Oatmeal Cookie Bars Recipe

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These Oatmeal Cookie Bars are simple to make with basic ingredients. They are the perfect sweet treat for an easy snack or delicious dessert!

These Oatmeal Cookie Bars are simple to make with basic ingredients. They are the perfect sweet treat for an easy snack or delicious dessert. #dessert #snack #cookiebar #granolabar #oatmealcookie  

Oatmeal Bar Cookie Recipe

Sometimes, one just needs to make a little treat to get them through the day. My hubby loves to have a granola bar for an afternoon snack, but of course, the ones from the grocery store are fairly expensive and have a few too many ingredients that I can’t pronounce. I’ve made plenty of homemade granola bars of course, our favorite being these Crunchy Granola Bars.

—Looking for more snack ideas? Try these Simple & Healthy Snacks For Under $1

But even homemade Granola Bars take a little extra time and effort to bake. You have to make them, bake them, cool them, cut them, etc. And sometimes after all that, they simply fall apart! This Oatmeal Bar Cookie recipe has the essence of a delicious granola bar but is baked in a soft, chewy cookie bar form instead. Plus they are super easy to whip up wince they are made with all staple pantry ingredients. You are going to love them!

Pantry Oats

Oatmeal Bar Cookie Ingredients

  • Butter. Salted or unsalted butter is fine (you can leave out the salt if you use salted. You can replace with buttery spread or palm shortening for dairy free.
  • Sugar. Plain white can sugar is what I used here.
  • Brown Sugar. Light or dark brown sugar will work fine in this recipe.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract. Store-bought or Homemade Vanilla Extract is fine for this recipe!
  • Eggs. These should be standard sized large eggs. If your eggs are small (bantam or pullet) use 2 in place of 1.
  • Oats. We use old fashioned or rolled oats in this recipe, not quick cooking oats. This helps the bars keep a nice firm texture!
  • All-purpose Flour. You could also use all purpose gluten free flour in this recipe.
  • Baking Powder.
  • Baking Soda.
  • Salt. I use pink salt in this recipe because that’s what I have on hand and buy in bulk. Any salt will do.
  • Chocolate Chips. Milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or really any kind of chocolate chips will work in this recipe.

Variations to the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

  • Use chocolate chunks for a bigger chocolate flavor bite.
  • Use white chocolate chips for something completely different.
  • Add in chopped pecans or walnuts to the chocolate chip layer for added texture.
  • Put a sprinkling of flaky sea salt over the top for a “fancier” bar.
  • Add raisins instead of chocolate chips for more of the classic oatmeal cookie flavor.

Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookie Bar Recipe

Replace the regular flour with all purpose gluten free flour for a gluten free recipe. You may also want to make sure that you are using gluten-free oats if you have a high sensitivity.

Dairy Free Oatmeal Cookie Bar Recipe

In place of butter in this recipe, use a dairy-free buttery spread (We use Earth Balance) or you can also use a good palm shortening. Make sure that the chocolate chips that you use are dairy free.

Little House Living’s Tips for Making Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

  • These bars can be made up ahead of time and frozen in an airtight freezer container or bag until you are ready to enjoy.
  • These are a sweet treat so enjoy in moderation. You may be able to replace some or all of the sugar with coconut sugar or monkfruit but I haven’t tried it yet.
  • This is a simple recipe that kids can help with! The batter is heavy so you might want to have them use a stand mixer to do the mixing but it’s otherwise pretty easy and straightforward to make for all ages.

More Questions About Making Oatmeal Cookie Bars

How long to bake oatmeal cookie bars?

You will need to bake them for 30 minutes or until the bars are golden brown. It should be fairly easy to tell when they are done.

Can you make oatmeal cookies into bars?

I would recommend following this Oatmeal Bar Cookie recipe instead of trying to take an oatmeal cookie recipe and turn it into bars. The results would likely be dry and disappointing.

Oatmeal Bars

Instructions for Making Oatmeal Bar Cookies

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugars and butter and beat until creamy.

Stir in the eggs and the vanilla. Mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and remaining ingredients, and combine well.

Pour half of the mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Pat the remaining batter on top of the chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes in the oven or until oatmeal cookie bars are golden brown. Cool, cut, and serve.

–Looking for a healthier option? Try these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookie Bars! 

Store leftovers of the Oatmeal Bar Cookie pieces in the fridge in an airtight container, or freeze them if you want to enjoy them at a later date. This recipe freezes very well so it’s a great one to make ahead of time and pull out to serve when you need it!

