- VE
Project Meal Plan
April 25, 2026
Projectmealplan.com
Use up leftover cranberry sauce with these Cranberry Pretzel Oat Crumble Bars! Sweet, salty and buttery with a layer of tangy cranberry sauce in the middle – these oven-baked bars are easy to make in just one bowl!
From the Cook
From the Cook
1/3
Instructions
1
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
2
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and 1/2 cup crushed pretzels (save remaining 1/4 cup for topping). Next, add butter cubes and applesauce to the bowl. Use your hands to mix and squish the wet and dry ingredients together completely until a wet crumbly mixture forms.
3
Add about 3 cups of crumble mixture to the prepared pan. Use your fingers to press the mixture into the pan, forming the base layer. Next, spread cranberry sauce in an even layer over the base. Finally, alternate sprinkling the remaining crumble mixture and 1/4 cup pretzels over the cranberry sauce. Lightly press the topping into the cranberry sauce.
4
Bake in the preheated 350F oven for 45-50 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Let the bars cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and continue cooling to room temperature (or chill in the fridge) before cutting.
5
Cut into 12 bars. Serve once cooled and cut. Store leftover bars in an airtight container or wrapped in foil on the counter for up to 5 days.
My Calorie Intake
Review & Earn
Be the first to review this recipe and earn a 20% Bonus
Level up & unlock free Premium by reviewing recipes!
My Notes
Your kitchen notebook is waiting.
Whether it's a recipe tweak or an inspiration burst — jot it down here.
Tips & Tricks (5)
- Toast Your Pretzels for Extra Crunch 🥨Lightly toast the crushed pretzels in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before mixing into the crumble topping to intensify their salty flavor and prevent them from becoming soggy during baking.
- Chill Your Butter Mixture 🧈Refrigerate the crumble topping for 15-20 minutes before spreading over the cranberry layer to ensure it stays clumpy and creates distinct, crispy texture rather than baking into a dense cake.
- Layer Your Fillings Strategically 🍓Mix your cranberry sauce with applesauce in a 2:1 ratio to balance tartness and prevent the filling from being too dense, ensuring it spreads evenly without overwhelming the other flavors.
- Use Fine Sea Salt Strategically ✨Reserve a pinch of fine sea salt to sprinkle directly over the finished bars while still warm to enhance the sweet-salty contrast and make the pretzel flavor pop.
- Cool Completely Before Cutting 🔪Allow bars to cool to room temperature (at least 1 hour) then refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting with a sharp, wet knife for clean edges and perfect presentation.
Recipe Facts
Diet at a Glance
Vegetarian
My Calorie Intake
Smart Nutrition 
Nutrition Per Serving
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Glycemic Analysis
Glycemic Index
Glycemic Load
More Recipes From Project Meal Plan
From the creator of this recipe
More Dessert Recipes
Discover more like this
Recommended Recipes for you
Tailored to your preferences
