Description
Delicious cranberry sauce oat bars featuring a buttery oat crust, a tangy cranberry sauce layer, and a crunchy pecan oat topping. Perfect for using up leftover cranberry sauce and ideal for a sweet snack or dessert.
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 (177°C) to ensure it’s hot enough for baking the oat bars evenly.
- Prepare Base Mixture: In a large bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add rolled oats, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, baking powder, and salt. Mix until fully combined; the mixture will form crumb-like texture.
- Layer Base and Cranberry Sauce: Transfer the crumb mixture into a 9-inch square baking pan and firmly press it down to create an even crust layer. Spread the cranberry sauce evenly over this base layer.
- Make Pecan Oat Topping: In a shallow saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in the brown sugar, rolled oats, crushed pecans, and ground cinnamon until well combined. Evenly sprinkle this topping over the cranberry sauce layer.
- Bake the Bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the topping is lightly browned and crisp.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and place the baking pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, cut into 9 equal (about 3-inch) squares and serve.
Notes
- Use leftover or homemade cranberry sauce for best flavor; adjust sugar if cranberry sauce is very sweet.
- Store bars tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to one week.
- Freeze bars wrapped tightly or in an airtight container for up to 3 months, great for saving extras for later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 3-inch square)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