Print this Oatmeal Bar Cookie Recipe to add to your Recipe Binder below:

Oatmeal Cookie Bars
4.67 from 3 votes
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Oatmeal Cookie Bars Recipe

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Oatmeal Bar Cookies
Servings 12 servings
Calories 650 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups butter softened
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the sugars and butter and beat until creamy. Add in eggs and vanilla. Mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and remaining ingredients, and combine well.
  2. Pour half of the mixture into a greased 9x13 baking pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Pat the remaining batter on top of the chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until oatmeal cookie bars are browned.
  3. Cool, cut, and serve.
Nutrition Facts
Oatmeal Cookie Bars Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 650 Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Saturated Fat 18g113%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 105mg35%
Sodium 540mg23%
Potassium 159mg5%
Carbohydrates 87g29%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 54g60%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 819IU16%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 96mg10%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

More Oatmeal Dessert Recipes

Will you give this Oatmeal Bar Cookie recipe a try? Do you like making make-ahead/freezer desserts?

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merissabio

This Oatmeal Cookie Bars Recipe was originally published on Little House Living in February 2016. It has been updated as of January 2023.

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39 Comments

  1. Wow, these look amazing. I love how the chips are nestled in the middle instead of mixed in the batter. I am definitely making these this week. Curious why they would need to be stored in the fridge. I would have stored them on the counter airtight?

    1. I have this thing about storing foods made with butter in the fridge…it’s just me being over-cautious I’m sure 🙂 Store as you feel comfortable!

      1. Asking for a friend: What bothers you about refrigerating recipes with butter? It’s where I keep my butter before needing to fill my countertop lidded butter container.

        I plan to make your recipe for oatmeal bars so as to trick myself into eating oatmeal cos I hated it as a kid – the dread “porridge” as called in the U.K. (No blowback from fellow U.K. members, s’il vous plait. Although I am a chocolate demon, 1-1/2 cups sounds excessive even for me. I am contemplating, if I survive the “porridge” intake by also trying this with rehydrated raisins, and other dried fruits, perhaps also with raisins and dollops fruits preserves, or (with fruit idea) small chunks of walnut. It’s winter and the mind is racing with alternative ideas. here! (If I get by the “porridge” of course. I may throw those in the food processor to minimize – perhaps with a dash of cinnamon?! Other ideas would be welcomed btw.

        I thought David’s recipe cards idea was great btw! I have turned into my mother in many ways, and have scads of recipes written on envelopes etc. As my printer is now non-functional & the cost to replace, plus the cost of printer ink is horrendous. So, I bought about 6 fat book note pads at the $ store which is what I use.

  2. Merissa, I also noticed that the instructions do not list to add the butter or oatmeal, although it is obvious to me…in case you want to correct? Also, I assume you used the old-fashioned oats (not quick)? Thanks again.

    1. We were having some issues with the site earlier. You may just want to clear your cookies and try again 🙂 And yes, old fashioned oats in this recipe.

  3. Please read and correct this recipe. I’m Inc the middle of making it and several ingredients are missing in the directions

      1. Thank you. I checked and it’s better now. I was able to figure it out but figured you would want to know. They will be eaten tonight.

  4. Thank you for the delicious recipe. I love your book. I made one thing so far. I plan on making some more recipes. Thank you for all you do. Dawn

  5. Merissa, I can imagine your mixed feelings about your son’s fifth birthday. It does go by so quickly. I look forward to trying this recipe. And your photographs are wonderful. I plan to buy oats tomorrow and make these for my students vor Valentine’s Day. Thanks!

  6. I love your recipes. I just made more of your brownie. I will just have to freeze the oatmeal bars. I could.give a few away. Maryjogoandgo

  7. No need to freeze them they won’t last long! Hubby says he doesn’t like sweets so these little lovelies will be mine all mine.

  8. Yummm, those look so scrumptious! Can you send some my way please?! 🙂

    Thank you for sharing at the Friday Favorites linky party!

    *Maisy

  9. I bet these are AMAZING! PINNED! 🙂

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks.

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

  10. These look delicious… I like how they look so chewy and moist inside and a bit crispy on the outside. Yum. 🙂

  11. This recipe looks amazing…saving it for later. Thanks for linking up at the Home Matters Link Party! We hope to see you again next week:) #HomeMattersParty

  12. We will love these cookies! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

  13. These look so scrumptious & I can’t wait to try them! Thanks for joining the Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesday last week, if you haven’t already don’t forget to link up this week!

  14. Hey, I have all these ingredients in my pantry 🙂 I may have to make these this weekend as we’re looking for something to bake. Thanks for sharing this on Merry Monday!

  15. 4 stars
    These were really good. I’ll make them again. I did make some changes to suit me and my pantry. I felt that during this quarantine that I didn’t want to use 3 sticks of butter to make one batch of cookies. I used two sticks and a blob of shortening (probably 2 tablespoons) and another blob of greek plain yogurt. Worked out just fine. I also did not use as many choc chips. Oh, and I only had a little old fashioned oatmeal left so made up for the rest with regular quick cooking oatmeal. Even with all the changes, this recipe is very forgiving and a keeper. Thank you!!!

  16. 5 stars
    I made these for my family today and they were AMAZING! They are so easy to whip up! Definitely going into my rotation. Thank you!

    1. They should be fine with gluten free flour without adding more liquid but just see what you think with your particular blend once the batter is mixed.