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
Julia says
June 9, 2019 at 2:55 pmHi Sam! I adore this recipe (and so does everybody else who has tried these bars). Thanks so much for converting the measurements for your readers from the UK – much appreciated!
Sam says
June 9, 2019 at 9:15 pmI am so glad everyone enjoys them, Julia! 🙂
Annmarie says
May 28, 2019 at 9:46 pmThank you for converting recipe to use here in the UK xx
I did find the bottom of my bake was ver6 dark nearly burnt any ideas how to stop this on my next bake?
Sam says
May 29, 2019 at 10:25 pmHi Annmarie! I am so sorry that happened. If the bottom of the cookie bars are burning I think your oven temperature may be a little high. If you have an oven thermometer, you can monitor the temperature to make sure it doesn’t happen again. 🙂
Elizabeth says
May 22, 2019 at 5:10 pmHaven’t tried these yet but I love me some chocolate. Was wondering if adding cocoa powder would make a difference
Sam says
May 22, 2019 at 9:31 pmHi Elizabeth! If you added cocoa powder, you would probably need to cut some of the flour. I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure how to adjust the ratios here. If you try it, let me know how it goes! 🙂
Terry C says
May 6, 2019 at 3:03 amI personally would keep the butter, but we have a family member that doesn’t do dairy. How about subbing canola oil. I’m sure it will alter the richness of the bars some but hopefully with adding mini chocolate chips (which are of course vegan & we really can’t tell the difference) and pecans they could still be pretty good. What do you think?
Thanks for the recipe. Can’t wait to make these in the morning!
Sam says
May 6, 2019 at 9:09 pmHi Terry! I think it could work. Let me know how it turns out for you if you try it. 🙂
Jael says
May 27, 2019 at 5:14 pmYou could use coconut oil, with a little salt.
Morghan says
April 20, 2019 at 2:42 pmThey were so good!!
Sam says
April 20, 2019 at 3:14 pmI am so glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
THESPINA LAOUDIKOS says
April 1, 2019 at 5:44 amI am definitely going to try this… I was wondering if cutting some of the sugar would be ok?
Sam says
April 1, 2019 at 2:32 pmHi Thespina! I haven’t tried it, but I think that would work, however, it will alter the final flavor.
Courtney says
March 10, 2019 at 3:16 pmHi Sam! I absolutely LOVE your recipes and videos! Two questions…Would margarine work for this recipe, and what modifications are needed to make these in a 9×13 pan??? Thanks!!!
Sam says
March 10, 2019 at 8:47 pmHi Courtney! I think the margarine would work here. You could put the batter in a 9 x 13 without doing anything else, but the bars would be thinner and you would need to cook them for less time. To keep the same thickness, you would need to increase the recipe by 25%-33%, and increase the bake time. I don’t know how long they would need to bake in a 9 x 13 though.
Courtney says
March 14, 2019 at 10:05 pmI’ll give it a try and let you know how it goes. Thanks So Much!!!
cyndee says
February 28, 2019 at 4:52 pmThese Oatmeal Cookie Bars came out wonderful! The only thing I changed, I added 1 cup of chopped pecans. This recipe is a keeper! Thank You!
Sam says
February 28, 2019 at 9:00 pmI am so glad you enjoyed them, Cyndee! 🙂
Maureen says
February 12, 2019 at 6:56 pmMy family loved these. We used all semi chocolate chips and they were delicious.
Sam says
February 12, 2019 at 8:12 pmI am so glad everyone enjoyed them, Maureen! 🙂
Stephanie says
February 12, 2019 at 3:49 pmHave you ever made them with quick oats? Was wondering if that would make them to dense?
Sam says
February 12, 2019 at 8:22 pmHi Stephanie! Quick oats would probably work, but this is a pretty dense cookie bar to start.
Anne says
February 3, 2019 at 2:15 pmOh Boy…I picked this recipe because it seemed just what I wanted…to cut and send to someone who needs some comfort goodies… taste good, better then good…but they crumbled…not salvageable to send…disappointed.
Sam says
February 3, 2019 at 8:16 pmHi Anne! I’m so disappointed to hear this. I have never had this happen. Is it possible they were over-baked, or cut too soon after coming out of the oven?
Linda says
January 30, 2019 at 12:23 pmMary,
We love these!