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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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Starbucks Michigan Cherry Oat Bars FAQs
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.
You could use this but it’s sweeter and softer. The homemade version gives a fresher flavor.
No, just cook them straight from frozen in the saucepan as directed.
Yes, but the topping may be slightly less textured.
Starbucks Michigan Cherry Oat Bars Recipe
Starbucks Copycat Michigan Cherry Oat Bars
Equipment
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon
- Baking Dish 9 x 13-Inch
- Pastry Cutter Optional
Ingredients
For the Bars
- 2 ¾ Cups all purpose flour
- 1 Cup unsalted butter, cold
- ¾ Cup brown sugar
- ½ Cup granulated sugar
- ½ Cup oats
- 1 egg, large
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Teaspoon baking powder
- 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ Teaspoon salt
For the Filling
- 24 Ounces dark cherries, frozen, pitted
- ½ Cup granulated sugar
- ¼ Cup water
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ Teaspoon almond extract
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
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
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
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.
This looks absolutely amazing and perfect for brunch
I always love when I can find a recipe that lets me make my favorite restaurant treats at home. This was spot on!
Oh yes, I’d love these desserts. I’m a huge fan of cherries.
I know the right person to pass this on to. Love it.
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!!! 🙂
Oh I need to try. I am sad they don’t have these year round.