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Oatmeal jam bars are an easy treat that can be made into a dessert or a healthy treat. It is a fantastic way to use up extra jam!

With jam being one of the easiest ways to preserve fruit in the summer, I always find myself with an abundance of jam. I used to have jam on my shelf for years because frankly my family isn’t a big “toast and jam” kind of family. This oatmeal jam bars recipe was a game-changer and a favorite recipe in my house. It’s a great way to use up different jams and it makes a delicious snack as well. You can also easily adjust the amount of sugar in this recipe depending on whether you want to make it as a healthy snack or a sweet dessert.
What are Oatmeal Jam Bars?
Oatmeal jam bars are a type of dessert or snack that combines a crumbly, buttery oatmeal crust and topping with a sweet jam filling. They are typically made with simple ingredients and are easy to prepare.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- This jam bars recipe is a great way to use up extra jam or jelly in your pantry. You can use a different flavor of jam each time you make it, to keep this recipe fresh.
- You can adjust the amount of sugar in this recipe to fit your needs! More sugar for a sweet dessert, less for a healthy snack.
- These jam bars can be easily frozen after baking and stored in the freezer for whenever you need to have a quick school snack or sweet treat on hand
- The jam bars can be made gluten-free using gf oats and a gf flour mix and dairy-free by using vegan butter.
This recipe was one of the healthy snacks that I made in this video:
Tips for Making Oatmeal Jam Bars
- Jam: Use a high-quality jam or fruit preserve, preferably home-made! The better the jam, the more flavorful your bars will be.
- Butter: Real, unsalted butter works best for a rich and buttery crust and topping.
- Cutting: Use a sharp knife to cut the bars into squares or rectangles. For clean edges, wipe the knife with a damp cloth between cuts.

Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:
How to Make Oatmeal Jam Bars
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Mix dry ingredients: combine flour, oats, sugar, and baking soda until well blended.
- Stir in melted butter until the oat mixture is all moistened.
- Remove and set aside 1 ½ cups of the oat mixture. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a parchment paper-lined jelly roll or half-sheet baking dish. Use the back of a measuring cup to firm up the mixture by pressing gently across the pan.
- Spread the jam over the oat mixture until the oat layer is fully covered in an even layer of jam.
- Sprinkle the 1 ½ cups of remaining oat mixture evenly across the top of the jam for a crumbly topping.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Cool before cutting. For best results, I like to pop the whole pan into the refrigerator for a little bit to firm up the bars.
Pro Tip
Get creative! You can use jam, jelly, fruit sauce, applesauce, or pie filling.
How to Store
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freezing: Allow the bars to cool completely. Cut into squares, and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. They can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature or warm them slightly in the oven

Recipe Substitutions and Variations
How can I make Oatmeal Jam Bars gluten-free?
Yes, you can use gluten-free oats and substitute the flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make the recipe gluten-free as well as gluten-free oats.
Can Oatmeal Jam Bars be made dairy-free?
Oatmeal jam bars can be made dairy-free by substituting butter with coconut oil or vegan butter.
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Healthy Oatmeal Jam Bars
Oatmeal jam bars: Enjoy this healthy and easy recipe for delicious oatmeal jam bars. A fantastic recipe for using up extra jam!
Ingredients
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cupsquick or old-fashioned oats
- 1-2 cup brown sugar or maple sugar (optional)
- 1 tsp. Baking soda
- 2 cups melted salted butter
- 4 cups any flavor jam or fruit sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Mix flour, oats, sugar and baking soda until well blended.
- Stir in melted butter until the oat mixture is all moistened.
- Remove and set aside 1 ½ cups of the oat mixture. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a parchment paper lined jelly roll or half sheet baking pan. Use the back of a measuring cup to firm up the mixture by pressing gently across the pan.
- Spread the jam over the oat mixture until the oat layer is fully covered in jam.
- Sprinkle the 1 ½ cups of reserved oat mixture evenly across the top.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Cool before cutting. I like to pop the whole pan into the refrigerator to firm up the bars.
Notes
FAQs
Can I use any type of jam for this recipe?
Yes, you can use any jam of your choice, such as strawberry jam, raspberry jam, or fig jam. You can even use fruits preserves, fruit sauce, applesauce, or pie filling.
How can I reduce the sugar in the recipe?
Yes, you can reduce the sugar or use a sugar substitute, but it may alter the texture and sweetness of the bars.
What type of oats should I use?
Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Quick oats can be used, but they will result in a slightly different texture. You can also use a combination of oats. Avoid using steel-cut oats.
Can I add nuts or seeds to the recipe?
Yes, you can add chopped nuts, seeds, or even dried fruit to the oat mixture for added texture and flavor.
Can I use fresh fruit instead of jam?
Yes, you can use fresh fruit. Cook the fruit with a bit of sugar and lemon juice to make a thick compote, then use it as you would jam
How do I know when the bars are done baking?
The bars are done when the top is golden brown and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with a few crumbs.
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a 5-star review so that others can try it as well! Mention us @thefromscratchfarmhouse on Instagram so we can see your creations! You can also leave a comment below!
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I have some peach jam to use up. My family doesn’t really do jam on toast. They don’t like peach jam with peanut butter for sandwiches either. I was kind of at a loss for what to do with all this jam. I cut the recipe in half to try out the recipe. I added 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to the crust that paired perfectly with the peach jam. They were delicious and everyone in the family loved them.
Yay, I’m so glad! The cinnamon was a great idea too!
Can the butter be replaced with solid coconut oil?
Technically yes, but it definitely wouldn’t taste the same.