If you love the cozy, nostalgic flavor of oatmeal cookies but crave something even easier to make and share, these Oatmeal Cookie Bars are simply irresistible. With a golden, chewy texture, a hint of cinnamon, and melty chocolate chips in every bite, this crowd-pleasing treat is perfect for lunchboxes, bake sales, or a quick afternoon snack. Plus, the one-pan magic saves time—and dishes!—so you can spend more energy enjoying and less cleaning up.

Oatmeal Cookie Bars Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The beauty of these Oatmeal Cookie Bars is in their simplicity. Each ingredient has an important role, building layers of flavor and texture to make them totally crave-worthy. Here’s what you’ll need—and why each one matters!

Unsalted butter (1 cup, softened): Butter is the heart of any good cookie bar, adding moisture, tenderness, and rich flavor for each bite.
Packed brown sugar (1 cup): Brown sugar brings a deep molasses flavor and extra chewiness that makes these bars stand out.
Granulated sugar (1/2 cup): This balances the brown sugar and helps the bars bake up with just the right sweetness.
Large eggs (2): Eggs bind everything together, ensuring the bars are perfectly set with just enough lift.
Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Vanilla rounds out the flavors and makes the Oatmeal Cookie Bars so invitingly aromatic.
All-purpose flour (1 1/2 cups): Flour gives structure to the bars so they slice beautifully and hold their shape.
Baking soda (1 teaspoon): This keeps the bars light by helping them rise just a touch.
Ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon): Cinnamon weaves warm, comforting spice through every morsel.
Salt (1/2 teaspoon): Salt sharpens flavors and balances all the sweetness.
Old-fashioned rolled oats (3 cups): These oats create hearty texture and bring classic oatmeal cookie goodness in every square.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 cup, optional): For pockets of melty, rich chocolate; swap with nuts or raisins for a fun twist!

How to Make Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Step 1: Prep the Pan and Oven

Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or non-stick spray. This helps the Oatmeal Cookie Bars release easily after baking, and prevents any precious bits from sticking in the corners!

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, packed brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, creamy, and almost fluffy. This step is key for a tender, chewy bar, as it aerates the butter and ensures every bite is perfectly sweet.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Crack in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract next. This helps the mixture blend smoothly and gives a delicious, fragrant base to your bars.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mixing these dry ingredients separately ensures even distribution so every square gets a balanced pop of spice and lift.

Step 5: Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter mixture, stirring just until it all comes together. Be gentle—you want to avoid over-mixing, which can make the bars tough!

Step 6: Fold in Oats and Chocolate Chips

Gently fold in the old-fashioned oats and chocolate chips (if using). The oats bring that signature chewy texture, while the chips add bursts of melty goodness. It’s starting to look (and taste) a lot like classic oatmeal cookies in bar form!

Step 7: Spread and Bake

Spread the thick dough evenly into your prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Place in your preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the bars are golden brown and set in the middle. If you like your bars extra chewy, try pulling them out right when the center is just set—they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.

Step 8: Cool and Slice

Let the bars cool completely in the pan for foolproof slicing. Once cooled, cut into 24 squares with a sharp knife. Admire those perfect edges and flecks of chocolate, then get ready to devour!

How to Serve Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Garnishes

A little garnish can take your Oatmeal Cookie Bars from simple to special. Try a dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of melted chocolate, or even a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a showstopper finish. These small touches are fun for parties or when you want to impress!

Side Dishes

Pair your bars with a cold glass of milk, a creamy latte, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for total dessert heaven. They also love a fruity side, like fresh berries or sliced apples, if you’re feeling virtuous (hey, oats count as breakfast, right?).

Creative Ways to Present

Cut the bars into bite-size cubes for lunchbox treats, or wrap them individually in parchment and tie with twine for an adorable gift. You could even layer chunks of Oatmeal Cookie Bars into a sundae glass with ice cream and caramel for a decadent parfait. There’s really no wrong way to show them off!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any leftover Oatmeal Cookie Bars fresh by covering the pan tightly or transferring the bars to an airtight container. They’ll stay chewy and delicious at room temperature for up to four days—if they last that long!

Freezing

These bars freeze beautifully! Simply wrap individual bars in plastic wrap or foil and place in a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to three months, ready for a sweet snack whenever a craving strikes. Thaw at room temperature for an easy treat.

Reheating

If you fancy your Oatmeal Cookie Bars a little warm (and who doesn’t?), microwave a bar for about 10–15 seconds. This will revive the gooey chocolate chips and give your bar that fresh-from-the-oven magic.

FAQs

Can I use quick oats instead of old-fashioned rolled oats?

While you can swap in quick oats in a pinch, old-fashioned rolled oats give the bars their signature hearty texture. Quick oats produce a finer, softer result, so stick with rolled oats if you want the classic experience.

Are these Oatmeal Cookie Bars gluten-free?

As written, this recipe calls for all-purpose flour, so it’s not gluten-free. However, you can try substituting a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour for similar results—just make sure your oats are certified gluten-free as well!

What can I substitute for the chocolate chips?

Feel free to swap the chocolate chips with raisins, dried cranberries, chopped nuts, or even a mix for a different but equally delicious twist. This recipe is super flexible and perfect for using up what you have.

How do I make the bars extra chewy?

For chewier Oatmeal Cookie Bars, bake them just until the center is set but still a bit soft. Let them cool completely in the pan—don’t rush this step, as they continue to set up while cooling and stay irresistibly chewy.

Can I halve the recipe?

Absolutely! Just cut all ingredients in half and use an 8×8-inch baking pan instead of a 9×13. Check for doneness a little earlier, as they may bake faster in a smaller pan.

Final Thoughts

I hope you feel inspired to bake a batch of these Oatmeal Cookie Bars and share them with someone you love—or just keep them for yourself (no judgment here!). Every bite is a little bit of homey comfort. Give them a try and get ready for a new favorite to emerge from your kitchen!

Oatmeal Cookie Bars Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 11 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 43 minutes
Yield: 24 bars 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Indulge in the delicious chewiness of these oatmeal cookie bars. Packed with oats and chocolate chips, they are perfect for a quick sweet treat or snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Bars:

1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Mix Wet Ingredients: Cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Add Oats and Chocolate: Stir in oats and chocolate chips, if using. Spread dough evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake: Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown and set in the center. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Notes

For chewier bars, slightly underbake and allow to finish setting as they cool.
You can swap chocolate chips for raisins, nuts, or a mix of both for a classic oatmeal cookie flavor.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes
Category: Dessert, Snack
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American