These oatmeal cookie bars are a heartier, chewier version of my chocolate chip cookie bars! Buttery, thick, chewy, and chock full of oats and (optional) chocolate pieces, these are easy to make with no mixer required!
Be sure to check out my step-by-step video just below the recipe!
Cookie bars are the ultimate sweet treat for when you really want cookies but are just too lazy to spend an hour scooping cookie dough.
Alright, so they’re really good anytime, but I’ve been there before too many times to count. Some of my favorite recipes were born of sheer laziness and cookie dough scooping fatigue (I’m looking at you, sugar cookie bars).
And while the lazy factor is a big plus for me, the best part is that we sacrifice nothing in terms of taste. These oatmeal cookie bars are like one of my big soft oatmeal cookies, only even thicker and chewier and loaded with a variety of (optional) chocolate chips. Oh and let’s not forget the best part: no chilling and no scooping required!
While you can make these cookie bars “plain” with no add-ins, I love adding chocolate chips or even chopped nuts to mine. For today’s oatmeal cookie bars I used a blend of milk and semisweet chocolate and butterscotch chips.
Occasionally I’ll toss in chopped walnuts as well. My last batch was a mix of walnuts, dark chocolate and caramel chips (here’s where I’d insert the drooling emoji if I could find it on my keyboard).
You can add your favorite add-ins, but I recommend only using about a cup and a half.
If you’re feeling a little lazy yourself this morning (or evening, or whenever you’re reading this) but also hear your sweet tooth calling, this is the dessert for you.
Let me know what you think of it! My sister-in-law loved these and if you like them half as much as she did they’ll be well worth your time.
Enjoy!
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Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter melted (226g)
- 1 cup light brown sugar tightly packed (200g)
- 1/2 cup sugar 100g
- 2 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 157g
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch cornflour in UK
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats 285g
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips optional, I did a mix of semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips (255g)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line a 9x9 metal baking pan with parchment paper or grease and flour the sides and bottom of the pan.*
- Combine butter and sugars in a large bowl and stir until well-combined.
- Add eggs and vanilla extract and stir well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon (if using).
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet until completely combined.
- Add oats and chocolate chips and stir until well combined.
- Spread cookie dough evenly into prepared baking pan and bake on 350F (175C) for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Elise says
Momy messsed thme up.
Sugar Spun Run says
Oh no! I am so sorry to hear that, Elise! 🙁
Patricia says
Hi. I just finished making these bars. Oh so chewy. I added a few raisins along with the chips. I luv this recipe. I know my co-workers will enjoy. I just luv to bake. Thanks for sharing your recipes along with your videos.
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so glad that you loved them, Patricia, I hope that your coworkers will too. Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. I appreciate it! 🙂
C says
Verrrry Goood! These are yummy. Added nuts, coconut, and ground flaxseed meal so I cut back on amount of oatmeal to accomodate extra add-ins. Really perfect. Had to freeze for portion control and thawed perfectly. Give these a try.
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so glad that you enjoyed the oatmeal cookie bars! Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Dianne says
What can I substitute for the corn starch?
Thank you!
Dianne
Sam says
Hi Dianne! You can leave it out if you don’t have it. I hope you love the bars!
Karen Cook says
Hey I just made the oatmeal bars. They are so good. I had to make myself quit eating them. I used a glass pan and had to add 8 more minutes. I also use an electric stove. I am a senior citizen and thought your video was right to the spot. Older minds seem to not quite remember the best way to mix the ingredients. Thank you.
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so glad that you enjoyed the oatmeal cookie bars, Karen! It is hard to have just one that is for sure! I am happy that you found the video helpful and that the directions were spot on. Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Dawn Hoffman says
Oatmeal bars are delicious! The only change I made was 1 cup raisens & 1 cup dark chocolate chips (my preference). Yummy!
Thank you!
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so glad that you enjoyed the oatmeal bars, Dawn! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Dee says
Seriously? Three cups of oats?! Terrible, dry,
I should have realized…and I followed the recipe, waste of good ingredients
Sam says
Hmm, the 3 cups of oats is correct. As you can see from the photos and the video the cookie bars did not turn out at all dry for me and no one else has reported this problem, is it possible another ingredient was measured incorrectly? Or if you used quick oats instead of the old fashioned ones that could make the bars dry too.
Simone says
OMG!!!! SO DELICIOUS!!! My kids loved it, I loved it!! My 2 year old said “Fumbs up mommy!!”
Sam says
Aww, so glad to hear the cookie bars were such a success for everyone! Thank you so much for letting me know how they turned out for you, Simone 🙂
Yvonne says
Hi! I am making these tonight and I only have quick oats. What will the texture be like if I use them? Thank you!
Sam says
Hi Yvonne, I think they would be a bit more dense, a bit more dry, and a bit less chewy with quick oats.
Susan says
There yummy doubled batch and made 9×13 pan.
Sugar Spun Run says
Thank you so much, Susan! I am so glad that you enjoyed the Oatmeal Cookie Bars. 🙂
ROSE says
WOULD QUICK OATS WORK BY DENSE DO YOU MEAN DRY
Sam says
You can use quick oats, but the texture won’t quite be the same, and by dense I mean they are not light and fluffy cookies. They are not a dry cookie. 🙂