Description
These Cranberry Sauce Oat Bars are a delightful blend of crumbly oat base, tangy cranberry sauce, and a crunchy pecan oat topping. Perfect as a sweet snack or dessert, they make excellent use of leftover cranberry sauce and offer a balance of sweet and tart flavors with a satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- ¾ cup butter, softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
Pecan Oat Topping
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ⅓ cup pecans, finely crushed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the bars evenly.
- Make the Base Mixture: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar using a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add rolled oats, flour, vanilla extract, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Mix thoroughly until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Form Base Layer: Transfer the crumbly mixture into a 9-inch square baking pan. Firmly press it down to create an even, compacted layer as the foundation of the bars. Spread the cranberry sauce evenly over this base layer.
- Prepare Pecan Oat Topping: In a shallow saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and immediately stir in brown sugar, rolled oats, finely crushed pecans, and ground cinnamon until fully combined. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the cranberry sauce layer.
- Bake: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is lightly browned and set.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, cut into 9 even 3-inch squares and serve.
Notes
- Use leftover homemade cranberry sauce for best texture and flavor, but canned cranberry sauce can also be used with adjustments to sugar if it’s very sweet.
- Store the bars tightly wrapped or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to one week.
- These bars freeze well; wrap tightly or store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Perfect for making ahead and enjoying later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 3-inch square)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
