Oatmeal cherry bars are a great fiber packed snack, breakfast idea, or dessert. This recipe uses whole ingredients and is super easy to make. 

When you think of cherry bars, you may be thinking of the ones with a streusel or crumble topping which is definitely a dessert. You may also be reminded of those that Starbucks used to serve back in the day. 

My oatmeal cherry bar recipe has a new spin with healthier ingredients and is suitable for any lifestyle, including vegan and gluten free.  

These also go great in kid’s lunchboxes! You can even crumble them up to eat with milk as cereal or as a topping for a smoothie or yogurt bowl.

Why We Love Oatmeal Cherry Bars 

No Bake. You don’t even have to turn the oven on! 

Healthy. These bars are packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Easy. While they are simple to make, you can take them on the go too! 

Stores Well. Once you make a batch you can eat off of them for 2 weeks, if they last that long! 

Customizable. It’s really easy to swap ingredients to make different versions of these breakfast bars.

Oatmeal Cherry Bar Ingredients

• Oats – I prefer to use rolled oats versus quick cooking or steel cut
• Puffed rice cereal – Rice Krispies, puffed brown rice, or something similar
• Chopped Almonds
• Chia seeds
• Dried cherries
• Salt
• Peanut butter – use the creamy kind and check the labels to make sure there are only peanuts and maybe some salt in it. 
• Maple syrup
• Vanilla
• Chocolate – this is optional but you can add mini chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks. 

How To Make Healthy Oatmeal Cherry Bars 

Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and spray with vegetable oil. 

Mix together the cereal. Oats, almonds, chia seeds, cherries, and salt in a large mixing bowl. 

Add the peanut butter and maple syrup to a small bowl and microwave for 30 seconds then stir in the vanilla. 

Pour the peanut butter mixture into the bowl with the other ingredients and stir well. Fold in the chocolate if you are using it. 

Transfer the breakfast bar batter to the lined baking pan and press firmly into an even layer. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least one hour. 

Slice into bars and serve! 

Oatmeal Bar Variations 

Fruits: Swap the cherries for another dried fruit like blueberries or apricot. 

Nuts: Use walnuts, pecans, or a combination. 

Chocolate: Swap the regular chocolate for white chocolate. 

Peanut Butter: Use any nut butter or seed butter of your choice. 

Maple Syrup: You can use honey instead if desired. 

Are Oatmeal Cherry Bars Gluten Free? 

They are as long as you use gluten free oats and cereal. Brands like Quaker and Bob’s Red Mill are good to use for the oatmeal. 

Nature’s Path or Arrowhead Mills are great brands for gluten free cereal.

Storing Instructions

Keep the bars in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. 

More Easy Recipes You’ll Love: 

• Hello Dollies Bars
• Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins
• Carrot Cake Porridge
• Cinnamon Overnight Oats
• 4 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal Cherry Bars

Oatmeal cherry bars are a great fiber packed snack, breakfast idea, or dessert. This recipe uses whole ingredients and is super easy to make.

3.79 from 19 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Refrigerator time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Author: Abbie

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup puffed rice cereal
• ½ cup chopped toasted almonds
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• ½ cup dried cherries chopped
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter or nut/seed butter of choice
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Optional: ¼ cup chopped dark chocolate or mini chocolate chips

Instructions

• Line a square 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper and spray with vegetable oil.
• In a large bowl, mix together oats, cereal, almonds, chia, dried cherries, and salt.
• In a microwave safe bowl, mix together peanut butter and maple syrup. Microwave for 30 seconds then stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the nut butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir together well. Add chocolate and mix together.
• Pour mixture into the pan and press into a firm, even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerator for at least one hour before cutting into 10 bars and serving.
• Bars can be stored in an air tight container or resealable bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

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