Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

These oatmeal chocolate chip bars are a delightful way to get some protein.  They’re the perfect quick snack when you need a boost in energy but are craving a bit of sweetness, too. The oats provide a chewy base, while peanut butter adds creamy richness and just a hint of nuttiness to the bar. Every single bite is a delicious balance of sweet and savory with the melty chocolate chips throughout. These bars are easy to make and even easier to enjoy, making them an ideal option for a quick breakfast on the go or an afternoon pick-me-up. Equally a treat for kiddos and adults, you can easily double the batch for a satisfying snack that will become a family favorite.

Ingredients for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

• Butter: Lightly salted butter is best when baking these bars.
• Sugars: This recipe calls for both granulated sugar as well as brown sugar.
• Peanut butter: Creamy peanut butter is best in this recipe, but feel free to use crunchy peanut butter if you love a bit of crunch.
• Egg: Bring the egg to room temperature prior to adding.
• Vanilla extract: You can substitute almond extract or pure maple syrup if you’re out of vanilla.
• All-purpose flour: Feel free to use your favorite 1:1 gluten free flour mix, if necessary.
• Quick-cooking oats: You’ll want to be sure to use quick-cooking oats, as this is what gives these bars that perfect chewy texture.
• Baking soda: Just a scant teaspoon, but this will help to bar stay light and chewy, as opposed to dense.
• Salt: Salt is the key ingredient to balancing out the sweetness.
• Semisweet chocolate chips: We recommend using the regular size, but if you’d prefer a different texture, feel free to use mini chocolate chips or larger chunks of chocolate morsels.
• Icing: You’ll use confectioners’ sugar, additional creamy peanut butter and a few tablespoons of milk (go for whole milk, cream or half and half for an indulgent and rich texture).

Directions

Step 1: Beat the wet ingredients

Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a 13×9-inch baking pan by greasing it well. Then, in a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugars and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Set aside.

Step 2: Combine the dry and form the dough

In a separate smaller bowl, put the flour, oats, baking soda and salt and gently stir to combine. Gradually beat the dry mixture into the creamed mixture and mix well. Spread into the greased baking pan. Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips.

Step 3: Bake

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until dough is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Make the icing

Meanwhile, combine the icing ingredients while the dough is cooling. Drizzle the icing over the top and allow the dough to cool completely. Cut into bars.

Recipe Variations

• Swap the chocolate: Use raisins in place of the chocolate and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon to the flour mixture. The result is an oatmeal raisin cookie bar that’ll leave your sweet tooth totally satisfied.
• Add protein powder: If you really want to up the protein content in these bars, consider adding your favorite protein powder. To do so, replace about 1/3 of the flour with protein powder and continue the rest of the recipe as called for.
• Top with chocolate ganache: Make these an extra sweet treat by skipping the icing in this recipe and swapping it our tasty chocolate ganache.

How to Store Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Once the bars have been glazed, cooled and cut, transfer them to an airtight container. If you have a few layers, be sure to keep parchment paper in between them so that they don’t stick together. They’ll keep for up to seven days in the fridge.

Can you freeze oatmeal chocolate chip bars?

Yes. Layer the frozen bars in parchment paper, keeping them from becoming too pressed together. Store them in a zip-top freezer-safe bag or other airtight freezer-safe container. They’re freshest when consumed within three months.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar Tips

Why are my bars crumbling?

Homemade chocolate chip oatmeal bars are best when stored in the fridge or in cooler areas of your kitchen, such as food cupboards or a dark pantry. The glue holding these bars together is the butter, which has a low melting point. If these bars warm up too much they’ll fall apart quite easily.

What can I add to these bars to make them healthier?

If you want to play around with these bars, you can add honey as a sweetener, chia seeds for fiber, protein and calcium, flaxseed for additional fiber and omega-3s and swap the peanut butter for almond butter for a high-quality fat and a nuttier taste. These ingredients are all excellent binders as well. You may need to add a little extra honey if you don’t soak the chia seeds first, as dried chia seeds may cause crumbling in the bars.

What other options do I have for quick and easy snacks?

We recommend baking some muffins to go along with these yummy oatmeal chocolate chip bars if you want to create additional snack options in your home for quick and easy food access. Some favorites include these easy banana muffins, a healthy and moist zucchini muffin and some protein balls to add a little extra nourishment to your afternoon snack attack.