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These Starbucks copycat Michigan cherry oat bars are packed with sweet dark cherries and topped with a buttery crumble that melts in your mouth. Made with pantry staples and bursting with bright cherry flavor, these bars are the perfect make-ahead snack or dessert. Whether served warm or at room temperature, they strike the perfect balance between tart fruit and tender, cinnamon-spiced crust. If you’re a fan of Starbucks’ version, you’re going to love this homemade take even more.

Cherry oat bar on plate.

These Starbucks copycat Michigan cherry oat bars are filled with sweet dark cherries and layered with buttery cinnamon-spiced crumble. They’re so tender and tasty.

Also try apple cinnamon muffins, cherry cheesecake egg rolls, lemon poppy seed muffins, and strawberry oatmeal bars.

A slice of berry crumble, inspired by Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars, is topped with vanilla ice cream and sits on a white plate with a fork.

Why You’ll Love It

Easy to make: The crust and topping are made from the same dough, keeping prep simple.
Big cherry flavor: The homemade filling is packed with juicy cherries and a touch of almond.
Bakery-style at home: You get the Starbucks treat without the price tag.
Versatile: Serve warm, room temperature or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

A slice of berry crumble, inspired by a Starbucks copycat recipe, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a white plate with a fork—deliciously reminiscent of oatmeal bars with cherry filling made from frozen cherries.

Cherry Oat Bars Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

All purpose flour: Forms the structure of the crust and crumble.
Unsalted butter: Adds rich flavor and creates a tender, crumbly texture.
Brown sugar and granulated sugar: Bring sweetness and depth to the crust and topping.
Oats: Add texture and a bit of chew to the topping.
Egg: Binds the crust and helps with structure.
Vanilla extract: Adds a sweet aromatic flavor.
Baking powder: Gets the texture just right.
Cinnamon: Adds a warm, earthy flavor.
Cherries: The sweet, juicy center of the bars.
Cornstarch and lemon juice: To thicken and brighten the cherry filling.
Almond extract: Enhances the flavor of the cherries with a subtle nuttiness.

Baking ingredients on a marble surface: flour, oats, frozen cherries, butter, egg, sugars, spices, and small bowls—perfect for whipping up Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars or your favorite cherry pie bars.

How to Make Starbucks Copycat Oat Bars

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Make the cherry filling: Combine filling ingredients in a saucepan and cook until thickened.
Prepare the base mixture: Mix dry ingredients, cut in butter, then add egg and vanilla to form a crumbly dough.
Layer the crust: Press two-thirds of the mixture into the bottom of a greased baking dish.
Add the oats: Stir oats into the remaining dough for the topping.
Assemble and bake: Spread cherry filling over the crust, top with oat mixture, then bake until golden.
Cool and serve: Let bars cool before slicing and serve warm or at room temperature.

A close-up of a cherry pie bar, packed with frozen cherries, being lifted from a glass baking dish with a metal spatula—just like the Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars.

Substitutions and Variations

Use fresh cherries: If in season, pitted fresh cherries can replace frozen.
Swap the extract: Use vanilla extract instead of almond if preferred.
Add nuts: Mix chopped pecans or almonds into the topping for extra crunch.
Make it gluten-free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten-free oats.

A dessert bar inspired by Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars, featuring berry filling and crumb topping, served with vanilla ice cream on a white plate.

Serving Suggestions

With a cold drink: Enjoy one of these tasty bars with a Jamba Juice style mango-a-go-go smoothie, or perhaps sparkling strawberry lemonade. Or stay with the Starbucks theme by serving up a Starbucks pink drink or perhaps an iced gingerbread latte or peach black tea lemonade.
With a hot drink: Try this hot lavender matcha latte.

A fork holds a bite of berry crumble with oats, reminiscent of Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars, with more crumble and ice cream blurred in the background.

How to Store Michigan Cherry Oat Bars

Store: They will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Freeze: You can freeze the bars for up to 2 months.
Thaw: Let them sit on the countertop for 20 to 30 minutes and they should thaw out perfectly.

A spatula lifts a crumbly cherry pie bar above a plate with another bar topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream—a delicious Starbucks copycat recipe.

Top Tips

Use cold butter: Cold cubes cut into the flour help create that crumbly texture.
Don’t skip the thickening step: Cornstarch gives the filling its jam-like consistency.
Line your pan with parchment: This helps with easy removal and cleaner slicing.
Cool before cutting: Bars hold together better after they’ve cooled.

A dessert bar inspired by a Starbucks copycat recipe, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a white plate, with more oatmeal bars with cherry filling in the background.

