Description
These oatmeal cookie bars combine hearty rolled oats with sweet brown and granulated sugars, butter, and chocolate chips to create a chewy, delicious treat perfect for snack time or dessert. Baked to golden perfection, they offer a satisfying balance of flavors and textures in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (about 180 g)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (about 120 g)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (about 5 g)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (about 3 g)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted (about 227 g)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed (about 220 g)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (about 100 g)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (about 10 ml)
Add-ins
- 1 cup chocolate chips (about 170 g)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the correct baking temperature while you prepare the ingredients.
- Prepare baking pan: Grease or line a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy removal of the bars.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt, ensuring they are evenly distributed for consistent texture.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Gradually add the dry oat mixture to the wet ingredients and stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing which can toughen the bars.
- Add chocolate chips: Fold in the chocolate chips (and any optional add-ins) evenly throughout the batter for pockets of melted chocolate in the final bars.
- Transfer batter: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly with a spatula to create uniform thickness across the pan.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, indicating perfect doneness.
- Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into squares or rectangles for neat serving.
Notes
- For chewier bars, do not overbake; remove when toothpick has moist crumbs.
- You can substitute chocolate chips with nuts or dried fruit as preferred.
- Line the pan with parchment paper for easier cleanup and bar removal.
- Store bars in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
