Dessert

Fruit Oat and Pretzel Bars Recipe

ByHailey Reed October 27, 2025October 27, 2025

Introduction

These Any Fruit Oat and Pretzel Bars are a delightful blend of salty and sweet, featuring a crunchy pretzel base, chewy oats, and a fruity jam filling. Perfect for a snack or dessert, they are easy to make and customizable with your favorite berries and jam.

The image shows a rectangular crumb bar dessert cut into sixteen squares arranged on parchment paper, which is laid on a wooden board. Each bar has three visible layers: a golden brown crumbly oat crust at the bottom, a glossy deep red raspberry jam filling in the middle with some whole raspberries visible, and a top layer of uneven golden brown streusel crumb topping. The bars have a textured, crunchy look with some jam slightly oozing out. A single fresh raspberry sits beside one of the bars near a knife with a wooden handle. In the background, there is a large deep red peony flower resting on a surface with a white marbled texture. Sunlight casts warm shadows across the scene, enhancing the rich colors and textures. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

4 cups salted mini pretzels
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
1/4 – 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks salted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
10-12 ounces jam (strawberry, blackberry, or blueberry)
1/2 cup fresh berries (chopped strawberries, raspberries, etc.)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 2: Using a food processor or blender, grind the pretzels into a fine powder or flour. Measure out 1 cup of this pretzel flour and place it into a large bowl.
Step 3: Add the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt to the bowl with the pretzel flour. Add the butter and vanilla extract, then beat together until the mixture is well combined.
Step 4: Press about one-third of the dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the base.
Step 5: Spread the jam evenly over this dough layer, then scatter the fresh berries on top.
Step 6: Crumble the remaining dough over the jam and berry layer.
Step 7: Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown.
Step 8: Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares.

Tips & Variations

For extra crunch, lightly toast the oats before mixing them in.
Use your favorite jam flavor to customize the bars to your liking.
Substitute the fresh berries with chopped dried fruit for a different texture.
Reduce brown sugar slightly if you prefer a less sweet bar.

Storage

Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. To keep them longer, refrigerate for up to two weeks or freeze for up to three months. Warm bars slightly before serving to soften the jam filling.

How to Serve

The image shows a batch of raspberry crumble bars cut into rectangles and squares arranged on baking paper on a wooden board. Each bar has three visible layers: a crumbly, golden-brown oat crust at the bottom, a bright red and slightly glossy raspberry jam filling in the middle with visible raspberry pieces, and a rough, golden crumb topping scattered unevenly on top. A single fresh raspberry sits near the bottom center beside a knife with a wooden handle, placed on the wooden board. In the soft light, the bars cast shadows on the white marbled textured surface beneath, with a deep red peony flower partially visible at the top left corner. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use gluten-free pretzels for this recipe?

Yes, gluten-free pretzels can be used to make this recipe suitable for gluten-free diets. Just ensure all other ingredients, like oats, are certified gluten-free.

Can I make these bars without a food processor?

If you don’t have a food processor, place the pretzels in a sealed plastic bag and crush them finely with a rolling pin or heavy pan. It may take a bit more effort but works well.