Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Name: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter; 3/4 cup (180g) packed light brown sugar; 1/4 cup (60g) granulated sugar; 1 large egg, room temperature; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup (135g) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled); 1 cup (100g) old-fashioned rolled oats; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

By Sarah On August 25, 2015 | Updated: September 3, 2026

Jump to Recipe

Jam-packed with tender oats and plenty of gooey chocolate, these oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars have a soft and chewy texture thanks to browned butter and bake up in only 30 minutes.

Save this recipe for later using the ‘save to recipe box’ button. If you make it, please let me know by leaving a comment + star rating below the recipe card. This only takes moments and helps support my website so much!

If I had to choose one bar to make for the rest of my life, it would hands-down, be this recipe.

I mean, oatmeal, chocolate, AND browned butter all in one dessert that comes together in minutes flat? Say less and just pass the pan on over my way.

These bars are kinda similar in method to blondies, but they’ve got a little more texture to them thanks to the oats that I absolutely love. It adds a distinct chewiness that pairs so well with all that gooey chocolate business.

These Bars Feature…

And incredibly soft and chewy texture
A rich browned butter flavor
Gooey chocolate chips and tender oats

Making The Bars

(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)

Ingredients You Will Need

Unsalted butter
Brown sugar
Granulated sugar
Egg
Vanilla extract
All-purpose flour
Oats
Kosher salt
Semisweet chocolate chips

How to Brown Butter

The trick to browning butter is letting it cook slowly. Melt 1 stick unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, swirling pan occasionally until butter is a deep golden brown and fragrant. Allow the butter to cool slightly before adding to other ingredients.

Tips for Perfect Oatmeal Bars

Measure flour correctly – I use the spoon-and-level technique for measuring flour as this will prevent over-measuring your flour. Use a spoon to scoop flour into the measuring cup, then level with the back of a knife. For the most accurate measuring method, I recommend weighing your flour and other dry ingredients.
Don’t add leavening agents – I found that leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder made the edges of the bars rise while the center collapsed during baking. The bars will have a soft and evenly-distributed texture without.
Gently fold batter – overmixing will lead to dry and tough bars so use a gentle hand when folding batter.
Don’t overbake bars – they are done when the edges are a light golden-brown. The very middle of blondies should still be a little soft.

Recipe Variations

Try these ideas for a different twist on these bars.

Add salt – sprinkle bars with a little flaky sea salt after baking for a sweet and salty flavor.
Use another chocolate – try dark chocolate, white chocolate, or a cut-up chocolate bar in place of the chocolate chips.
Add nuts – fold 1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts into the batter.
Drizzle bars – try topping bars with a drizzle of caramel or butterscotch sauce after cooling.

Storing and Freezing Bars

Allow bars to cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days.

To freeze bars, allow to cool completely at room temperature, wrap well, and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw bars completely on countertop before serving.

Word to the wise: hide a few of these bars for yourself before you make their presence known to others because they WILL be snapped up in moments. No one can resist all that gooey chocolate.

I certainly can’t. BRB.

More easy bars to bake next!

Print Pin

4 from 2 votes