These fantastic Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars have whole berry cranberry sauce and sweet cheesecake sandwiched between oatmeal crumbs on the top and bottom. Super easy to bake – and super delicious!
Easy Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
When my husband Jack first saw me making these Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars, he said, “Oh YUM! All of my favorite things in one dessert.” He’s right – oatmeal, cranberries, and cheesecake – all in one delicious dessert bar, IS truly a winning combination!
These easy bars start with sweet oatmeal crumbs that are pressed down to make the bottom crust. Then a layer of cream cheese filling, with hints of lemon and vanilla, is spread over the crust.
Next, dollops of whole berry cranberry sauce are swirled into the cream cheese layer. And finally, more of the oatmeal cookie crumbs are sprinkled on top before baking until golden brown.
These Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars are moist and sweet with a touch of tartness from the cranberries, and the sweet oatmeal crumble is the perfect light topping and crust.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Oatmeal – Use quick-cooking oats in this recipe. (They are smaller and have been steamed for longer during the manufacturing process so they cook faster in baked goods like this recipe.)
- All-Purpose Flour
- Unsalted Butter
- Sugar – You’ll use both light brown sugar and granulated sugar in this recipe.
- Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce – You can use either canned whole berry cranberry sauce (this recipe is a great way to use up leftovers after Thanksgiving), or make a fresh batch of our homemade cranberry sauce instead.
- Cream Cheese
- Eggs
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Vanilla Extract
- Corn Starch
Tips and Tricks
- Although you’ll want to cool the pan after baking so it’s firm enough to cut into bars, we think these Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars are the best when the cheesecake is still slightly warm.
Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
These fantastic Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars have whole berry cranberry sauce and sweet cheesecake sandwiched between oatmeal crumbs on the top and bottom. Super easy to bake – and super delicious!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 55 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 24 pieces 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: New England
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
- 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 12 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 16–ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce or homemade whole berry cranberry sauce
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the flour, oatmeal, and brown sugar. Add the softened butter to the mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Measure out 1 ½ cups of the crumb mixture and set aside in a separate bowl.
- Pour the remaining crumbs into the prepared baking dish and press evenly into the bottom of the dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, in the same bowl of the stand mixer, cream the softened cream cheese and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract and mix well.
- Also while the crust is baking, in a small bowl, combine the cranberry sauce and cornstarch and mix thoroughly.
- When the crust is done baking, remove from the oven and pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the crust. Then spoon the cranberry mixture evenly over the cream cheese mixture, spreading gently with the back of a spoon so that it is evenly coated. Then sprinkle the reserved oatmeal crumbs over the top of the cranberry mixture.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until completely set and very lightly golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate the baking dish for at least 3 hours so that the bars can firm up.
- Once chilled, cut into bars and serve.
This Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars recipe originally appeared on A Family Feast in October 2013. We’ve updated the post and photos but the delicious recipe remains the same.
Recipe adapted from one originally published in Better Homes & Gardens magazine. Marta Chavatel of Timonium, Maryland won $400 in the magazine’s monthly recipe contest in the Best Brownies and Bar Cookies category.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars ahead of time? Yes, you can.
- How do I store leftovers? Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to four days.
- Can I freeze these dessert bars? Yes, you can. Since the bars can be a little crumbly, we suggest that you freeze them in a freezer-safe container.
You might like these other delicious Cranberry Recipes
Click here for more delicious Brownies and Dessert Bars
Would regular rolled oats work (I don’t have quick oats)
The bars might be a little chewier but in general it will work.
These bars are so so good! I will make them every Christmas. I sprayed pan with Pam but had a hard time getting first bar out. I think I will line pan with parchment paper. Excellent!
Thanks Pam – Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Holy Mother of pearl, best dessert ever!! This is coming from someone who is not a seasoned Baker, the recipe was so easy to follow and easy to make. You should have seen the look on my husband’s face. This is a recipe I will be taking with me to the Grave
Thanks Nikole! So glad you enjoyed these bars as much as we do.
Made these bars and they are delicious!!
Thanks Pam – glad you enjoyed the recipe!
This recipe sounds yummy. Is it okay to freeze it?
Hi Rose – We haven’t tried freezing these ourselves, but I do think they will be OK to freeze. I’d suggest freezing them in a single layer or with parchment paper between the layers.
These bars look deelish and so festive. Could leftovers be frozen? Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Vicky – I think they’d be fine to freeze. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Can an electric hand mixer be used rather than a stand mixer?
Yes – no problem
Can I add raisins?
Sure Rachel – if you’d like!
talk about yummy, and so easy to put together, love it ‘ thanks for share 🙂 @tisonlyme143
Thanks Dorothy!