Apricot Almond Oat Slice (Oat Bars)
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This Apricot Almond Oat Slice is quick and easy to make, lower in sugar than store-bought oat slices, and the perfect healthy snack to have around for kids and adults! It’s made with heart-healthy oats, flour, coconut, crunchy almonds, dried apricots, brown sugar and honey for some sweetness! They’re chewy, crunchy, sweet, and simply SO GOOD!
Hi everyone.
How are we all doing? I’m hoping everyone is safe and well, and I hope you are all managing to find joy in the little things in life during these difficult times.
With all the anxiety that I’ve been feeling lately, stress baking has become the norm in my home. (Have you guys been stress baking too? What have you been baking? Let me know in the comments section below!) Easy home baking for me though, and none of that complicated, extravagant, and gorgeous baking stuff we see the pros doing on television.
Today, I’m sharing my new favorite easy baked snack with you – this Apricot Almond Oat Slice!
It’s made with a few pantry staples and ingredients, and it’s deliciously sweet, chewy, and crunchy!
These oat slices are also:
- Pretty healthy (they are lower in sugar than your average store-bought oat slices (oat bars).
- Are great for a grab and go breakfast. (Although, I know we’re not really going anywhere these days and trying to stay indoors as much as possible!)
- Also great as a dessert!
- Fantastic for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up snack!
My Dad, Mom, and sister are as addicted to them as I am, and these delectable little oat slice treats have been in high demand ever since I first made them! I truly think you and your family will love these Apricot Almond Oat Slice too! 🤗
So who’s in for some Apricot Almond Oat Slices?
ABOUT THESE APRICOT AND ALMOND OAT SLICES
A few weeks ago, I was killing time in a mall while waiting for a dentist appointment. I got a bit hungry, so I strolled into City Super (a well-known international foods supermarket here in Hong Kong) in search of a snack. I ended up buying a soft granola bar lookalike snack called an “oat slice” which was made in Australia. (In the U.S., these oat slices are called “oat bars”.) It was made with almonds, apricots, honey, and coconut, and it blew my mind! Yum. Yum. YUM!
But it was HK$ 26 (US$ 3.35), which IMO is kind of pricey for such a small treat even if it is organic. 🙄 Anyways, I vowed to make it at home so that I’d never have to spend that much on that particular small snack again. I took a picture of the ingredients label, jotted down my own recipe for this tasty treat in my trusty recipe notebook, and a few hours later, this Apricot Almond Oat Slice was born in my kitchen (and for much cheaper I might add)!
I used less sugar and honey than you might find in store-bought oat slices, and sprinkled in some cinnamon for a subtle, yet kickin’ spicy-sweet note! These oat slices are also egg-free, and can be made vegan with vegan honey or maple syrup, and vegan butter. (See ‘Variations’ section for more on how to customize this oat slice.)
Ready to make some oat slices and wow yourself and your family?
INGREDIENTS
To make these delicious Apricot and Almond Oat Slices, you’ll need…
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: I used gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats, but you can use regular or wholegrain old fashioned rolled oats instead too.
- Flour: I use wholegrain wheat flour (wholemeal wheat flour). But you can use all-purpose white flour, plain flour, or white whole wheat flour instead too if that’s what you have on hand.
- Light Brown Sugar: To sweeten the oat slices.
- Desiccated Coconut: You can use unsweetened shredded coconut instead if you prefer.
- Dried Apricots: Chop these up into small pieces. I used sulphured (orange) dried apricots here. But I love using unsulphured apricots too, which are dark brown, and sweeter and richer in flavor!
- Almonds: Roughly chopped. I use unsalted raw almonds.
- Baking Soda: To keep things nice and moist.
- Honey: To also help sweeten the oat slices, and to bind the mixture together with its stickiness.
- Unsalted Butter: Chop these into smaller chunks so that they’ll melt more easily.
- Almond Extract: I love the sweet, fragrant, and nutty flavor that almond extract adds to sweet treats and desserts! But you can use vanilla extract instead if that’s what you have on hand. It’ll taste great with either!
- Ground Cinnamon: Just a pinch for some spicy-sweet notes!
- Water: To help keep things nice and moist.
HOW TO MAKE APRICOT ALMOND OAT SLICE
Prep: Preheat oven to 180°C/356°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 9 x 9-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper (nonstick cooking paper) so that the ends are sticking out. (This will make it easier to transfer the baked oat slice slab to a cooling rack later).
Melt butter and honey: Combine the unsalted butter and honey in a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl. Heat in 30 second increments, stirring with a spoon in between, until melted.
