Description
Deliciously soft and chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars featuring rolled oats, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and colorful M&Ms for a fun twist. These bars are easy to prepare, baked to golden perfection, and perfect for snacking or dessert.
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
Mix-Ins
- 1 cup Old Fashioned / Rolled Oats
- 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1/2 cup M&Ms
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8×8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper or lightly spray it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt. Set this aside for later use.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a larger mixing bowl, whisk the melted unsalted butter and brown sugar until they are well combined. Then whisk in the egg and pure vanilla extract until smooth.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Pour the dry ingredient mixture over the wet ingredients and carefully stir with a spatula or wooden spoon just until there are no dry spots left. Be careful not to overmix to keep the bars tender.
- Add oats and mix-ins: Gently fold in the rolled oats, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and M&Ms so they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Transfer batter to pan: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly. Scatter any reserved chocolate chips or M&Ms on top for a decorative finish.
- Bake the bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 24 to 28 minutes until the edges turn lightly browned. For softer bars that stay moist longer, bake closer to 24 minutes; for firmer bars that hold well on the same day, bake up to 28 minutes.
- Cool and slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan until you can easily lift them out. Once cooled, slice into 16 squares and serve.
- Storage: Store the bars at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- You can use either light or dark brown sugar based on your preference for depth of flavor.
- Feel free to substitute the M&Ms with other colorful candy pieces or omit them for a classic oatmeal chocolate chip bar.
- The baking time affects texture: shorter baking yields softer bars that remain moist for days, longer baking results in firmer bars ideal for immediate serving.
