Three Oat Bar Recipes Perfect for the School Holidays

School holidays have officially arrived, and that usually means two things in our house, hungry boys and a kitchen that's a little messier than usual. I love having a few simple recipes on hand that the boys can help make. They don't require fancy ingredients, they're easy enough for little hands to join in, and they fill the house with that warm, comforting smell of something baking in the oven.

We recently tried a delicious oat bar recipe from Jess at Inquiring Chef and couldn't resist experimenting with a few different flavour combinations using ingredients we already had in the pantry. The original recipe was already wonderful, but it was so much fun seeing how a few simple changes created something completely different each time.

Whether you're baking with children, grandchildren, or simply looking for an easy afternoon treat, these are well worth adding to your school holiday baking list.

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Classic M&M Oat Bars

Sometimes you simply can't beat the original. Soft, chewy and filled with colourful M&M's, these disappeared almost as quickly as they cooled. They're the perfect combination of comforting and nostalgic, making them a favourite for kids and adults alike. Perfect for lunchboxes, afternoon tea or sharing with friends.

Rainbow Coconut Oat Bars

This was probably the boys' favourite. We added:

• Desiccated coconut

• Vanilla

• M&M's

• A sprinkle of flaky sea salt

The coconut adds a lovely chewy texture, while the sea salt balances the sweetness beautifully. Every bite has a little pop of colour, making these especially fun for school holidays.

White Chocolate & Coconut Oat Bars

For something a little different, we swapped the colourful M&M's for creamy white chocolate while keeping the coconut and vanilla.

The result is soft, buttery and just a little more indulgent. The white chocolate adds a lovely creamy sweetness, while the coconut gives these bars a beautiful texture. This version was definitely a favourite with the grown-ups!

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Ready to give them a try? Here's the simple base recipe we used for all three delicious variations.

The Base Recipe

All three versions start with the same simple oat bar base. From there, you can customise the mix-ins to suit your family (or whatever happens to be in the pantry!).

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain flour

• ¼ tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp fine salt

• ½ cup (115g) butter, melted

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 1 large egg

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup rolled oats

Base Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Line an 8 x 8 inch (20cm) square tin with baking paper.

2. In one bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

3. In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth.

4. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined.

5. Stir in the rolled oats.

6. Stir through your chosen mix-ins.

7. Spread evenly into the prepared tin.

8. Bake for 24 to 28 minutes, or until lightly golden.

9. Allow to cool before slicing into squares.

Choose Your Favourite Mix-In

Classic M&M's

Fold through:

• ½ cup M&M's

Rainbow Coconut

Fold through:

• ½ cup desiccated coconut

• ½ cup M&M's

Sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt before baking.

White Chocolate & Coconut

Fold through:

• ½ cup white chocolate chips (or chopped white chocolate)

• ½ cup desiccated coconut

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More Than Just Baking

My favourite part isn't actually the finished slices. It's having the boys stand on chairs to help stir the mixture, sneaking a few M&M's when they think I'm not looking, and filling the kitchen with laughter (and usually a few crumbs).

Holidays don't need elaborate activities. Sometimes the best memories are made around the kitchen bench.

At Aspen & Fern, we believe home is about more than beautiful linen. It's the little moments too, the smell of baking, sticky fingers helping in the kitchen, slowing down, and making memories together. Those are often the moments we remember most.

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Annette's Tip: I found all three versions stayed lovely and soft for a couple of days in an airtight container, if they lasted that long! My boys gave the Rainbow Coconut version the biggest thumbs up, while I think the White Chocolate & Coconut was my personal favourite.

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We'd Love to Know... If you were baking a batch, which version would you choose?

• 0%🍫 Classic M&M's
• 0%🌈 Rainbow Coconut
• 0%🤍 White Chocolate & Coconut