Combine dry ingredients: Combine the old fashioned rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, desiccated coconut, dried apricots, almonds, and baking soda. Mix with a large spoon or rubber spatula until evenly combined.
Pour in honey and butter: Pour in the melted unsalted butter and honey into the bowl with the dry ingredients, and add the almond extract, ground cinnamon, and water.
Mix: Mix with a spoon until the mixture is evenly combined.
Transfer to baking pan: Spoon into the prepared baking pan. Flatten the mixture using the back of the spoon or rubber spatula.
Bake: Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the middle has set. Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then use the nonstick cooking paper edges as “handles” to lift the baked slab and transfer to a cooling rack.
Cool, slice, and enjoy!: Allow to cool completely, then cut into squares and enjoy!
Or you can store the slices at room temperature in a sealed container for 5-7 days. But I highly doubt they’ll last that long in your home because they’re too darn delicious and addictive! 😉
Full ingredient amounts/instructions in the recipe card below.
CAN I FREEZE THE OAT SLICES?
Yes, you can. Although, I haven’t tried freezing these oat slices myself because they disappear very quickly in my house – they don’t last for more than a couple of days! But if you’d like to freeze these oat slices for later, I suggest wrapping each oat slice individually in cling wrap, and then wrapping them all in a foil package. Place the foil package in an airtight sealed container or freezer bag and freeze for up to one month. You can pull out a slice and thaw on the counter for 30 minutes or so, then enjoy!
VARIATIONS
There are plenty of ways that you can customize this oat slice. You can…
- Make it vegan: Use vegan honey or maple syrup instead of honey to sweeten the oat slices. Also, be sure to use a vegan butter.
- Omit the refined sugar: Use 1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup and completely omit the light brown sugar.
- Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free oats, and gluten-free oat flour or almond flour instead of all-purpose flour.
- Add a nut butter: Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc. would all taste fab in this oat slice snack! You can use a natural or sweetened nut butter. I recommend adding 1/4 cup nut butter to the mixture in Step 4.
- Allergic to nuts?: Simply leave them out.
- Switch up the nuts: Instead of chopped almonds, feel free to use cashews, pine nuts, pistachios, pecans, macadamias, hazelnuts, walnuts, or any other type of nuts that you like!
- Don’t have dried apricots?: No problem! Substitute with dried cranberries, raisins, blueberries, strawberries, dates, or other dried fruit that you have on hand instead.
- Add seeds: Feel free to add pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sunflower seeds, hemp, chia seeds, flaxseeds etc. if you like.
- Add chocolate: If you’re like me and adore all things chocolate, you can fold in white, milk, or dark chocolate chips or chunks into the mixture too!
- Not a fan of coconut?: Simply leave out the desiccated coconut.
MORE SWEET SNACKS & TREATS
- Nutella & Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Spicy Chocolate Bark with Almonds & Candied Ginger
- Dark and White Chocolate Bark with Mixed Fruits & Nuts
- Chocolate & Butterscotch Chip Cookie Cake
MADE THIS RECIPE? If you make this recipe, leave a comment and review it below with a STAR rating! I always appreciate your feedback. Take a photo and be sure to tag it with @thatspicychick on Instagram and hashtag it #thatspicychick and I’ll be sure to share.
PrintApricot Almond Oat Slice (Oat Bars)
This Apricot Almond Oat Slice is quick and easy to make, lower in sugar than store-bought oat slices, and the perfect healthy snack to have around for kids and adults! It’s made with heart-healthy oats, flour, coconut, crunchy almonds, dried apricots, brown sugar and honey for some sweetness! They’re chewy, crunchy, sweet, and simply SO GOOD!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Mix, Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (I used gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats, but regular or wholegrain old fashioned rolled oats will work too.)
- 1.5 cups Wholewheat Flour (wholemeal wheat flour)
- ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar
- ½ cup Desiccated Coconut
- ½ cup dried Apricots – chopped
- ½ cup unsalted raw Almonds – roughly chopped
- ½ TSP Baking Soda
- ¼ cup Honey
- 100 grams (1/2 cup) Unsalted Butter – chopped into smaller chunks
- 1 TSP Almond Extract (or vanilla extract)
- ½ TSP ground Cinnamon
- ¼ cup Water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 9 x 9-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper (nonstick cooking paper) so that the ends are sticking out. (This will make it easier to transfer the baked oat slice slab to a cooling rack later).
- Combine the unsalted butter and honey in a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl. Heat in 30 second increments, stirring with a spoon in between, until melted.
- Combine the old fashioned rolled oats, wholewheat flour (wholemeal wheat flour), brown sugar, desiccated coconut, dried apricots, almonds, and baking soda. Mix with a large spoon or rubber spatula until evenly combined.
