These soft and chewy applesauce oatmeal bars are an easy breakfast or snack for toddlers and kids! They are naturally sweetened with applesauce and fresh apple and made with oats, nut or seed butter, and hemp hearts for a extra staying power. They are also easy to make nut-free for daycare lunch or school snack!
If you need another snack that is simple enough to prep during a busy week, this is such a good one. Everything comes together in one bowl, and the bars stay soft and easy for little ones to eat. They are more like handheld baked oatmeal than a crunchy granola bar, which also means fewer crumbs all over the floor (hopefully, right?!).
Why You’ll Love These Applesauce Oatmeal Bars
- Naturally sweetened: The applesauce and grated apple add sweetness without added sugar.
- Made with simple ingredients: You only need a handful of pantry and refrigerator staples.
- Soft and toddler-friendly: These bars have a moist, chewy texture that is easy for little ones to bite and chew.
- Easy to make nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter for a daycare- or school-safe option, as permitted by your facility.
- Great for meal prep: Store them in the refrigerator or freezer for an easy grab-and-go breakfast or snack.
- Easy to serve in different ways: Enjoy them plain or pair them with yogurt, eggs, or fruit for a more filling meal.
These were inspired by my apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies, because I wanted to make a bar version for those who didn't want to individually scoop out cookies! These would be so yum paired with my cinnamon apples and Greek yogurt for a balanced breakfast.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love These Applesauce Oatmeal Bars
- Ingredients You Need
- How to Make Your Applesauce Oatmeal Bars
- Hint for the Best Applesauce Oatmeal Bars
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- How to Serve Oatmeal Bars to Toddlers
- How to Store Applesauce Oatmeal Bars
- Toddler Dietitian Tiff's Tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Pairing
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients You Need
Here's what you'll need to make these applesauce oatmeal bars for toddlers:
- Unsweetened applesauce: Adds natural sweetness and moisture without needing maple syrup or honey.
- Fresh apple: Finely grated apple adds a little more apple flavor and keeps the bars soft. If there's a ton of juice then squeeze it out some, but just lightly pack in a measuring cup!
- Almond butter, cashew, or sunflower seed butter: Helps hold the bars together while adding fat and protein. SunButter works well for a nut-free version.
- Rolled oats: Give the bars their soft, chewy texture. Quick oats may also work, but the final texture will be softer and less chewy.
- Hemp hearts: An easy way to add some protein, healthy fats, iron, and fiber without changing the texture much.
- Cinnamon: Adds cozy apple-cinnamon flavor. Use ½ teaspoon for a milder flavor or up to 1 teaspoon if your family loves cinnamon.
- Vanilla and salt: Both are optional, but they help round out the flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Your Applesauce Oatmeal Bars
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 × 4-inch loaf pan or square pan with parchment paper or spray with oil. In a medium bowl, stir together the applesauce, oats, hemp hearts, nut or seed butter, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
- Step 2: Shred and fold in the shredded apple, then let the mixture rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Step 3: Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press it firmly into an even layer (be sure to add mix-ins if adding). Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set.
- Step 4: Let the bars cool completely in the pan. Lift them out using the parchment paper and slice into 8 toddler-sized bars.
Hint for the Best Applesauce Oatmeal Bars
Let the mixture rest for 5-10 minutes before baking so the oats can absorb some of the moisture. Press it firmly into the pan, then let the bars cool completely before slicing, this helps them hold together while keeping that soft, chewy texture.
Substitutions
These applesauce oatmeal bars are already naturally egg and dairy free! Here are some other options for substitutions:
- Nut-free: Replace the peanut or almond butter with SunButter or another allergy-safe seed butter. Always follow your daycare or school’s individual allergy policy.
- Gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free rolled oats.
- Hemp hearts: If you do not have hemp hearts, you can leave them out. The bars may be slightly softer, so make sure they cool completely before slicing. If you'd like to add 2 tablespoon of flax or chia seeds then go ahead!
Variations
Get creative with these applesauce oatmeal bars and stir in whatever mix-ins you'd like! I added in marshmallows and white chocolate chips to ours.
- Apple raisin: Add 2-3 tablespoons of finely chopped raisins. For younger toddlers, chop the raisins into small pieces so they are easier to chew.
- Apple cinnamon chip: Fold in ¼ cup of white chocolate chips for a sweeter version for older toddlers and kids. Can even do a mix of white chocolate chips and chopped up marshmallows!
- Fall-spiced: Add a small pinch of nutmeg or use apple pie spice in place of the cinnamon.
- Extra fiber: Add 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed. If the mixture seems dry after resting, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of additional applesauce.
Equipment
You’ll need a medium mixing bowl, spoon or spatula, box grater, measuring cups and spoons, parchment paper, and an 8 × 4-inch loaf pan or a square pan. The parchment paper makes it much easier to lift the cooled bars from the pan and slice them without sticking.
How to Serve Oatmeal Bars to Toddlers
These bars include carbohydrates, fiber, fat, and some protein on their own. For a more filling breakfast or snack, pair one with another food group. Try serving them with:
- Greek yogurt and berries
- Scrambled eggs or egg bites and sliced fruit
- Cottage cheese and cinnamon apples
- A cheese stick and soft fruit
- Plain whole milk or a smoothie
For babies who are developmentally ready for finger foods, cut the bar into a long, wide strip that is easy to grasp. For toddlers, serve it whole as a small bar or cut it into bite-sized pieces. Always make sure the texture and serving size are appropriate for your child’s individual eating skills, and supervise them while eating.
How to Store Applesauce Oatmeal Bars
Let the bars cool completely before storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To freeze, place parchment paper between the bars so they do not stick together, then freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or warm briefly in the microwave before serving. Check the temperature before offering one to a toddler.
Toddler Dietitian Tiff's Tip
These applesauce oatmeal bars provide carbohydrates, healthy fats, fiber, and some protein, making them a great base for a toddler snack. For even more staying power, pair one with Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, a hard-boiled egg, or a glass of milk. Remember, toddler snacks can be thought of as mini meals! Combining two or more food groups can help keep little bellies satisfied between meals.
FAQ
No. These bars are soft and chewy, with a texture more like handheld baked oatmeal than a crunchy granola bar. This makes them especially toddler-friendly.
No. Finely grate the apple and add it with its natural moisture. The rolled oats absorb that extra liquid as the mixture rests and bakes.
Yes, but the texture may be a little softer and less chewy. Rolled oats provide the best texture for these bars.
You can, but the applesauce and grated apple make these bars naturally sweet without it. If you want a sweeter bar, add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup. Avoid honey for babies under 12 months.
The fresh apple adds moisture, sweetness, and texture, but you can omit and use ⅔ cup of applesauce instead!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these applesauce oatmeal bars:
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
- grater box
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup shredded apple lightly packed; do not squeeze out the juice completely
- ½ cup peanut butter or almond butter
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup hemp hearts
- ½-1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste optional
- pinch of salt optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 × 4-inch loaf pan or square pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the applesauce, grated apple, nut or seed butter, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Fold in the rolled oats and hemp hearts, then let the mixture rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press it firmly into an even layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center feels set.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan. Lift them out using the parchment paper and slice into toddler-sized bars.
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