topping.
Store and Make-Ahead Tips
To Store: Store leftover cranberry oatmeal bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
To Freeze: Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap or store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature or warm them in the oven for a few minutes to enjoy.
To Make Ahead: Prepare the bars up to 2 days in advance. Allow them to cool completely before covering and storing at room temperature or in the refrigerator. This makes them an ideal dessert to prepare before a busy holiday or gathering.
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Cranberry Oatmeal Bars
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Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 cups all-purpose flour gluten-free if needed
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats certified gluten-free if needed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 can whole cranberry sauce or 1 batch homemade
- Ice cream or whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8-inch metal pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together the melted butter, flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt. The mixture will be dry and sandy with some larger, well-formed crumble pieces. This makes up the crust and crumble. Set 1 heaping cup (I used almost 1 1/2 cups) of the mixture aside for the crumb topping.1 cup unsalted butter, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup light brown sugar
- Transfer the remaining crumb mixture to the prepared pan, and use a spatula or your fingers to press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan to create an even crust,
- Spread the cranberry sauce evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumb topping over the cranberry sauce. There will be cranberries still showing, this is what you want.1 can whole cranberry sauce
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes, or until the crumble is golden and the blueberrries are bubbling around the edges. Check the bars with 15 minutes remaining and cover with foil if the top is starting to look to brown.
- Allow the bars to cool for 1 hour then use the parchment paper overhang to remove the bars and cool them completely. You can place them in the freezer to speed up the cooling process. Slice cooled bars into squares and enjoy with ice cream
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made these for a huge Friendsgiving over the weekend and it was a massive hit! So easy and delicious. Can’t wait to make this again!
Thanks!!