Gluten Free Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars

Sweet, but not too sweet, these gluten free Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars have notes of bright lemon and they’re bursting with cranberries!

I’m having a hard time describing just how good these Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars are!

These gluten-free oatmeal bars have just the right amount of sweetness, a buttery oatmeal base, and a crumbly coconut topping that puts them over the top. They’re soft and slightly chewy.

They’re perfect for a holiday baking tray or for snacking any time!

These Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars will be high on my holiday baking list this year.  I rarely bake with granulated sugar, except at holiday time, when I like to make some of our favourite family treats, like these Zebra Cookies, Nana’s Butter Tarts, and Crispy Salted Coconut Cookies.

These cranberry oatmeal bars are slightly reminiscent of the raspberry coconut bars my Mom used to make every Christmas, but if I recall correctly, there was a lot of butter, a lot of sugar, sweetened long-shred coconut and most of a jar of raspberry jam in those! Tasty, but I prefer these healthier cranberry bars.

Tips for Making Gluten-Free Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars

1. Start by making the cranberry filling first. You’ll cook it on the stove top in a saucepan, then set it aside while you make the base and topping.
2. Next you’ll combine the crumble ingredients:  butter, sugar, vanilla, gluten-free baking flour, and rolled oats.
3. Reserve 1 cup of the crumble for the topping. Add 1/4 cup coconut to this mixture.
4. Press the rest into a lined 8-inch square pan.
5. Spread the cranberry filling on top, taking care to leave a 1/2 inch margin all the way around to prevent the filling from leaking out while its baking.
6. Top with the reserved crumble, sprinkling evenly over the top.
7. Bake until golden brown. Cool completely before cutting into bars or squares.

I’m confident you’ll like these Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars too

• they taste amazing!
• they’re gluten-free! Made with oats and a gluten-free baking mix.
• these bars are not overly sweet, but just sweet enough
• they have a bright lemony flavour, bursting with cranberries!

These cranberry bars can be ready for  the oven in about 15 minutes! Make today, enjoy a few and freeze the rest for another day.

How many bars will this recipe make?

This recipe makes 8 large bars, or 16 of a “more polite size.”

Are these bars easy to cut?

Yes! These cranberry bars slice without crumbling, as long as you cool them completely before slicing.

How should I store Gluten-Free Cranberry Bars

Store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Guaranteed not to last that long!

And if you like these gluten-free Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars, you’ll love these paleo Pomegranate Apple Crumble Bars too!

Gluten Free Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars

Lemon adds a bright flavour to these Gluten Free Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars. They're sweet, but not too sweet. 

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Course: Baked Goods, Bars and Cookies

Cuisine: American, Canadian

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 16 squares or 8 bars

Calories: 163kcal

Author: Flavour & Savour

Ingredients

Cranberry Lemon Filling

• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp cornstarch

Oatmeal Base and Crumble Topping

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour, (I use Bob's Red Mill)
• 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, (not quick oats), gluten-free if necessary
• 1/4 cup unsweetened medium coconut, for crumble topping

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and lemon zest.  Add lemon juice and cranberries. Stir to combine. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes until mixture begins to thicken.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8 inch square pan with parchment paper. 
• Add melted butter to a medium bowl (or melt it in the bowl in the microwave). Stir in sugars and vanilla, then add flour and oats. 
• Set aside 1 cup of the oatmeal mixture for the topping. Transfer the remaining amount to the prepared pan, pressing it evenly into the bottom to create a firm base.
• Spread the cranberry mixture on top of the base, taking care to leave a 1/2 inch margin to prevent the cranberry from leaking out the edges while baking. 
• Add 1/4 cup coconut to the remaining 1 cup oatmeal mixture. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the cranberry layer. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 3.5mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.5mg

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What Brand of Gluten-Free Flour should I use?

Not all gluten-free flour blends are the same. They contain varying amounts of ingredients. Some have xanthan gum, which provides structure and helps baked goods to rise, others do not. I tested my recipe with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-1 Baking Flour.

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