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    Home » Type » Desserts » Bars and Brownies

    Easy Cranberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe - The Best Way to Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce!

    Published: Nov 18, 2022 · Modified: Jun 19, 2023 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Aromatic vanilla pairs well with bright cranberries and nutty oats in this easy Cranberry Oatmeal Bars recipe; it's the perfect way to use leftover cranberry sauce!

    cranberry bars

    Most people save their snowy wishes for a white Christmas, but I confess, I am desperately hoping for snow for Thanksgiving.

    A Buffalo girl at heart, nothing says holiday season to me quite like a good foot or so of snow. (Not to mention eggnog or mulled cider and some kind of cranberry treat.)

    Living in the DC area now, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that Thanksgiving will most likely not be welcomed in with snow (but I am surely keeping my fingers crossed for Christmas). However, that doesn’t mean I can’t make the rest of the festivities happen, right?

    Bring on the cranberry treats.

    easy cranberry bars recipe

    In This Article

    • The Best Easy Cranberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe
    • Cranberry Oatmeal Bars FAQs
    • More Recipes that Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce
    • Cranberry Oatmeal Bars

    The Best Easy Cranberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe

    These jam bars are so multi-purpose, they’ll have your head spinning!

    Make a double batch of your favorite cranberry sauce (mine is this Easy Apple Cranberry Sauce recipe) the day before Thanksgiving, and whip these up in the morning for Thanksgiving brunch.

    Include them in the dessert buffet for Thanksgiving dinner.

    Or serve them as an early morning breakfast with coffee on Black Friday before you brave the shopping crowds.

    Cranberry Oatmeal Bars are the perfect use for leftover cranberry sauce!

    Ingredients

    • Cranberry sauce - you can use homemade or store-bought whole berry cranberry sauce; I highly recommend Apple Cranberry Sauce
    • Butter - like many baking recipes, use unsalted butter here; make sure your butter is chilled and diced small
    • Flour - all-purpose flour (unbleached if possible) is perfect here
    • Salt - to add balance and enhance the other flavors
    • Cinnamon - this adds a hint of warm spice that pairs well with oatmeal and cranberries
    • Baking soda - this is our leavening agent here
    • Sugar - granulated sugar works well here, but light brown sugar is also delicious
    • Vanilla - for flavor and aroma
    • Blackstrap molasses - adds caramelized brown sugar flavor notes; if you use brown sugar, you can skip this
    • Eggs - acts as a binder and adds structure
    • Old-fashioned rolled oats - don't use instant oats here because they absorb liquid differently

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Step 1: Prep Work:

    Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with 2 pieces of parchment paper so that the paper hangs over all 4 sides (so you can easily lift out the cookie bars).

    Taste the cranberry sauce and if it’s on the tart side, add sugar to taste (it should have a pleasantly sweet/tart flavor without making you pucker).

    Step 2: Make the Pastry:

    Use a fork or pastry cutter to cut the cold butter into the flour until it resembles coarse meal, and then use a fork to stir in the salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and sugar. Add the vanilla and molasses, and combine with a fork until incorporated. Stir in the eggs, and then the oats.

    Step 3: Assemble and Bake:

    Press ⅔ of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared dish (the dough will be sticky). Spread the cranberry sauce on top of the dough, and crumble the remaining ⅓ of the dough on top.

    Bake until golden, about 45 minutes, and then cool completely.

    Step 4: Glaze:

    Once cooled, whisk together all ingredients for the glaze and drizzle it on top of the bars.

    Let the glaze set before cutting and serving.

    cranberry oatmeal bars recipe graphic

    Cranberry Oatmeal Bars FAQs

    What Kind of Cranberry Sauce Can I Use to Make These Bars?

    You can use any whole berry cranberry sauce to make this recipe. But because it's much more delicious and it's so easy to make cranberry sauce from scratch, I like to use a homemade cranberry sauce to make these pastry bars.

    The following cranberry sauce recipes work well to make these bars:

    • Easy Apple Cranberry Sauce
    • Cardamom-Spiced Cranberry Pear Sauce
    • Cinnamon and Ginger-Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce
    apple cranberry sauce
    Easy Apple Cranberry Sauce

    Can I Use Instant Oats in This Recipe?

    This recipe was developed using old-fashioned rolled oats, and they are what I recommend using here so that the recipe works as pictured.

    This is because instant oats are more finely ground and absorb liquid differently than old-fashioned rolled oats.

    How Long do Cranberry Oatmeal Bars Last?

