4.85 from 40 reviews

Easy California Prune Oatmeal Squares

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easy oatmeal prune squares on parchment paper

This post has been sponsored by The California Prune Board. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Kroll’s Korner running!

Creating these Easy California Prune Oatmeal Squares

I know what you are thinking…and the answer is no, they are not just your grandmother’s favorite food!

I recently visited a prune orchard and drying facility in California and fell even more in love with prunes and prunes benefits.

California Prunes have a place in everyone’s diet: toddlers, teens, adults and elderly. That’s why I adore these bars because I can make them for all audiences; my nephew, my friends or the grandparents in my life. 

step by step photos of how to make prune bars

California Prune Nutrition and Facts: 

Prunes benefits…

  • Research says consuming 5-6 prunes a day may support healthy bones.
  • Prunes support good gut health.
  • Boosting antioxidant intake can help provide added protection against heart, eye, memory and immune systems. 
  • California Prunes taste and pair like no other prunes in the world. They are fresh and sweet, have a reliable consistency and have a rich, smooth mouthfeel. 
  • A serving of 4-5 prunes has 280 mg potassium and 23 mcg of vitamin K. Potassium helps muscles contract and vitamin K helps to improve calcium balance & promotes bone mineralization. 
prune bars on parchment paper

I’ve incorporated prunes into a handful of recipes on Kroll’s Korner including my Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies, Ham & Cheese Puff Pastry, and Creamy Chocolate Smoothie!

Be sure to check out California Prunes online and on social media! Learn more about Prunes here!

Ingredients to make these California Prune Oatmeal Squares

(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)

  • California Prunes
  • Lemon Juice
  • Brown sugar 
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Cinnamon
  • Quick cook oats
  • Flour
  • Unsalted butter, softened
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt
prune oatmeal bars on parchment paper

How to make California Prune Oatmeal Squares

(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below) 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray an 8×8 inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
  2. Make the prune filling next: in a food processor, process 8 oz. of California Prunes with ¼ cup lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Process for 1-2 minutes or until prunes are blended well into a paste. 
  3. Make the oatmeal crumb mixture next: In a medium sized bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients: oatmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. 
  4. Take the softened butter and using clean hands, mix into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press half of the oatmeal mixture down into the pan to create the base layer. 
  5. Evenly spread the prune mixture across the bottom oatmeal layer.
  6. Then gently press the remaining crumb mixture on top.
  7. Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let cool completely and then cut into squares. 
  8. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or freeze for up to 2 months. 
prune oatmeal bars on parchment paper

Other ways to enjoy California Prunes

  • They go well with proteins such as chicken or fish
  • Grains; perfect in focaccia bread, diced in pilaf or couscous, or on cereal
  • Add chopped prunes to your salads
  • Cook them down to make sauces
  • Incorporate them into baked goods such as muffins or cookies.

These Oatmeal California Prune Squares are…

  • Simple to make
  • Only require 10 ingredients 
  • A perfect treat for all ages
  • Flavorful and ultra-tasty
  • Sweet, but not too sweet. They’re just right!
  • Great for someone new to prunes!

Have you baked using prunes before?

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

easy oatmeal prune squares on parchment paper
4.85 from 40 reviews

Easy California Prune Oatmeal Squares

Prep: 10 minutes
cooling time: 30 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 9 bars
These prune bars are filled with a delicious prune paste made from fresh California Prunes. They have a delicious oatmeal crumble and just the right amount of sweetness in each bite!

Ingredients

For the California Prune filling

  • 8 oz. California Prunes, pitted and dried
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

For the oatmeal crumb topping

  • 1 1/2 cups quick cook oatmeal, dry
  • 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed (or coconut sugar)
  • 1 1/2 sticks butter, unsalted and softened (12 Tbsp.)
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt

Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 350° F. Spray an 8×8 inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
  • Remove butter from fridge to soften.
  • Make the prune filling: in a food processor, process 8 oz. of California Prunes (chop them into smaller pieces if needed) with ¼ cup lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Process for 1-2 minutes or until prunes are blended well into a paste. 
    8 oz. California Prunes, pitted and dried, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar), 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • Make the oatmeal crumb mixture next: In a medium sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients: oats, flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. 
    1 1/2 cups quick cook oatmeal, dry, 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose flour, 1 cup brown sugar, packed (or coconut sugar), 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt
  • With clean hands, mix softened butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press half of the oatmeal mixture down into the pan to crease the crust layer.
    1 1/2 sticks butter, unsalted and softened (12 Tbsp.)
  • Evenly spread the prune mixture on top.
  • Then sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top and press lightly into the prune paste. 
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let cool completely and then cut into squares. 

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Nutrition Information

Serving: 1bar, Calories: 387kcal (19%), Carbohydrates: 57.7g (19%), Protein: 4.5g (9%)

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Krolls Korner

Krolls Korner

Welcome to my tiny “korner” on the Internet! I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves cookies as much as kale. (OK, maybe I like cookies a little bit more but shh, don’t tell anyone). I am so glad you’re here! Follow along for hassle free, realistic and approachable recipes.

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Tanja

Sooooooo good I used one lemon because it’s all I had and I have plenty of lemon taste and I used 1 stick of butter and it worked great…. Very tasty

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traci

This is a fabulous recipe. I did use orange juice instead of lemon, but that was the only change.

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Liz

I love this recipe! It was easy, though I needed to use a can of prune (lekvar) filling that was still in my cupboard, left over from last year’s holiday baking. My husband and son are not big fans of prunes, but they said it was good.
Thank you for this winner!

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Jenn

Hello, I am interested in making this recipe, but only have fresh prunes, is it possible to make this with fresh prunes?

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Amanda

Came together super easy. Next time I will add no sugar or cinnamon to the filling. Prunes are sweet enough!

Pam

Absolutely delicious! Great way to incorporate prunes into something so yummy ! I’m cooking a batch now – doubled the recipe and put in a larger baking dish. I’m trying some walnuts in the top crust with this batch ! Thanks for the great recipe !

Claire

These are delicious! I added some toasted chopped walnuts into the crumble mixture

Lori

These are soooooo good!!! I’ve made them with date filling and apple butter filling, too!

David RONALD

This has become my ‘go-to’ recipe for this style of squares because of its versatility and texture and because they taste so good. The high levels of sugar are reduced with the the substitution of stevia, including omitting the lemon and sugar in the filling. Perhaps some extra butter but it is straightforward altering the recipe. But with the onset of pre-diabetes, I need to make my recipes as healthy as possible and that means completely substituting the all-purpose flour for oat flour or similar. Have you tried using oat flour and if so, in what quantities? I am being lazy of course, I could experiment for myself but any help, by you or other readers, would be appreciated. Many thanks. David Ronald. PS. Happy Easter.

Nanna

I just love this recipe. It’s so delicious I could eat it all day. Thank you for an Awesome recipe.