Cranberry Oatmeal Bars
Whether you’ve got leftover frozen cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving or need a quick tray of treats to bring to a holiday gathering 🎄
These Cranberry Oatmeal Bars are a simple, nourishing option. They can be baked as a whole pan to share or individually packaged for grab-and-go gifts.
From a TCM perspective, cranberries help clear heat and support urinary health, oats strengthen the spleen and calm the spirit, and cinnamon warms the body and moves qi — all functional ingredients that balance the colder, heavier energy of the season. 🌿✨
Cranberry Oatmeal Bars
INGREDIENTS
2 cups rolled oats (strengthens spleen, calms spirit)
1 ½ cups flour (all-purpose or whole wheat)
1 cup brown sugar
¾ cup butter or coconut oil, melted
1 tsp cinnamon (warms yang, moves qi)
½ tsp baking soda
2 cups cranberry sauce (leftover or fresh; clears heat, supports fluids)
Optional: nuts or seeds (yang support, grounding energy)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking soda.
Add butter/oil: Stir in melted butter until mixture is crumbly.
Layer base: Press half the mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
Spread cranberry sauce evenly over the base.
Top layer: Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over cranberries, pressing lightly.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown.
Cool & cut into bars. Serve warm or package individually for gifting.
photo and recipe inspiration to Cook the Story
