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!
Looking for more lazy-day bar cookie recipes?
Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) butter melted
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar tightly packed
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- 2 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup (157 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch cornflour in UK
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼-½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
- 3 cups (285 g) old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups (255 g) chocolate chips optional, I did a mix of semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips
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.1 cup (226 g) butter, 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- Add eggs and vanilla extract and stir well.2 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon (if using).1 ¼ cup (157 g) all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¾ teaspoon salt, ¼-½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet until completely combined.
- Add oats and chocolate chips and stir until well combined.3 cups (285 g) old fashioned rolled oats, 1 ½ cups (255 g) chocolate chips
- 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
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Nancy Smith
I made these last night for the guys my husband works with. I added raisins, instead of chocolate chips though I used white chocolate chips (it is what I had on hand), no butterscotch chips. I used a 9×13 pan and they turned out plenty thick enough. They turned out wonderful, they were so soft. Thank You for sharing this recipe. God Bless.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed the oatmeal cookie bars, Nancy! 🙂
Eoanna
So I’ve made this recipe 4 times for my daughters weekly swim team bake sale and it’s one of the first items that sells out! In addition, so many people have requested the recipe. I was so surprised because the 1st time I made it I doubled the recipe but forgot to double the oats. I also added some coconut because I had it and wanted to use it up. OMG it’s so yummy. So each time I make it with half the oats and some coconut to keep it the same …don’t want to jinx the fundraising karma but I’m dying to make it with the right amount of oats!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoys the oatmeal cookie bars so much! I hope they raise lots of money for the swim team. 🙂
Stephanie
Hi. Can these be made in a 9 inch cake round?
Sam
Hi Stephanie! It will be much thicker and will change the bake time, but I think it could work. 🙂
Doreen Mitchell
Sam, Another winner! Thank you so much for sharing. I am always trying new recipes – definite keeper. Thanks for all your amazing recipes.
Sam
Thank you so much, Doreen! I am so glad you enjoyed the cookie bars. 🙂
Julia
Hi 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
I am so glad everyone enjoys them, Julia! 🙂
Annmarie
Thank 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
Hi 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
Haven’t tried these yet but I love me some chocolate. Was wondering if adding cocoa powder would make a difference
Sam
Hi 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
I 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
Hi Terry! I think it could work. Let me know how it turns out for you if you try it. 🙂
Terry C.
I actually made it with shortening in place of the butter. Worked very well. We were quite happy with these delicious bars 😋
Sam
So happy to hear they were such a hit! 🙂
Jael
You could use coconut oil, with a little salt.
Terry C.
Thank you. I will do that next time. 😊
Morghan
They were so good!!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
THESPINA LAOUDIKOS
I am definitely going to try this… I was wondering if cutting some of the sugar would be ok?
Sam
Hi Thespina! I haven’t tried it, but I think that would work, however, it will alter the final flavor.
Courtney
Hi 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
Hi 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
I’ll give it a try and let you know how it goes. Thanks So Much!!!
cyndee
These 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
I am so glad you enjoyed them, Cyndee! 🙂
Maureen
My family loved these. We used all semi chocolate chips and they were delicious.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them, Maureen! 🙂
Stephanie
Have you ever made them with quick oats? Was wondering if that would make them to dense?
Sam
Hi Stephanie! Quick oats would probably work, but this is a pretty dense cookie bar to start.
Anne
Oh 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
Hi 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
Mary,
We love these!