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Cranberry Oatmeal Bars {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Option}

By Audrey Roberts

Published Oct 28, 2018

5

Read 28 Reviews

Prep 20 minutes mins

Cook 30 minutes mins

Servings 18 bars

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An easy recipe for gluten-free cranberry oatmeal bars. A combination of tart cranberries with a sweet oatmeal cookie layer drizzled with vanilla orange glaze. The recipe also has a dairy-free option. 

Originally published in October 2017. Recipe and photos updated October 2018.

Gluten-Free Holiday Recipes

Cranberry oatmeal bars are one of the desserts my mom always makes for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I love the combination of sweet and tartness of these cranberry date bars. They are one of my all-time favorite holiday desserts.

I’ve even been known to eat these bars for breakfast!

How To Make Cranberry Oatmeal Bars

• Preheat your oven to 350 ° F and spray a 9×13 glass baking pan with gluten-free cooking spray.
• In a large bowl mix the gluten-free flour,  (gluten-free quick oats, brown sugar, baking soda,  salt together until fully combined. Stir in melted butter and mix until it’s nice and crumbly. (photo 1)
• Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the pan and press down so it’s nice and firm. Bake for 8 minutes. (photo 2)
• Place the cranberries, dates and orange juice (or water) and dried orange peel (optional) in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until the cranberries pop, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. (photo 3)
• Remove from the heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract.
• Spoon cranberry mixture over baked crust bottom. I used a spatula to make it nice and even. (photo 4)
• Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture and pat down gently. (photo 5)
• Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes.
• In a small bowl combine the glaze ingredients and stir until is smooth.
• Drizzle the bars with the glaze, cool completely and cut into bars. Enjoy! (photo 6)
• Cover with plastic wrap, foil or store in an air-tight container. These are even better the second day!

Gluten-Fee Flour

I like Pillsbury gluten-free flour. Not all gluten-free flours are created equal. You may experience different baking results depending on the gluten-free flour blend you choose.

I also like Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free quick oats.

Dairy-Free Baking

I have also included a dairy-free option to my gluten-free cranberry bars recipe. My husband, my youngest son, and I are all dairy-free.

I promise these cranberry bars are just as delicious made with dairy-free butter. So, you too can enjoy a gluten-free and dairy-free cranberry oatmeal bars.

Some of my favorite dairy-free alternatives that I like to bake with is almond, cashew or coconut milk. I also like baking with coconut oil or Earth Balance or Smart Balance butter.

I have no idea where my mom got this recipe, but it was easily modified to be gluten-free by using gluten-free oats.

Watch out, because these bars are addicting, and you just might find yourself eating the whole pan!

Here are some of my favorite Gluten-Free Holiday Dessert Recipes!

• Easy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
• Almond Spritz Cookies {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}
• Gluten-Free White Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies {Dairy-Free Option}

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★Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!★

5 from 11 votes

Oatmeal Cranberry Bars {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Option}

By: Audrey from Mama Knows Gluten Free

Servings: 18 bars

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 30 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Super easy gluten-free cranberry oatmeal bars are a combination of sweet and tart with an oatmeal cookie drizzled with vanilla orange glaze. Recipe with a dairy-free option.

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Ingredients 

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Bars:

• ▢ 1 12oz package cranberries
• ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 2 tablespoons orange juice, or water
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon dried orange peel (or orange zest), (optional)
• ▢ 2 cups gluten-free quick oats, I like Bob's Red Mill
• ▢ 2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour, I like Pillsbury gluten-free
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum, ,leave out if your flour already has it in it
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 1 cup butter, melted (Earth Balance or Smart Balance for dairy-free)
• ▢ 1 8oz package chopped sugared dates
• ▢ 1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• ▢ 1/4 salt

Glaze:

• ▢ 2 cups powdered sugar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons orange juice or milk, (I used almond milk)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 1/8 teaspoon dried orange peel (or orange zest), (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 9x13 glass pan with gluten-free cooking spray.
• Place the cranberries, dates and orange juice (or water) and dried orange peel (optional) in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until berries pop, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat; stir in the pure vanilla extract.
• Mix all-purpose gluten-free flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt until fully combined. Stir in melted butter, until the mixture is nice and crumbly.
• Press half of the oat mixture into a greased baking pan. Bake 8 minutes.
• Spoon cranberry mixture over baked crust bottom. Smooth with the back of a spoon or spatula. 
• Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture and pat down gently.
• Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes.
• Glaze
• In a small bowl combine the glaze ingredients and stir until it's nice and smooth.
• Drizzle with the glaze.  Cool completely and cut into bars. Enjoy!
• Cover bars with plastic wrap, foil or store in an air-tight container. These are even better the second day.

Notes

I like Pillsbury gluten-free flour. Not all gluten-free flours are created equal. You may experience different baking results depending on the gluten-free flour blend you choose.

I like Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Quick Oats

Cover bars or store in an air-tight container. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 126mgPotassium: 72mgFiber: 2gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 325IUVitamin C: 2.4mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

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