This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
What do you think would happen if an oatmeal cookie had a baby with a chocolate cookie?
This oatmeal and chocolate cookie bar creation would be born.
And born it was.
These oatmeal and chocolate cookie bars are basically heaven on a plate.
The gooey chocolate center sandwiched with an oatmeal cookie base is basically my idea of the perfect dessert.
How do you make oatmeal and chocolate cookie bars?
Basically like how you make cookies!
The best part is that you don’t have to bake the base and then bake again for the center. You bake it all at once!
Can I use quick cook oats?
No, I don’t think they would work really well.
Is there a substitute for the condensed milk?
I honestly don’t know if there is. It’s so specific.
I read that you could try cream of coconut but not sure how readily available that is.
How do I make this gluten-free?
Use gluten-free oats and whatever other gluten-free substitutions needed (like flour).
I’m not well-versed in GF baking so I really can’t give much advice.
Can I make these oatmeal and chocolate cookie bars in a smaller pan size?
You can but they would take longer to cook and they’ll be thicker!
Glass or metal pan?
Either.
I cut into the bars and all the chocolate and cookie gushed out.
You need to be patient and wait for it to cool completely.
I know, it’s super hard! I didn’t wait the first time either, lol
How long will these keep for?
At least a week in an airtight container!
Can I freeze these?
No, they’re not a good candidate to be frozen.
If these oatmeal and chocolate cookie bars are your cup of tea, you may enjoy these other cookie recipes:
- Dark chocolate cherry cookies
- Chewy honey oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
- Oatmeal cranberry cookies
- Chocolate sugar cookies
Oatmeal and Chocolate Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups (440 g) dark brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup (79 ml) milk, I used 2%
- 2 ½ cups (313 g) all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3 cups (243 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
For the filling:
- 14 ounce (397 ml) can of sweetened condensed milk, I used Eagle Brand
- ⅓ cup (76 g) butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (360 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Line 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper so that it overhangs on both sides for easy removal
- In a large bowl, add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract and beat for 2 more minutes. Gently pour the milk in and beat until incorporated.
- Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix until all combined and well-incorporated. With the mixer on low, add the rolled oats. The mixture will be thick so if the stand mixer can’t get it all, use a spatula to get it all incorporated.
- In a saucepan over medium low heat, add all the ingredients of the filling to the pan. Once everything has melted together you can start assembling the bars.
- Spread about 2/3 of the cookie mixture in the bottom of the baking pan (I used my hands and pressed it down). Then take the chocolate mixture and pour it over top of the cookie mixture. Take the remaining cookie mixture and drop it in small dough balls over the chocolate mixture (it’s ok if it’s not perfect, they bake out and spread).
- Bake for 25 minutes. If the tops start to get overly brown, cover with foil and continue baking.
- Let cool in baking pan COMPLETELY before you cut them into squares. Everything will be too gooey and loose if you don’t let it set up.
- Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Photographs by Jesse Reilly
My mother-in-law makes these bars and they are one of my all-time favorites! I almost hate when she makes them though because I could literally eat the whole pan and almost do!
You just have to love a nice gooey bar!
I know you made these like 5 months ago, but can you make them again? Next time we hang out? K thanks. loveyoubye.
I pretty much main-line any dessert with sweetened condensed milk. But this one? It has oatmeal. It’s healthy. I think I’ll eat it for breakfast daily! :)
PS The stress will leave soon. And then, THEN you will have all your freetime back. It’s glorious. :)
I want to dive into the molten centers of these bars! I feel as if you just took one of my fave cookies–oatmeal chocolate chip–and turned it into a super star.
Good luck with the wrap up at work. It will be so worth it on the other side!
Your story about the hawk made me smile! I can’t believe that thing just killed another bird! crazy!
These bars are maybe my favorite thing ever. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are seriously my favorite cookie! And I like them best in bar form not circles! More chocolate this way! YUM!
Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost time for your wedding, the time has flown!! Good luck finishing up all your projects at work, it’s so nice that you’re able to get all that time off to celebrate properly :) These bars look insanely good – that gooey chocolate is calling my name!
Ha, love it! Poor hawk? hehe. Anywhooooo these bars, OMG Julie. YUM. That’s fudgy center is calling my name!
These would satisfy my emotional eating too! I do love oatmeal and chocolate together. What I love most is the thick chocolate center!
Oatmeal Chocolate Cookie Bars sound freakin’ awesome! Especially at 6:43 am ;)
Hope your crazy week is still a very, very good one, lovie!