Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

Looking for a crazy easy (and delicious) kid-approved snack? These easy Raspberry Oatmeal Bars have an irresistible oatmeal cookie crust, a layer of decadent sweet raspberry jam, and a crumbly butter oatmeal topping. They’re a breeze to throw together anytime!

Have you ever come across a snack that’s so good it’s addictive? You know the kind I’m talking about…those snacks that you say “I’ll just have one” and you end up eating most of the pan. 🤦‍♀️

Well, say hello to my new favorite “can’t stop eating them” snack: Raspberry Oatmeal Bars. They’re SO good.

The first time I made them, they were gone in an hour. The entire pan – I’m not joking!

I think it’s the irresistible combination of the buttery oatmeal crust and crumble topping with the mouth-wateringly good raspberry jam.

But my favorite part of this snack is that it’s a breeze to whip up and uses simple, everyday ingredients. And since the recipe doesn’t use fresh raspberries, you can make it all year long and vary it up (see ideas below).

If you need easy-to-whip-up snacks that kids love, check out my

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
• Peanut Butter, Nutella & Banana Sushi Rolls
• Lunch Bunch Idea: Rainbow Pinwheels

How To Make Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

Here’s how to throw these bars together!

Ingredients Needed 

To make these raspberry oatmeal bars, you will only need a few ingredients you probably already have on hand.

• ½ cup light brown sugar or coconut sugar – gives these bars deep, rich flavor.                                      
• 1 cup flour or gluten-free flour                                                                  
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda                                        
• ⅛ teaspoon salt – natural flavor enhancer.
• 1 cup rolled oats – could also use quick oats for a lighter texture. Rolled oats will give these bars a heartier, chewy texture.
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 
• ½ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup seedless raspberry jam – make your own or use a high-quality store-bought jam.

Preparation Instructions

You’re going to love how easy it is to make this recipe! Just follow this process.

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 and line an 8×8 square baking dish with parchment paper

Step 2

Make the crust/crumble mix. Combine brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and oats

Step 3

Stir or use hands to incorporate butter until the mixture is crumbly

Step 4

Press 2 cups into the bottom of the baking dish

Step 5

Add jam. Next, evenly spread jam to ¼ inch from the edge

Step 6

Top with crumble topping. Sprinkle on remaining crumb mixture and lightly press into jam

Step 7

Bake 30-40 minutes until light brown

Step 8

Cool, cut into bars, serve and enjoy!

How To Use This Raspberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe

I highly recommend these bars for:

• Healthy dessert
• After school snack
• Pot luck or summer BBQ dish
• Birthday party finger food
• Sports snack (baseball tournament or other sports games)
• And more!

Recipe Variation Ideas

• Change the flavor – They’re delicious with raspberry jam, but try swapping out raspberry jam for a new favorite flavor such as strawberry, peach, blueberry, blackberry, huckleberry, and plum are all excellent options!
• Glaze or Icing – Make a vanilla glaze and drizzle it over the top of the raspberry squares if you want just a little more sweetness.
• Use fresh berries – While I don’t recommend using fresh fruit in place of the jam, you could add some to the jam or top the bars with fresh berries.
• Add lemon zest or extract – Lemon zest (or extract) will give the filling or the crust some zing and a delicious tangy citrus flavor.
• Dairy-free option – Use coconut oil in place of butter.
• Gluten-free option — Trade out the flour for your favorite gluten-free 1:1 flour blend, and make sure to use certified gluten-free oats (oats are naturally gluten-free, but they’re often processed in plants that process wheat).

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars FAQs

Here are a few common questions I see readers ask about this recipe.

How do I store these bars?

Keep bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Can I freeze these Raspberry Oatmeal Bars?

Yes, you can! They will freeze well for up to 3 months.

In order to freeze them, let the bars cool completely after baking. Cut them into squares and place the squares on a baking tray. Put the tray in the freezer for 1.5 or 2 hours.

The bars should be firm enough to stack in a freezer-safe container or freezer-safe bag without sticking together. 

How do I thaw out these bars?

When you want to enjoy the raspberry bars, take them out of the freezer and let them sit at room temperature until they have thawed out.

Can I use fresh or frozen raspberries?

If you really want to use fresh berries, I recommend making a sauce out of them. Boil in a pan:

• 2 cups of raspberries
• 2 teaspoons of cornstarch
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice

Are Raspberry Oatmeal Bars Gluten-Free?

Although oats are naturally gluten-free, they are usually contaminated with gluten ingredients during harvesting and processing. If you want to use gluten-free oats, make sure you grab a package that’s labeled as gluten-free.

More Delicious Recipes

If you love these raspberry oatmeal bars and want more easy, kid-approved recipes, check out my:

• Summer Berry Cream Cake
• Baked Rolled Tacos
• Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders with Aioli
• Crack Broccoli Casserole
• Air Fryer Indian Tacos (with Homemade Fry Bread)