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.
Notes
Nutrition
Betty says
Can I use raisins and walnuts
Sam says
Absolutely! Enjoy! 🙂
Crissy says
These were delicious! I used a 9 x 13 inch glass pan and they were very thick, I’m glad I used that size! I did not double the recipe! Very delicious, baked for 35 minutes!
Sam says
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Crissy! 🙂
Nancy says
Can I double this recipe & use a 13×9 Baking pan?
Sam says
Hi Nancy! You won’t need to quite double it. I would just increase it by 50%. They may still be a little thicker than they are in the 9 x 9. 🙂
Marieve says
Super bon les enfants ont adoré
Sam says
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them, Marieve! 🙂
nerissa arbis says
Like you, I didn’t want to deal with scooping and shaping cookie dough. So I wanted cookies without making cookies. This is perfect! It was so easy and fast. I loved that I didn’t have to soften butter. 3 cups of oats seemed like a lot as we mixed it in but after baking, it’s just right. Thank you for sharing this great and easy recipe.
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much! Sometimes it’s just too much work to scoop and roll cookies. 🤣
Grace says
I love thees! I am a fan of all of your recipes so when I found thees I just had to give it a try. I am glad I did! I love oatmeal and I love chocolate so thees are perfect! They were a huge hit! Thanks for this recipe!
-Grace
Sugar Spun Run says
Thank you so much, Grace! I am so glad that you have enjoyed the recipes that you have tried so far, including these. Thanks for commenting and for being a fan! I appreciate it! 🙂
Nicole says
I’ve made these a few times. Today I added peanut butter and sliced almonds–so good! Thanks for the recipe.
Sam says
I am so glad you have enjoyed them so much, Nicole! 🙂
Hannah says
Thank you for this delicious recipe! My two-year-old and I made these exactly as the recipe suggests, and they came out very well. I had to give away a bunch so that I wouldn’t eat them all myself!
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Hannah! I am even more impressed with your self control to not eat them all! 🤣
Whitney says
Very gooey and yummy. They remind me of when I was little, Quaker oats used to make breakfast oatmeal raisin cookies that taste like this, but this has chocolate chips. 🙂 Nicely done!
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so happy to hear how much you enjoyed them, Whitney! Thank you for trying my recipe. I am glad that I could bring back sweet memories of your childhood. 🙂
Glenn says
I use this recipe to make bars to take while I’m delivering mail. I tried reducing the sugar and chips but, although they were tolerable, I felt more was in order.
Also, the amount of cinnamon is wholely inadequate for my cinnamon-loving tongue.
Do you have anything for a savory bar that has far less sugar so my gums aren’t aching part-way through my route? I’d like to use the same basic recipe, but I do have flaxmeal and quinoa if you have any recipes with them.
Sam says
I’m sorry Glenn but I don’t have a recipe like what you are describing.
Soyla says
I used quick oats. I followed recipe exactly as stated, plus added coconut. They came out perfect. I love it. Thank you so much.
Sugar Spun Run says
Thank you so much for trying my recipe, Soyla! I am so glad that you enjoyed them. 🙂