These Cherry Oat Bars combine a slice of cherry pie and cobbler into the most delicious bar and you don’t need a fork to eat it.
These Copycat Starbucks Michigan, Cherry Oat Bars, were the first cherry dessert I loved.
While I love almost every treat at Starbucks, I never tried their Michigan Cherry Oat Bars because I was never too keen on cherries.
My Favorite Kitchen Tools To Make This Recipe
From trusty pots and pans to handy gadgets, I’ve curated a list of products I use and love.
Then, my son Cannon wanted one, and I thought this was the perfect chance for me to try the only item I had not tried at Starbucks. So we ordered it, and I convinced him I needed to try it first to ensure I knew whether he would like it.
Then came that “moment,” many of us can relate to. To lie or not to lie. To lie and tell my son it was horrible, and he would hate it, only to inhale it myself, probably in one or two bites because it is that dang good. Or the truth and tell him it is good and hope that he shares it with me.
I waffled, then took one more little nibble, he glared, I stared and then he said, “mom you’re tricking me”. He could read my mind, so I handed it over, and that was it. He took one bite and exclaimed yum! A few moments later, he handed me the last bite, and I declined to tell him I wanted him to have it, so he did.
I will always cherish simple, sweet moments like these. So, of course, I had to come up with a copycat cherry oat bar recipe. The result? I am happy to report that they are even better than the original.
How to Make your own Cherry Filling
more delicious Dessert bar recipes
Pin To Pinterest.
Copycat Starbucks Michigan Cherry Oat Bars
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups flour
- 1 ½ cups quick oats
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup room temperature butter
- 1 cup cherry filling see below
Cherry Filling
- 3 cups fresh cherries stems and seeds removed
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare Cherry Filling by adding cherries to a small saucepan, stir in sugar, lemon juice, and corn starch. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, once it starts to boil cook for 10 minutes. It should have started to thicken, if not cook for a few more minutes. Once thickened remove from heat and let it sit at room temp until cool. Pour into a bowl and cover, refrigerate until ready to use.
- *I typically will make this a day or two before and set in the fridge until I am ready to make the bars.
- For thin bars, prepare a 9×13 pan; this will have a thicker bottom crust. Spray with cooking spray and then line it with parchment paper.For thicker bars, prepare a 9×9 pan; this will have a thicker bottom crust. Spray with cooking spray and then line it with parchment paper.Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Add all of the dry bar ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix together using your hands.
- Add butter, using a pastry blender or your hands work the mixture into crumbs/pea-sized pieces. It will become a soft and crumbly mixture.
- Add 2/3 of the crumb mixture to the prepared pan and firmly pat down. Then top with cooled cherry filling. Add evenly the remaining crumb mixture on top of the cherries. Place in oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a light golden brown.
- Let bars completely cool. Cut bars into 9-12 serving and serve.
- Store at room temperature or my favorite in the fridge.
there wasn’t enough liquid in the cherry mixture to boil so i kept adding water…. Looks like I’m the only one?
The juice from the cherries should add enough liquid for it to be the right consistency. It should just be enough to bubble and thicken. Maybe try with another batch of cherries, or try frozen ones. Hope this helps!
Such a great combo! Every ingredient works perfectly together !! I have been advised to include oats in my diet due to my medical condition and this recipe is a combo of Simple, quick and healthy. Thanks for sharing
I’ve made these about five times this cherry season and everyone who has tried them has loved them and asked for the recipe.
Thank-you for a great recipe.
This looks like so much fun!
They definitely are! Enjoy!
Topping was super dry and very very crumbly , not sure what I did wrong as followed the recipe to a t.
What should I add more butter or tablespoon soon of water ?
Could not eat as a bar, had to be on a plate .
Cherry mixture was good,
Hi Paula, I’m sorry to hear it turned out crumbly! You can add another tablespoon of butter at a time until you feel like it is too dry next time. Also, be sure to measure the flour by lightly spooning it into the measuring cup and not packing. If it’s packed, it will be too much and may make your baked goods dry. I hope this helps!
I have always loved these, now I can make them at home!
I hope you enjoy!
These Cherry Oat Bars would disappear in our house!
Enjoy!
Taste so much like the original — they taste fantastic! So glad I can make them at home now
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed them!
My kid can’t even stop eating these!! So good and delish!
So glad to hear they love them! Thank you!
I can’t wait to try these!! They look SO GOOD!!
Thank you, I hope you enjoy!
Absolutely amazing!! I am so excited to try these!
Thank you, enjoy!
These look so delicious and scrumptious! My son is going to love these! So excited to make these!
Thank you! I hope you and your son enjoy!
This is my favorite pastry to order from Starbucks! Excited that I can now make this from home; looks amazing!
I hope you enjoy it!
Hi I tried this recipe twice. The first time the crust was not so golden but the bars were delicious neveetheless. So the 2nd time I baked the bottom crust alone for 15mins first, then added the cherry filling and top crust and baked again. But this time the although the bars look golden brown they are extremely crumbly. What holds your bars together after cooling and cutting ?
It seems like the 2nd time around the bottom crust may have dried out from the first bake making it crumbly. The bars won’t turn a very deep golden brown, more of a light/pale color.
My husband just bought cherries this week – I know what we’ll be enjoying this weekend! So. Good!
These cherry bars are the right treat for our often picnics. I am sure my family will love them!
We just made it again and it was a huge hit!! A favorite at my house!
I love this! Will surely try this soon!
These are so much like the Starbucks ones! So delicious.
These cherry oat bars are an absolute favorite here! Such a delicious and yummy treat. We can’t wait to make these again!
Delicious! Made with King Arthur gluten free flour, turned out great!