    You can store these bars covered for up to 3 days at room temperature, or up to 1 week in the fridge.

    More Recipes that Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce

    • Cranberry Cake
    • Eggnog Muffins with Cranberry Filling
    • Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese Ball with Fresh Rosemary
    • Grilled Cheese Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich
    side view of cranberry oatmeal bars on baking tray

    Let's Connect

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    Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.

    To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

    Cranberry Oatmeal Bars

    By: Faith Gorsky
    Aromatic vanilla pairs well with bright cranberries and nutty oats in this easy Cranberry Oatmeal Bars recipe; it's the perfect way to use leftover cranberry sauce!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 292 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Bars:

    • 1 ⅓ cups Apple Cranberry Sauce
    • ½ cup unsalted butter chilled and diced small
    • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¾ cup sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ teaspoons blackstrap molasses
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

    Glaze:

    • ½ cup powdered sugar
    • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ teaspoons cold water

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with 2 pieces of parchment paper so that the paper hangs over all 4 sides (so you can easily lift out the cookie bars).
    • Taste the cranberry sauce and if it’s on the tart side, add sugar to taste (it should have a pleasantly sweet/tart flavor without making you pucker).
    • Use a fork or pastry cutter to cut the cold butter into the flour until it resembles coarse meal (with some small bits of butter), and then use a fork to stir in the salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and sugar. Add the vanilla and molasses, and combine with a fork until incorporated. Stir in the eggs, and then the oats.
    • Press ⅔ of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared dish (the dough will be sticky). Spread the cranberry sauce on top of the dough, and crumble the remaining ⅓ of the dough on top.
    • Bake until golden, about 45 minutes, and then cool completely.
    • Once cooled, whisk together all ingredients for the glaze and drizzle it on top of the bars.
    • Let the glaze set before cutting and serving.

    Faith's Tips

    • Storage: Store these bars covered for up to 3 days at room temperature, or up to 1 week in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Cranberry Oatmeal Bars
    Amount Per Serving (1 bar)
    Calories 292 Calories from Fat 81
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 9g14%
    Saturated Fat 5g31%
    Trans Fat 0.3g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 2g
    Cholesterol 48mg16%
    Sodium 134mg6%
    Potassium 80mg2%
    Carbohydrates 49g16%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 28g31%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 289IU6%
    Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
    Calcium 17mg2%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword Cranberry Oat Bars, Cranberry Oatmeal Bars, Cranberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
    cranberry oatmeal bars pin

    This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on November 6, 2014. I updated it with more information on November 18, 2022.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Andrew says

      December 20, 2021 at 1:22 am

      Another winner, Faith! Added a handful of coconut as well; not sorry.

      Reply
    2. Joanne says

      November 09, 2014 at 2:22 pm

      Maybe we can hope for snow the week OF Thanksgiving but then have it stop a few days before my wedding...compromise? :P

      I love cranberry infused sweet treats. They feel so festive! These are great.

      Reply
    3. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

      November 07, 2014 at 7:20 pm

      Such pretty bars, Faith! Love that oat crumble!

      Reply
    4. Caroline says

      November 07, 2014 at 12:27 pm

      Oh Faith, these looks delicious! I love that you add mahlab...I love the flavor that adds. I'm going to look for that cranberry sauce with the vanilla! Sounds yummy!

      Reply
    5. Rose says

      November 06, 2014 at 12:28 pm

      I hope you get a white Thanksgiving, Faith! After a winter in Michigan last year, I'm hoping for only a slight dusting of snow at the very most now that I live in Portland, Oregon.

      These oat bars look delicious! I'm inspired to make some baked oatmeal with cranberries now. :)

      Reply
    6. Julia says

      November 06, 2014 at 10:41 am

      You guys should come visit me for Christmas! We've got plenty of the white Christmas action going on. We can all go skiing/sledding and drink hot cocoa with these deeeelicious cranberry bars! I love cranberry sauce and these are definitely making me excited for a white Christmas :D

      Reply
    7. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says

      November 06, 2014 at 6:15 am

      These are so perfect in every way. Loving the images too Faith. Beautiful.

      Reply
    8. Erica says

      November 06, 2014 at 5:55 am

      mmm mmm mmm! Delicious! Snow for Thanksgiving? I pray for a bikini for Christmas haha :)

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes | Eat the Love says:
      November 29, 2015 at 2:30 am

      […] An Edible Mosaic’s Cranberry Oat Jam Bars […]

      Reply

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