Description
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars are soft, chewy bars that combine the classic flavors of oatmeal cookies with melty chocolate chips and colorful M&Ms. Easy to prepare with simple pantry ingredients, these bars are perfect for a snack, dessert, or lunchbox treat. Customize with your favorite mix-ins like butterscotch chips or nuts for added variety.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour (125 grams)
- 1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Wet Ingredients
- 8 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled slightly (1 stick)
- 1 cup lightly packed Brown Sugar (200 grams)
- 1 large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup Old Fashioned / Rolled Oats
- 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1/2 cup M&Ms
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep the Pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8×8 metal baking pan with parchment paper, or alternatively spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray to ensure the bars won’t stick.
- Mix Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients. In a larger bowl, whisk melted butter and brown sugar together until well combined. Add the egg and pure vanilla extract, whisking until smooth.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients. Pour the dry ingredient mix over the wet ingredients and stir gently using a spatula or wooden spoon just until there are no more dry patches. Be careful not to overmix to maintain a tender texture.
- Add Oats and Mix-ins. Gently fold in the rolled oats, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and M&Ms, evenly distributing them throughout the batter.
- Transfer and Prepare for Baking. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top and scattering any reserved mix-ins on top if desired for extra texture and appearance.
- Bake the Bars. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 24 to 28 minutes until the edges turn lightly golden brown. Baking closer to 24 minutes results in softer bars that stay moist for a few days, while baking nearer 28 minutes provides a firmer texture ideal for same-day serving.
- Cool and Serve. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan so they firm up and can be removed easily. Once cooled, slice into 16 bars and serve.
- Storage. Store any leftover bars at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
- You can substitute the semi-sweet chocolate chips and M&Ms with butterscotch chips or toasted chopped nuts to customize flavors and textures.
- The bars are best served fresh but will keep well at room temperature for up to 3 days when stored properly.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the texture tender and soft.
- Adjust bake time depending on your preferred texture: shorter for softer bars, longer for firmer bars.
