Cozy Apricot Oatmeal Crumble Bars

Category: Sweet Treats to Satisfy Any Craving

With apricot jam squeezed between a melt-in-your-mouth oat base and a crumbly golden top, these bars are pure comfort food. You get cozy brown sugar sweetness and awesome texture from oats and flour. Bake until you see those edges go golden brown, cool them off so slicing is a breeze, then serve. Switch up the jam if you want, it's super flexible. They're great straight from the pan for sharing, packing, or just grabbing a quick sweet fix. Every piece brings together fruity flavor and hearty oats the easy way.

Dana
Updated on Fri, 20 Jun 2025 12:42:12 GMT
Tray of bars with a single piece lifted out. Pin
Tray of bars with a single piece lifted out. | chefsnaps.com

When I want something sweet that feels cozy but is also bright, these bars with apricot and oats are my go-to. You just toss everything together with what’s in your cupboard, one bowl, and you’re done before you know it. No headaches, just seriously good flavor. I bring these out for weekend brunch or pack them for the kids, and there’s never a crumb left.

I always swap out whatever preserves are in the fridge and the family still polishes them off. The little ones love pressing down the base and sneaking extra crumble on top.

Irresistible Ingredients

  • Apricot preserves: This is your sweet-tart jam for the middle. A thick simple preserve with few extras works best here.
  • All-purpose flour: It holds the bars together so they don’t crumble everywhere. If lumpy, just sift it first.
  • Rolled oats: Grab old-fashioned oats for the hearty, chewy texture that makes the top so good.
  • Baking soda: The secret for a lighter bar. It keeps things fluffy so you don’t get a brick. Make sure yours is still fresh.
  • Packed brown sugar: Gives caramel flavor and holds those crumbly bits together. Soft, new brown sugar works best.
  • Unsalted butter: Let it sit out till soft so it mixes in smoothly. A good butter means tastier bars.

Simple Step-by-Step

Let Them Cool Before Cutting
Don’t rush it—wait till the bars are completely cool so they stay in one piece when you slice them up.
Pop Them in the Oven
Bake for about thirty to thirty five minutes until the top has a honey color and the sides start bubbling.
Add the Topping
Scatter the last of your oat mixture over the preserves. Press lightly, keep it chunky up top for the best crunch.
Spoon on the Jam
Spread your apricot preserves evenly over the bottom crust but leave the edges clear so they don’t bubble out and stick.
Make the Crust
Scoop out two cups from the crumble mix and press it firmly into the pan with your hands or the back of a cup.
Get the Crumble Started
Mix up butter, brown sugar, flour, baking soda, and oats in a bowl. Squish everything together with your hands, a pastry cutter, or even two forks until it’s crumbly.
Heat Up the Oven and Prep the Pan
Turn the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray your eight or nine-inch square pan with some nonstick spray so nothing sticks.
A tray of food with a slice of food on it. Pin
A tray of food with a slice of food on it. | chefsnaps.com

The best bit for me is how the edges get extra crispy. No matter the season, my siblings always want me to double up so everyone can take home a stash.

Best Storage Ideas

Keep these bars on the counter for up to three days. Just wrap them tight so they don’t dry out. For longer stashing, put them in a sealed container in the fridge—they’ll last about a week. You can even freeze single bars between parchment and grab one whenever you want a treat.

Swap-Out Options

Use any preserve you’ve got—strawberry, raspberry, or even fig works great if you want to mix it up. Out of butter? Margarine or plant-based spreads are fine, though the taste changes a little. Add a shake of cinnamon to the oat mixture for a cozy flavor boost.

How to Serve

Serve warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a good plop of whipped cream for an easy dessert. Sometimes I slice them smaller for grab-and-go snacks in lunchboxes. They’re also awesome with coffee or tea or even after a light lunch for a sweet touch.

A close up of a piece of food. Pin
A close up of a piece of food. | chefsnaps.com

Background and Traditions

Bars like these came from home cooks making do with leftover fruit and pantry oats. Oats were cheap and filling, so they ended up in lots of bakes. They’re kind of like a mix between English flapjacks and an old-school crisp, but easier to carry and share.

Recipe FAQs

→ Could I swap in a different kind of jam?

Definitely! Try it with peach, raspberry, or strawberry jam for a fun twist on the flavor.

→ What's the trick for bars that hold together?

Let them cool down all the way while still in the pan so they'll firm up before you cut them.

→ Which oats are best here?

Go with rolled oats—they stay chewy and hold up nicely when baked, making the bars just right.

→ Can I get these ready the day before?

For sure! Bake them a day ahead and keep them sealed up so they stay fresh.

→ Is unsalted butter a must?

Unsalted gives you more say over the taste, but salted works too—just cut back a bit on extra salt.

Apricot Oat Bars

Crumbly oats and buttery layers pair with juicy apricot inside each bar for a soft bite and a sweet touch.

Preparation Time
15 min
Cooking Time
35 min
Total Time
50 min
By: Dana

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 9 Servings (9 bars)

Dietary Preferences: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Base and Topping

01 95 grams regular flour
02 125 grams old-fashioned oats
03 0.25 teaspoon baking soda
04 110 grams brown sugar, packed
05 115 grams butter, make sure it's soft

→ Filling

06 320 grams apricot jam

Steps

Step 01

Keep the pan undisturbed until everything's cold. Cut into 9 even bars when it's no longer warm and serve.

Step 02

Pour the rest of the oat mix across the jam, spread it out nicely. Pop it in the oven for about half an hour to 35 minutes until you see golden on top and bubbling below.

Step 03

Take the apricot jam and smear it all over the crust, just keep a thin border at the edge so things don't spill.

Step 04

Scoop out two cups of that crumb mix. Press it down into your greased dish so it's an even layer.

Step 05

Use your fingers, a fork, or a pastry tool to mix soft butter, brown sugar, baking soda, oats, and flour together in a bowl. Mix till it looks crumbly.

Step 06

Turn your oven on to 177°C. Spray a 20x20 cm or 23x23 cm pan with non-stick spray so nothing sticks.

Notes

  1. Let the bars sit and cool off fully before cutting so they're less sticky. Switch out the apricot jam for your favorite fruit kind if you want.

Required Tools

  • Square bake pan (20x20 cm or 23x23 cm)
  • Large bowl
  • Pastry blender, fork, or knife

Allergen Information

Check every ingredient for potential allergens, and consult a healthcare professional if uncertain.
  • Has both dairy and gluten (wheat).

Nutritional Details (Per Serving)

These details are for reference purposes and don't replace professional medical advice.
  • Calories: 240
  • Fats: 8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 38 g
  • Protein: 2.5 g