Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

I like to keep a batch of chocolate oatmeal bars on hand. Somewhere between a granola bar and an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, these chewy squares are the perfect afternoon snack with a cup of coffee.

You’ll need your usual baking ingredients for this chocolate oat bars recipe, plus a can of sweetened condensed milk. The condensed milk is mixed with chocolate to make a creamy middle layer that’s sandwiched between an oat crust and a crumble topping.

This recipe is quick to make but quicker to disappear, so don’t hesitate to make a double batch!

Ingredients for Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

• Butter: These chocolate oat bars call for room temperature unsalted butter. To soften butter quickly, cut it into cubes.
• Brown sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar for this recipe; either option will give the bars a nice caramel flavor.
• Eggs: Use room-temperature eggs for these bars (and for baking in general). If you have only cold eggs, let them sit in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes.
• Vanilla extract: Use real vanilla extract for the best flavor.
• Oats: Our chocolate oat bars recipe calls for quick-cooking oats, but if all you have are old-fashioned oats, pulse them in the food processor a couple of times to break them up.
• Flour: All-purpose flour binds the oats and walnuts to make a chewy, crumbly base and topping.
• Baking soda: This recipe for chocolate oatmeal bars includes baking soda to help promote browning.
• Sweetened condensed milk: Any recipe with sweetened condensed milk, from Vietnamese coffee to these sweet and creamy bars, is bound to be delicious.
• Chocolate chips: Chocolate oat bars call for semisweet chocolate chips, but feel free to use any type of baking chocolate, like milk chocolate, dark chocolate or a mix.
• Walnuts: I love adding chopped walnuts to crumbles and cookies, both for the nutty taste and the crunchy texture.

Directions

Step 1: Make the oat layers

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

In a bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat 1 cup butter and the brown sugar until light and fluffy, five to seven minutes. Beat in the eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, 1 teaspoon salt and the baking soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix well. Press two-thirds of the oat mixture into the greased baking pan.

Step 2: Melt the chocolate

In a large saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted. Remove from the heat, and stir in the walnuts and remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla.

Spread the chocolate mixture over the oatmeal crust, then sprinkle with the remaining oat mixture.

Step 3: Bake the bars

Bake the bars on the middle rack of the oven until golden brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Once the bars are fully cooled, use a sharp knife to cut them into squares.

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Recipe Variations

• Add another filling: These chocolate oatmeal bars can easily be customized to your liking. Try adding coconut flakes, toffee bits or butterscotch chips to your crumble mix, or stir in dried fruit like raisins or currants.
• Change up the chopped nuts: Walnuts go great here, but you can easily substitute other nuts like pecans, cashews or hazelnuts.
• Try it with Nutella: Nutella is a chocolate hazelnut spread that is delicious all on its own, and in baked goods. Add some Nutella to the chocolate mixture while it’s heating up for an extra-chocolaty middle layer.

How to Store Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Chocolate oat bars are super easy to make ahead and store or freeze. Store the squares in an airtight container on the counter or in the fridge, or toss them in the freezer to eat later.

How long do chocolate oatmeal bars last?

These chocolate oatmeal bars will last for up to three days stored on the counter, and up to a week if they’re stored in the fridge. They will last even longer in the freezer, up to three months.

Can you freeze chocolate oatmeal bars?

Yes—cool the chocolate oat bars completely, cut them into squares, and wrap them tightly in storage wrap and aluminum foil before stashing them in the freezer.

Chocolate Oatmeal Bar Tips

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Can I make these chocolate oatmeal bars more savory?

Make the bars more savory by adding nut butter. Stir up to 1/2 cup almond or peanut butter, or even tahini, into the chocolate mixture while it’s heating up. Then sprinkle some flake salt over the oat crumble for another savory layer.

Are these chocolate oatmeal bars a healthy snack?

Each bar has 205 calories, 10g fat, 28g carbohydrate and 3g protein. If you add some extra nut butter, these oatmeal- and walnut-packed bars are a perfect afternoon pick-me-up.