You know those days when you just need something sweet, comforting, and easy to make?
That’s when these oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars come to the rescue.
The dreamy combo of chewy oats and melty chocolate is pretty darn irresistible.
And you can even toss in some nuts or coconut for extra texture if you like!
Why You’ll Love These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Quick & Easy Prep: These bars require minimal effort, with only a couple of bowls for measuring and mixing, making cleanup a breeze for busy bakers.
Perfect for Sharing: The 9×13-inch pan size yields plenty of bars. So they’re ideal for potlucks, parties, or gifting to friends and family.
Loaded with Chocolate Chips: Each bite is filled with gooey chocolate chips for maximum chocolatey goodness.
Deliciously Rich Taste: The buttery base and sweet brown sugar create a decadent treat. These will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Ingredients
- Old-Fashioned Oats: These hearty rolled oats hold their shape during baking, and add a rustic, wholesome element to the cookie bars.
- All-Purpose Flour: Adds structure and helps bind the bars.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: So the bars aren’t too dense.
- Salt & Vanilla Extract: Enhance the overall flavor and balance the sweetness.
- Unsalted Butter: Provides a rich, creamy flavor and helps create a tender texture.
- Granulated & Brown Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness and crisp texture, while brown sugar brings moisture, depth, and a caramel-like flavor.
- Eggs: They act as a binding agent, provide structure, and help create a rich, moist cookie consistency.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Provide bursts of rich chocolate flavor and gooey pockets of melty goodness.
How to Make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Imagine your favorite chocolate chip oatmeal cookies transformed into perfectly chewy, golden-edged bars.
Ready in half the time, there’s no scooping or multiple batches required!
Here’s how to make them:
1. PREHEAT the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. BEAT the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Blend in the eggs and vanilla until smooth.
3. MIX in the oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the chocolate chips and mix until no flour streaks remain.
4. PRESS the cookie dough evenly in the baking pan and bake for 22-28 minutes until the edges are golden brown.
5. COOL the bars completely in the pan before cutting. Enjoy!
Tips For the Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
The combination of chewy oats, cookie texture, and chocolate in this recipe creates a wonderfully nostalgic bakery taste.
Meanwhile, the bar format makes them ideal for everything from lunchboxes to late-night cravings.
Never made cookie bars before? No worries – just read these tips.
- Use good chocolate. I like Guittard semi-sweet chocolate chips but you can also chop up a chocolate bar if you prefer.
- The best oats. Use old-fashioned oats for a heartier texture. Quick oats may make the bars too soft.
- Measure the flour correctly. Use the spoon-and-level method to avoid packing in too much flour, which can make the bars dry.
- Try browned butter. Warm it over low heat until nutty and golden. Let it cool completely before mixing.
- Optional mix-ins. Add 1/2 cup of chopped nuts, shredded coconut, or dried cranberries for added texture and flavor variety.
How to Store
These oatmeal cookie bars are super versatile.
Want them warm and melty? Go for it. Prefer them chilled with a little snap? They’re amazing that way too.
You can even double the recipe and save some for later.
To Store: Place cooled leftovers in an airtight container with wax paper between the layers. Store at room temperature for 4-5 days or in the fridge for a week.
To Freeze: Wrap individual bars or the whole slab tightly in plastic wrap. Place in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw on the counter until soft.
More Cookie Bars You’ll Love
Magic Cookie Bars
Monster Cookie Bars
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
24
servings20
minutes25
minutes250
kcalWith a fun blend of hearty oats and sweet, gooey chocolate, these soft and chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars are the ultimate treat!
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce the speed to low and blend in the eggs and vanilla until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, mix the oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix gently by hand until about halfway combined. Add the chocolate chips and mix just until no streaks of flour are visible.
- Spread the cookie dough evenly in the baking pan. Use a spatula to press the dough down and smooth the surface.
- Bake for 22-28 minutes until the edges are golden brown. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares. For clean cuts, chill the bars briefly in the fridge. Enjoy!
Notes
- The best oats. Use old-fashioned oats for a heartier texture. Quick oats may make the bars too soft.
- Measure the flour correctly. Use the spoon-and-level method to avoid packing in too much flour, which can make the bars dry.