Starbucks Michigan Cherry Oat Bars FAQs

What kind of cherries should I use for cherry pie bars?

The recipe calls for frozen dark cherries but you can use frozen red cherries or even fresh ones as long as you pit them (nobody wants to bite down on a cherry stone!) If you only have sour cherries, those would work too but in that case I recommend you add an extra couple of tablespoons of sugar and only add half as much lemon juice, to make up for it.

What about canned cherry pie filling?

You could use this but it’s sweeter and softer. The homemade version gives a fresher flavor.

Do I need to thaw the frozen cherries first?

No, just cook them straight from frozen in the saucepan as directed.

Can I use quick oats instead of regular oats?

Yes, but the topping may be slightly less textured.

A slice of Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bar sits on a white plate, with more bars and a baking dish in the background.

Starbucks Michigan Cherry Oat Bars Recipe

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a recipe for copycat Starbucks Michigan cherry oat bars. These oatmeal bars with cherry filling are made with frozen cherries.
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5 from 6 votes

Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars

By: Bella Bucchiotti
These cherry oat bars are sweet, buttery and layered with homemade cherry filling. They’re easy to make and perfect for snacking or dessert.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 15

Equipment

Ingredients 

For the Bars

For the Filling

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a saucepan combine all of the filling ingredients. Mix well.
  • Heat the filling on medium high heat. As the cherries thaw, use a spatula to break them up by pressing them into the bottom or side of the pan. Stir the filling to make sure the bottom does not burn. Once the filling is hot and has nice thick consistency, remove from heat and set aside.
  • Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with butter.
  • In a bowl mix together all of the bar’s dry ingredients, except for the oats.
  • Cut the cold butter into small cubes, add into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
  • Using a pastry cutter, or your fingers, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it becomes a sandy shaggy texture.
  • Add in the egg and vanilla, continue to mix with your hands or a pastry cutter until it is fully combined.
  • Spoon approximately ⅔ of the mixture into the bottom of your greased 9×13 pan.
  • Gently press the mixture down into the bottom of the pan to create an even, flat, compressed layer of the bar.
  • Add the oats to the bowl with the remaining bar mixture and mix thoroughly.
  • Pour the cherry filling over the top of the compressed layer in the pan.
  • Sprinkle the oat mixture on top of the cherry layer.
  • Bake at 375 degrees F for approximately 30 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven when finished cooking. Let bars cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting.
  • These bars can be served warm or room temperature, as they are or with ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

Use cold butter: Cold cubes cut into the flour help create that crumbly texture.
Don’t skip the thickening step: Cornstarch gives the filling its jam-like consistency.
Line your pan with parchment: This helps with easy removal and cleaner slicing.
Cool before cutting: Bars hold together better after they’ve cooled.

Nutrition

Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 424IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!
Baking ingredients on a marble surface: flour, oats, frozen cherries, butter, egg, sugars, spices, and small bowls—perfect for whipping up Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars or your favorite cherry pie bars.
Cherries with sugar in a saucepan, surrounded by bowls of flour, oats, spices, and brown sugar on a marble counter—perfect for making Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars or oatmeal bars with cherry filling.
A bowl with brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, flour, baking soda, and salt—just the start for delicious Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars—surrounded by empty bowls waiting for frozen cherries.
Glass dish with crumb topping, bowl of oats, crumb mixture, eggshells, and glass bowls on marble—perfect for making Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars or your favorite cherry pie bars.
A pot pours thick, dark berry filling made with frozen cherries onto a crumbly crust in a glass baking dish—perfect for cherry pie bars inspired by your favorite Starbucks copycat recipe.
A glass baking dish filled with oat crumble topping for oatmeal bars with cherry filling sits on a marble countertop, next to an empty eggshell.

These Starbucks copycat Michigan cherry oat bars are easy to make and full of fresh cherry flavor. The tart-sweet filling, spiced crust and oat topping all come together to create a bakery-style treat you can enjoy at home. Whether you serve them for dessert, bring them to a gathering or enjoy them with a cup of coffee, these bars are satisfying, simple and sure to impress anyone who takes a bite.

Other Recipes to Try

A cherry oat bar with crumb topping sits on a plate, inspired by a Starbucks copycat recipe, with more cherry pie bars and a baking dish in the background—perfectly made with frozen cherries.
Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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Recipe Rating




5 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

6 Comments

  2. 5 stars
    I always love when I can find a recipe that lets me make my favorite restaurant treats at home. This was spot on!

    Reply

  5. There’s nothing like Michigan cherries! Lived there for years. And oatmeal is a miracle food for me, so I am making these yummy bars!!! 🙂

    Reply