Cherry Oatmeal Cookie Bars

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Soft, chewy, and packed with real cherries and toasty oats.

Hey there!

If you love chewy oatmeal cookies and juicy summer cherries, then you’re gonna love these Cherry Oatmeal Cookie Bars. They’ve got all the comforting flavors of a homemade cookie, but in easy bar form. You just press the dough into a pan, bake, slice, and you’re done. Perfect for sharing… or not sharing at all. 😄

These bars are buttery, golden on the edges, soft in the center, and every bite has a bit of sweet-tart cherry. Yes, please.

🍒 Servings & Time

Servings: 12 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 25–28 minutes
Total Time: About 45 minutes

❤️ Why I Love This Recipe

These bars came out of one of those “I want cookies but don’t want to scoop dough” days. I had some fresh cherries on the counter, mixed ’em in with oats and brown sugar, and baked everything as bars. Boom. New favorite.

All the goodness of oatmeal cookies in one pan
No mixer, no scooping — just press and bake
Fresh cherries make them juicy and seasonal
Great for picnics, road trips, or freezing for later
The edges get a little crispy, the center stays soft

🔬 Why This Recipe Works (Quick Science

Oats soak up moisture, giving a hearty texture
Brown sugar adds chew and depth of flavor
Baking soda gives just enough lift to keep them tender
Chopped cherries are folded in at the end so they don’t get mushy

🧠 Meal Plan Ideas

Pair with Greek yogurt and coffee for a chill breakfast
Add one to lunchboxes or picnic baskets
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for dessert
Slice and freeze for a sweet grab-and-go treat

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overmixing the dough – you’ll lose that chewy texture
Using too many cherries – it can make the bars soggy
Not lining your pan with parchment – makes removal tricky
Overbaking – they’ll get too dry if you don’t watch the edges

🍽 What You’ll Need

Dry Ingredients:

1½ cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

½ cup unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Add-Ins:

1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and chopped

🧰 Tools You’ll Need

Mixing bowls
Whisk and spatula
8×8 inch baking pan
Parchment paper
Measuring cups and spoons
Knife for chopping

🔁 Substitutions & Variations

Cherries: Use frozen (thawed and drained) or dried cherries
Butter: Swap for melted coconut oil for dairy-free
Add-ins: White chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or shredded coconut
Flour: Use a 1:1 gluten-free blend if needed

⏳ Make-Ahead Tips

Chop and pit cherries in advance
Make the dough and chill overnight if needed
Bake, cool, slice, and freeze for up to 2 months

👣 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Mix dry ingredients

In a large bowl, mix oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until combined.

oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt being stirred together in a large bowl with a whisk, dry and slightly textured mixture forming

Step 2: Mix wet ingredients

In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.

melted butter, packed brown sugar, egg, and vanilla being whisked into a thick caramel-colored mixture in a mixing bow

Step 3: Combine wet and dry

Pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir until just combined.

wet ingredients being stirred into dry oat and flour mix, forming a soft cookie dough texture, oats still visible

Step 4: Fold in cherries

Gently fold chopped cherries into the dough.

bright red chopped cherries being folded into oatmeal cookie dough with a spatula, cherry juice slightly streaking through the mix

Step 5: Press into pan

Press the dough evenly into a parchment-lined 8×8 pan.

oatmeal cherry dough being pressed firmly into a parchment-lined baking dish, spreading evenly to edges

Step 6: Bake

Bake at 350°F for 25–28 minutes, until edges are golden and center is set. Cool completely.

cherry oatmeal cookie bars baking in an 8x8 pan, edges turning golden and center puffing slightly, on a modern stainless steel double oven

Step 7: Cool and slice

Let the bars cool in the pan, then lift out using parchment and slice into 12 squares.

cooled cherry oatmeal cookie bars being sliced into 12 neat squares in a parchment-lined baking dish, cherry pieces and oats visible

🧊 Leftovers & Storage Tips

Store in an airtight container at room temp for 3 days
Refrigerate for up to 1 week
Freeze sliced bars in a zip-top bag up to 2 months

🔢 Exact Macros (Per bar, based on 12)

Calories: 210
Protein: 3g
Fat: 9g
Carbs: 30g
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 15g

🍽 What to Serve With

Glass of cold milk or iced coffee
Dollop of yogurt or whipped cream on top
Fresh cherries or fruit salad on the side
Warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

❓ FAQ

Can I use frozen cherries?
Yes — just thaw, drain, and pat dry before adding.

Can I make these vegan?
Swap butter for coconut oil and use a flax egg.

Can I double the recipe?
Definitely! Use a 9×13 pan and add a few extra minutes to the bake time.

Do I need to chill the dough?
Nope — these go straight into the pan and bake right away!

Soft, Chewy, and Full of Cherry Goodness 🍒

These Cherry Oatmeal Cookie Bars are everything you want in a cozy treat — buttery, golden, and packed with flavor. Easy to make, even easier to love. Give ’em a go and let me know how they turn out. I’d love to hear if you added any fun twists too! 💬🍪