Easy and delicious cranberry sauce oat bars with a soft, chewy and buttery crust, a tart yet sweet cranberry sauce filling, and a crumbly pecan and oat topping is the best mouthwatering way to use up any leftover cranberry sauce from a holiday dinner. Enjoy these cranberry squares for breakfast, dessert, or any time of the day as a snack.
One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is all the leftovers, and my favourite item to work with is leftover cranberry sauce. I love turning them into delicious baked treats like cranberry sauce swirl pound cake and cranberry sauce muffins with oat streusel topping. And these tasty cranberry sauce oat bars fit right in. They are basically date squares made with cranberry sauce. Pretty genius right? Except they taste so different, and so delicious.
Ingredients
So there are 3 layers to these bars, and here is what you will need for each layer:
- buttery crust - butter, brown sugar, rolled oats (not quick oats), all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
- cranberry sauce - homemade cranberry sauce or canned cranberry sauce both work great. If your cranberry sauce is already very sweet, you may want to cut down on some of the sugar in this recipe.
- pecan oat topping - melted butter, brown sugar, rolled oats, crushed pecans, and ground cinnamon.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, hand mixer (or stand mixer), 9-inch square baking pan, and wire cooling rack.
How to Make The Best Leftover Cranberry Sauce Oat Bars
- Make the crust: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together butter with brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add rolled oats, flour, vanilla, baking powder, and salt. Continue to mix until fully combined. The mixture will resemble crumbs.
- Start assembling the layers: Transfer the mixture into a 9-inch square baking pan, and firmly press it in to create an even layer on the bottom. Layer and spread cranberry sauce on top.
- Make the pecan oat topping: In a shallow saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in brown sugar, oats, pecans, and cinnamon. Stir until fully combined. Sprinkle and evenly distribute the topping on top of the layer of cranberry sauce.
- Bake: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in a preheated 350 F oven until lightly browned. Place baking pan on a wire cooling rack to cool down and cut into 9 even squares.
- Serve: Make yourself a nice cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate and grab a cranberry sauce oat bar.
Storing Instructions
- How to store: Cranberry sauce oat bars will last for up to 2 days tightly wrapped or stored in an airtight container at room temperature, or up to one week in the refrigerator.
- How to freeze: Cranberry sauce oat bars freeze really well and can be stored tightly wrapped in plastic cling wrap or in an airtight container for up to 3 months in the freezer. If you have a lot of leftover cranberry sauce, I would make a few batches and freeze for a rainy day.
More Cranberry Recipes
- Cranberry Sauce Swirl Pound Cake
- Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins with Oat Streusel Topping
- Cranberry Scones with Orange Glaze
- Easy Make-Ahead Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry Yogurt Muffins
- Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
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Recipe
Cranberry Sauce Oat Bars
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 9 (3-inch) squares
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Easy cranberry sauce oat bars with a buttery crust, cranberry sauce filling, and crumbly pecan oat topping is the best way to use leftover cranberry sauce.
Ingredients
- 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
For the 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 to 350 F.
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together butter with brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add rolled oats, flour, vanilla, baking powder, and salt. Continue to mix until fully combined. The mixture will resemble crumbs.
- Transfer the mixture into a 9-inch square baking pan, and firmly press it in to create an even layer on the bottom. Layer and spread cranberry sauce on top.
- Make the pecan oat topping: In a shallow saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in brown sugar, oats, pecans, and cinnamon. Stir until fully combined. Sprinkle and evenly distribute the topping on top of the layer of cranberry sauce.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until lightly browned. Place on a wire cooling rack to cool down and cut into 9 even squares.
Notes
Cranberry sauce: For the best results, make these using leftover make ahead cranberry sauce. Other types of homemade or canned cranberry sauce work well but you may want to make some slight adjustments. For instance, if your cranberry sauce is very sweet, I would add less sugar into the recipe.
How to store: Cranberry sauce oat bars will last for up to 2 days tightly wrapped or stored in an airtight container at room temperature, or up to one week in the refrigerator.
How to freeze: Cranberry sauce oat bars freeze really well and can be stored tightly wrapped in plastic cling wrap or in an airtight container for up to 3 months in the freezer. If you have a lot of leftover cranberry sauce, I would make a few batches and freeze for a rainy day.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Linda says
Love these oat bars! Not only they're perfect for breakfast or snacks, but they also make my Thanksgiving last longer.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you! So glad you like them!
Eva says
This oat bar recipe is indeed totally genius!! I can only imagine how the bitter and tangy notes of the ranberry sauce work great there! I am based in Sweden so i have access to lingonberries instead. I'm curious to try with the berries from my side of the pond 😀
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Oh yeah you could totally make this with other berries! Just cook them into a sauce and add to the oat bars. Let me know how it goes!
Colleen says
What a great idea for using leftover cranberry sauce. Although it would be worth making cranberry sauce just for these. They look delicious and I can't wait to make them. Thanks for sharing.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks! Yes, you are so right, I would totally make cranberry sauce just to make more of this 🙂
Michelle says
These are great for breakfast! They taste great and are healthy too. A brilliant way to use any left over cranberry sauce.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
They sure are! So glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Analida Braeger says
I love new and creative ways to use up leftovers and this would be my kind of breakfast to grab and go! Thanks for sharing!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
These are the best! My favourite grab and go too 😀
deb c says
These sound amazing! I'll pick up some cranberries when I go to town and make a batch! Thanks for the yummy idea!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks!! Let me know how you like it! 😀