Name: Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8-inch baking pan; Measuring spoons & cups; Mixing bowl set; Parchment paper; Whisk; 1 cup all purpose flour; 1 ½ cups rolled oats; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/3 teaspoon salt; ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted but not hot; ¾ cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg, room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1/2 cup chocolate chips or add-ins of choice, such as finely chopped walnuts, raisins, etc.; 1-2 tablespoons add-ins

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These Oatmeal Cookie Bars have chewy interiors and crisp edges, packed with oats and melty chocolate chips! The best oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars recipe.

Close up of Oatmeal Cookie Bars in a stack with melted chocolate chips dripping

Ever feel like making a bunch of cookies, but want to skip all of the scooping, dropping, and shaping of the dough? I’ve got something easy for you! The BEST oatmeal cookie bars have crisp edges, chewy interiors, and are packed with ooey, gooey melted chocolate chips.

These oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars are so easy to make–all you have to do is mix the dry ingredients, mix the wet, combine, drop and smooth into a pan, slice and enjoy! Basically as easy as making breakfast bars.

You’ll love the tender, chewy oat cookie centers and the crisp, crunchy edges. Let’s forget any other oatmeal cookie bars recipe exists because you won’t be needing them. Let’s bake this!

Overhead photo of neatly sliced oatmeal cookie bars on parchment paper

Rolled Oats – chewy with a great texture, I prefer using rolled (otherwise called “old-fashioned” oats) over quick oats.
Flour – use all purpose flour
Chocolate Chips – or you can use your favorite add-ins, from nuts and seeds to chopped dried fruit.
Butter – we’ll be melting this butter to make this recipe super simple, without a mixer.
Sugar
Egg – make sure your egg is room temperature to help the ingredients in this recipe meld together better
Vanilla Extract – always use pure vanilla extract, not imitation, for the best flavor
Baking Powder
Ground Cinnamon + Ground Nutmeg – I love using a combo of these two for a delicious flavor with a hint of something special that makes these cookie bars extra special.
Salt

The ingredients for this Oatmeal Cookie Bars recipe in prep bowls, including oats, flour, cinnamon, egg, salt, butter, chocolate chips, sugar, vanilla extract, baking powder, and salt.

With just a few steps, we’ll be well on our way to making oatmeal cookie bars! Remember to check out the recipe below for exact measurements and instructions.

Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Then, line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or greased foil.

Next, stir together all of the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl: flour, oats, baking powder, and spices. Add wet ingredients into a large bowl and whisk until thoroughly mixed: melted butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.

Two photos showing How to Make Oatmeal Cookie Bars - stirring together dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisking wet ingredients in another bowl.

Now, combine the wet and dry ingredients by whisking as long as you can. Once it gets too thick to whisk, switch to folding the ingredients together into a nice cookie dough. Fold in add-ins.

Whisking and folding to combine wet and dry ingredients to create the cookie dough for this recipe.

Drop the oatmeal cookie bars dough into the prepared baking pan. Using a silicone spatula, smooth it into an even layer, then press any add-ins you’d like into the tops of the bars.

Using a spatula to press dough into an even layer in a lined baking pan before baking.

Bake for about 20 minutes, then let cool in the pan for 30 minutes to set. Finish cooling on a rack, then slice into 16 delicious oatmeal cookie bars and enjoy!

Freezing: after cooling oatmeal cookie bars completely, store in an airtight container in the freezer for 1-2 months, they keep about as long as these no bake peanut butter oat cups.
Room Temperature: Cool cookie bars completely, then store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place like a pantry. You can keep these bars for 1-2 weeks.

close up of sliced baked goodies with crispy edges and moist centers

Customizing & Tips

Chocolate Chips: try using any type of chocolate chip you’d like to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars, from dark chocolate to white chocolate. Also try butterscotch chips!
Dried Fruit: I love adding in raisins, dried cranberries, even chopped up dried apricots.
Nuts & Seeds: this cookie bar recipe is super easy to customize–try using sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts.
Melting the butter: make sure to melt butter and set it aside while preparing the rest of the recipe. Keep it thoroughly melted, but not hot as it could cook the egg.
Use finely chopped add-ins: this will ensure that your bars don’t become crumbly or hard to cut. This same tip applies for most baked goods, like these healthy oatmeal cookies.

Chewy, moist and crisp oatmeal cookie bars with your favorite add-ins on parchment paper.

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Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️