These super easy to make baked oatmeal peach bars are a great thing to have on hand for a tasty snack. They take less than 10 minutes to make and are a great alternative to your usual chocolate bar! Made with simple ingredients, they are soft, chewy and perfectly sweet.
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After a few months of being, shall we say, free and easy with my snacking, I'm making an effort to ditch the chips and chocolate. Well, 80% of the time ... baby steps!
The baked peach oatmeal bars are a perfect homemade snack to banish those sugar cravings. Not exactly super healthy (let's be honest here!) but way healthier than store bought sweet treats for sure. These bars are easy to make vegan and gluten-free and come out wonderfully soft and chewy.
If you have a thing for peaches, be sure to check out my Peach Pancakes for a super yummy breakfast, and my Peach Milkshake for something a bit more indulgent!
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make a batch of these bars which will last you for the week.
- Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter. We only use a little in this recipe so it really doesn't make too much difference.
- Flour: Use regular all purpose flour. I like to use an organic, unbleached flour.
- Oats: I used quick oats, but old fashioned will also work well and give you more texture.
- Sugar: The richness of demerara sugar works so well with the peaches. Brown sugar will also work.
- Salt: A little salt helps to bring out the natural sweetness of the peaches.
- Honey: This is optional, but it adds another layer of sweetness.
- Peaches: I used tinned peach slices for ease and convenience. You can use fresh if you have those, just make sure they are ripe.
How to make baked oatmeal peach bars
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Place all ingredients, apart from the peaches, in a large bowl (photo 1).
- Mix to combine (photo 2).
- Fold in the peaches (photo 3).
- Press into a baking tin (photo 4).
- Bake until browned, let cool and cut into bars.
Recipe Variations
These bars are delicious as they are and you can easily make a few simple swaps to fit in with your dietary needs.
- Make them gluten-free: Use 1:1 GF flour and gluten-free certified oats.
- Make them vegan: Skip the honey or swap it with maple syrup. Use a dairy-free butter substitute instead of the butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
These bars will keep well at room temperature for 2 to three days and in the fridge for up to a week. Once cooled and cut into bars, keep them in an air tight container with the layers separated by parchment.
Yes, these bars freeze really well, so go ahead and make a double batch! Cut the oatmeal into bars and then wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Alternatively you can freeze the bars on a baking sheet and once solid transfer to a freezer bag or safe container. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge. Frozen peach oatmeal bars will keep well for up to 3 months.
I made these bars in an 8x8 inch baking tin. You can make these in a slightly larger or smaller tin, they will just come out a little thinner or fatter. Thicker bars will need an extra few minutes in the oven, and thin ones a little less.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Be sure to mix all of the ingredients together well so that there is no dry flour left. I used a spoon to start mixing and then mixed the rest with my hands to get everything really well combined.
- The bars are ready to come out of the oven when the top and edges start to brown.
- Let the peach oatmeal cool completely before cutting into bars.
- These bars are quite soft when kept at room temperature. If you like your bars a little more solid, they will harden up when chilled and stored in the fridge.
For More Easy Snack Recipes
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
- Peanut Butter Crunch Bites
- Flapjacks with Dark Chocolate & Cherries
- Bacon Jalapeño Popcorn (Sweet and Spicy)
I love hearing from you!! If you have tried these baked peach oatmeal bars, be sure to scroll down, give them a star rating and let me know what you thought!
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Baked Peach Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 0.5 stick butter - softened (½ cup / 50g)
- ¾ cup all purpose flour (95g)
- ¾ cup oats you can use quick or old fashioned oats (120g)
- ½ cup demerara sugar (100g)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons honey (optional)
- 1 can peaches - drained of juice / syrup. ( 13.5oz / 398ml)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350F / 175c.
- Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix until well combined. I used a spoon to mix at first and then used my hands to make sure everything was incorporated - there should be no dry bits.
- Line a 8x8inch baking tin with parchment.
- Place the mixture into the tin. Spread evenly and press down with your fingers or the back of the spoon.
- Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until it starts to brown.
- Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
- Be sure to mix all of the ingredients together well so that there is no dry flour left. I used a spoon to start mixing and then mixed the rest with my hands to get everything really well combined.
- The bars are ready to come out of the oven when the top and edges start to brown.
- Let the peach oatmeal cool completely before cutting into bars.
- These bars are quite soft when kept at room temperature. If you like your bars a little more solid, they will harden up when chilled and stored in the fridge.
Carolyn says
Has anyone tried this using oat flour in place of all purpose flour?
Slow The Cook Down says
Hi Carolyn, I haven't made this with oat flour, but I did some research and you can replace all purpose on a 1:1 ratio going by weight, so, 95g of oat flour instead of all purpose should work well. Would love to know if you try this and how they turn out!
Carolyn says
Is there more detailed instructions? Do you use room temperature butter or melted? Do you drain the canned fruit?
Slow The Cook Down says
Hi Carolyn, thanks for asking these questions, I have updated the recipe. Room temperature butter (softened) is perfect and yes, you drain the canned fruit.
Cathy says
How many fresh peaches would this call for?
Slow The Cook Down says
Hi Cathy, three fresh peaches will work perfectly for these bars.
Peg Freeman says
You state .5 stick of butter, but also 1/2 cup. 1/2 c of butter is a whole. So which do I use??
I'm going to try using coconut oil instead of the butter
Chris brown says
Curious, how did you prepare the butter? Melted, grated or cut-in softened butter. I'm going to try grating it
Slow The Cook Down says
Hi Chris, sorry I missed this! I cut in softened butter, but pretty sure grated will work just as well. I hope they turned out well for you!!
Cynthia Groover says
Can I not put peaches in recipe but spread on top with crumble topping
Slow The Cook Down says
Hi, I haven't tried it that way, but sure it will work well.
Jane Saunders says
I love those peaches. To be honest, I wasn't sure how using tinned fruit would turn out, but it was a revelation. So delicious.