These soft and chewy oatmeal raisin bars are our go-to for a quick, more nutritious version of a prepackaged granola bar. They’re made by cooking oatmeal, eggs and spices until soft and creamy. You’ll create a crumbly oat base, spread the cooked oatmeal on top, then bake until they reach a golden, chewy consistency.
This is the perfect treat to pack for lunches, and they make an ideal grab-and-go snack when hunger strikes. The fiber and protein in oatmeal help to keep you satiated, while the sugar in raisins gives a quick boost in energy. Make them ahead for camping trips, or keep them on hand for long school days. They store well, keep for a week and will have your family healthfully snacking as long as you have them available.
Ingredients for Oatmeal Raisin Bars
- Sugar:Â For a deeper, more caramel-like flavor, you can use coconut sugar. Additionally, honey can be used to replace the sugar in a 1-to-1 ratio, which will help with keeping the bar soft and chewy and well held-together.
- Cornstarch:Â Cornstarch is used to thicken the oats as they cook, which keeps the bars thick and chewy instead of crunchy and crumbly.
- Ground cinnamon:Â Ground cinnamon gives a rich, savory taste that complements the oats and raisins wonderfully.
- Sour cream:Â Sour cream helps to keep the oatmeal creamy and soft, which translates to a chewier bar when they’re done.
- Eggs:Â Eggs are a binding agent here, keeping the bars from crumbling too much due to the oats.
- Raisins: Raisins add a boost in flavor, gooey texture and energy—we already know they’re an excellent snack when you need a quick boost in energy and focus.
- Crumb mixture: For the crumb topping, you’ll be combing all-purpose flour, quick-cooking oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and cold cubed butter.
Directions
Step 1: Start the filling
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon. Stir in the sour cream until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce the heat, then cook and stir for an additional two minutes. Remove from the heat.
Step 2: Prep the eggs
In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Stir a small amount of hot filling into the eggs.
Step 3: Add the eggs to the filling
Once the eggs are tempered, pour them into the rest of the mixture in the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil, then cook and stir for an additional two minutes. Remove from the heat, gently stir in the raisins, and then cool to room temperature without stirring further.
Step 4: Make the crumble mixture
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Cut in the butter with a butter knife or your fingers, mixing until crumbly.
Step 5: Assemble the layers
Firmly press 3-1/2 cups of the oat-crumb mixture into a greased 13×9-inch baking pan. Cover it with the raisin filling, then sprinkle that with the remaining crumb mixture.
Step 6: Bake and cool
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack, then cut into bars.
Oatmeal Raisin Bar Variations
- Swap out the raisins: If you want a little something extra, consider swapping out the raisins for chocolate chips, dried cranberries or other dried fruits of your choice. To make these extra sweet, finely chop peanut butter cups and use them in place of raisins. The result will be more of a dessert bar, but they’ll be delicious.
- Add peanut butter: During the first step, add a few scoops of peanut butter when you stir in the sour cream, and stir until completely integrated.
How to Store Oatmeal Raisin Bars
Any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator. Wrap them individually in waxed paper, or store them all together in an airtight container.
How long do oatmeal raisin bars last?
If these are stored properly, they’ll last up to one week in the fridge.
Oatmeal Raisin Bar Tips
How can I add more protein to this oatmeal raisin bars recipe?
If you want to keep these in rotation with other high-protein snacks, you can replace the sour cream with cottage cheese, as well as swap out protein powder for a portion of the flour in the crumb topping. Be sure to leave at least 1 cup of flour, to keep the consistency relatively the same.
How do I keep the bars from crumbling?
If your bars become too crumbly, consider adding a binding agent such as honey or chia seeds. Both of these can be added when cooking the creamy filling portion in the first step, but just soak the chia seeds prior to adding them if you choose to go that route. Aim to soak them for 30 minutes to two hours.
What else should I serve with these oatmeal raisin bars?
When a snack attack strikes, we’ve got you covered. Our favorite combination with these bars is homemade yogurt and a side of fresh fruit.