- Pour in the melted unsalted butter and honey into the bowl with the dry ingredients, and add the almond extract, ground cinnamon, and water. Mix with a spoon until evenly combined, then spoon into the prepared baking pan. Flatten the mixture using the back of the spoon or rubber spatula.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the middle has set.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then use the nonstick cooking paper edges as “handles” to lift the baked slab and transfer to a cooling rack.
- Allow to cool completely, then cut into squares and enjoy! Or store the slices at room temperature in a sealed container for 5-7 days.
Notes
- To freeze: I haven’t tried freezing these oat slices because they disappear very quickly in my house and don’t last for more than a couple of days! But if you’d like to freeze them for later, I suggest wrapping each oat slice individually in cling wrap, and then wrapping them all in a foil package. Place the foil package in an airtight sealed container or freezer bag and freeze for up to one month. You can pull out a slice and thaw on the counter for 30 minutes or so, then enjoy!
- Make it vegan: Use vegan honey or maple syrup instead of honey to sweeten the oat slices. Also, be sure to use a vegan butter.
- Omit the refined sugar: Use 1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup and completely omit the light brown sugar.
- Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free oats, and gluten-free oat flour or almond flour instead of all-purpose flour.
- Add a nut butter: Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc. would all taste fab in this oat slice snack! You can use a natural or sweetened nut butter. I recommend adding 1/4 cup nut butter to the mixture in Step 4.
- Allergic to nuts?: Simply leave them out.
- Switch up the nuts: Instead of chopped almonds, feel free to use cashews, pine nuts, pistachios, pecans, macadamias, hazelnuts, walnuts, or any other type of nuts that you like!
- Don’t have dried apricots?: No problem! Substitute with dried cranberries, raisins, blueberries, strawberries, dates, or other dried fruit that you have on hand instead.
- Add seeds: Feel free to add pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sunflower seeds, hemp, chia seeds, flaxseeds etc. if you like.
- Add chocolate: If you’re like me and adore all things chocolate, you can fold in white, milk, or dark chocolate chips or chunks into the mixture too!
- Not a fan of coconut?: Simply leave out the desiccated coconut.
Shop the Recipe
gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats
Buy Now →Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 oat slice
- Calories: 192
- Sugar: 11.4g
- Sodium: 49.7mg
- Fat: 8.6g
- Saturated Fat: 4.4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25.9g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3.7g
- Cholesterol: 13.4mg
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary based on several factors. It should only be used as a general guideline. For more information, please see our Disclosure.
All images and text ©That Spicy Chick.
This post may contain affiliate links. We are a part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary based on several factors. It should only be used as a general guideline. For more information, please see our Disclosure.
Using honey or maple syrup is NOT omitting the added sugar. Honey and maple syrup are both SUCROSE mixed with a little bit of water. Exactly the same chemical as you find in sugar.
Hello, thank you for pointing out that error in the ‘Variations’ section. I’ve corrected it to say that they can be made without refined sugar.
Can you use fresh apricots?
Hi Kayla,
I haven’t tried making this recipe with fresh apricots but based on a Google search, I believe you can. You’ll need to turn the apricots into a jam type of filling by combining chopped apricots with sugar and grand marnier (or other orange liquer). Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the apricots are soft. Combine the rest of the ingredients and push down half of it in the prepared pan so that it is a base/crust. Spoon the apricot filling on top and spread evenly, then add and press down the rest of the crust mixture in the pan. You will likely need to bake longer if using a fresh apricot puree/filling, but I can’t be certain of exact times without further testing. If you do decide to try it, let me know how it works out!
This is my go-to snack recipe now! Very yummy and healthy.
★★★★★
Hi Rita, so glad you enjoyed these oat slices! We can’t get enough of them around here. 😉
For a first time slice Baker it wasn’t too hard, partner referring to me as chef goes a long way to making this my favorite slice!
That’s fantastic, Peter!! So glad you liked this recipe and that both you and your partner enjoyed these oat slices! 🙂
Very tasty, but VERY crumbly! Next time I’ll add the 1/4 cup of almond butter, maybe a bit more water. The mixture was pretty dry in the mixing bowl.
★★★
Hi Joanne,
Glad you enjoyed the taste of this recipe. Be sure to let it cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling. Also, I’ve tried adding more water during testing and it watered down the flavors so I wouldn’t recommend it. But almond butter is definitely a great addition. Hope this helps!
I tried this
Very yummy like indian khorak mithai.
★★★★★
Hi Aanchal,
Happy to hear you enjoyed this! I’ve never tried Indian khorak mithai, but I looked it up and it sounds delicious too! Hopefully one day I’ll get to try (or make 😉) it too.