Honey Oatmeal Bars
These baked Honey Oatmeal Bars are a crispy chewy treat similar to Nature Valley granola bars. Known as Flapjacks in the UK, this recipe is easy to make and perfect for homemade snack prep.
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Oats are a great way to add vitamins, minerals, and fiber to a healthy breakfast and snacks. Besides these yummy nut-free and gluten free Oat Bars readers also love these Chocolate Overnight Oats and Almond Butter Energy Balls. Check out all of our Healthier Snack Recipes for inspiration!
IN THIS POST: Everything you need to make Baked Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- oats – use quick oats or rolled oats – certified gluten-free for allergies!
- coconut sugar
- coconut oil
- honey – source out a local product if possible!
- vanilla
- salt
Instructions for this recipe
This is such a simple recipe to make!
First, using a medium bowl, stir together the dry ingredients – oats, coconut sugar, and salt.
I use my trusty wooden spoon.
The second step is to pour in the wet ingredients – melted coconut oil and the honey. Try for local honey – now more than ever it is so important to support local businesses.
And it is so delicious!
Next, press the mixture onto a parchment paper-lined baking pan and press it down firmly.
Use a flat spatula to really pack down the oat mixture into the baking dish.
This helps it to hold together and bake evenly. You don’t want a crumbly bar, etc.
Finally, pop it into the oven and in ten minutes, you have magic. ? Another ten to fifteen minutes to cool down and you’re ready to slice into these flap jacks.
Nature Valley oats and honey copycat coming right up.
FAQs, Tips, and Substitutions
- Are oat bars healthy? Even though these have sugar they are a healthier snack option. Homemade versions always have better nutrition as you can choose the healthiest ingredients and forgo the corn syrup and more refined sweeteners and use honey and less refined coconut sugar.
- This simple oat square recipe is nut-free making it safe for school lunches. It also yields a good number so it’s ideal for feeding a crowd or for meal prep.
- For vegan flapjacks substitute maple syrup for honey.
- Fun add-ins include cranberries or other dried fruit like raisins, walnuts, peanuts, chia seeds, and dark chocolate chips. Sprinkle in a pinch of cinnamon with the dry ingredients!
- For added protein, spread on some nut butter such as almond butter or peanut butter.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
- To freeze, place the bars into a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More gluten free snack recipes
- Chocolate Chia Power Balls
- Cinnamon Apple Snacks
- Homemade Crunch Bars
- Hemp Seed Energy Balls
- Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake
- Homemade Gluten Free Twix Bars
**This recipe was originally posted on March 14, 2015, and updated on October 27, 2020, and updated again on November 11, 2022, with recipe notes, writing, and new photos.**
If you’ve tried my Honey Oatmeal Bars, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!
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Honey Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups quick oats
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil melted
- ½ cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine the oats and coconut sugar; add the remaining ingredients and stir until well combined.
- Press into a rectangle on the prepared sheet. Use the back of a flat spatula to really press it all down firmly so your bars aren't crumbly.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Let cool for 15 minutes then cut into squares.
- Store covered at room temperature for up to a week.
Video
Notes
- This simple oat square recipe is nut-free making it safe for school lunches. It also yields a good number so it’s ideal for feeding a crowd or for meal prep.
- For vegan flapjacks substitute maple syrup for honey.
- Fun add-ins include cranberries or other dried fruit like raisins, walnuts, peanuts, chia seeds, and dark chocolate chips. Sprinkle in a pinch of cinnamon with the dry ingredients!
- For added protein, spread on some nut butter such as almond butter or peanut butter.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
- To freeze, place the bars into a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Made these for the first time yesterday, they taste great but mine did not stay together at all. What did I do wrong?
Hmm. There could be a few reasons. Compacting the bars firmly into the pan is really helpful for the bars sticking together. Did you give them a really good press before baking? Also be sure to give them enough time to completely cool before slicing.
This is a great recipe but far too sweet in my opinion. When I read how much sweetener was in it I scoured the comments to see if anyone else felt it needed an adjustment. Everyone seemed to love it, I cut back the coconut sugar by 1/4 cup but wow just really sweet. I will absolutely make these again but will probably do 1/4 cup coconut sugar and 1/2 cup of honey and see how that turns out.
Sounds great! Let me know how it turns out. Reducing sugar is always a good thing. 🙂 Thanks Sarah!
Can you use raw sugar to replace the coconut sugar?
Sure thing!
What can I use instead of coconut sugar?
Brown sugar would also work!
I need to make these for an easy breakfast.
Hello!
Do you think I could use butter instead of the coconut oil?
thank you for your time
I think melted butter would work fine. Let me know if you try it!
I made these yesterday so good!! I used old fashion oats, added ground flax seed, chia seeds, sliced almonds, cinnamon and nutmeg. Half the sheet had mini choc chips on top same 10 minute bake time. Will definitely be making this again!!
What size baking sheet do you cook these on? 🙂
Hi Mandy – I use a 10×15 for thinner bars like the picture or sometimes a 9×13 for a little thicker. Thanks for letting me know -I’ll update the recipe.
What would the recipe measurements be for a 8×8 pyrex dish? I know for the oats it would be 2 1/2 cups but do you know what the rest would be?
Have younadded protein poeder to these and will it loose its nutritional value if baked?
I haven’t tried with protein powder but it should work and still retain its nutrition.
My kids love Nature Valley bars, so these sound like a good recipe for me to share with them. Bonus how quick they are to make
Right?! They will love them. 🙂 Thanks, Jane!
My partner made these for me as I absolutely love flapjacks, we had some locally produced honey in the cupboard and they came out perfect:)
A brilliant snack for during the day why you’re on the move with work!!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
They are a great snack indeed! So glad you enjoyed. 😉
Oh my, these look delicious. I can almost taste the honey. Love your use of coconut oil. I’ve tried it before and it worked really well, then forgot all about it and reverted to butter. We call them flapjacks in the UK.
Yes to flapjacks! My mom was from England and her flapjacks were legendary. 🙂 Thanks so much.
What can I use if I can not get coconut sugar
You could try cane sugar or even more honey instead.
hello, the oats is quick oats or rolled oats?
I use quick oats.
Hey
I don’t have coconut sugar is there another sugar substitute? I’m excited to try these out
You could try cane sugar as a decent substitute! I do recommend the coconut sugar though – if you have Costco access they sell it at a great price. It’s great in coffee too. 🙂
I made these yesterday so good!! I used old fashion oats, added ground flax seed, chia seeds, sliced almonds, cinnamon and nutmeg. Half the sheet had mini choc chips on top same 10 minute bake time. Will definitely be making this again!!
Yum, Karen! I love the additions! Thaks for sharing. I’ll be adding some chocolate chips next time I make these too. 🙂