These soft and chewy old-fashioned oatmeal raisin bars are sweet yet satiating, the ideal afternoon snack when you need a pick-me-up. They're easy to throw together, and they store well, making them a good option to keep on hand for hungry kiddos too.
Oatmeal Raisin Bars
Updated on Nov. 05, 2024
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 the bars until they reach a golden, chewy consistency.
This oatmeal raisin bars recipe is the perfect treat to pack for lunches, and the bars make an ideal grab-and-go snack when hunger strikes. The fiber and protein in oatmeal help keep you satiated, while the sugar in raisins gives a quick boost of energy. Make the bars 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: 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: Cornstarch is used to thicken the oats as they cook, which keeps the bars thick and chewy instead of crunchy and crumbly.
- Ground cinnamon: Ground cinnamon gives a rich, savory taste that complements the oats and raisins wonderfully.
- Sour cream: Sour cream helps keep the oatmeal creamy and soft, which translates to chewier bars when they’re done.
- Eggs: 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 combining 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 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 for the raisins: If you want a little something extra, consider swapping in chocolate chips, dried cranberries or other dried fruits of your choice for the raisins. To make these bars extra sweet, finely chop peanut butter cups and use them in place of the 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 it is 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 in protein powder for a portion of the flour in the crumb topping. Be sure to leave in at least 1 cup flour to keep the consistency relatively the same.
How do I keep the bars from crumbling?
If your oatmeal raisin bars recipe becomes 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 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.
Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Bars
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
25 min
Yield
about 3 dozen
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1-1/2 cups sour cream
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 cups raisins
- CRUMB MIXTURE:
- 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-3/4 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cold butter, cubed
Directions
- In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon. Stir in sour cream until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot filling into eggs; return all to pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in raisins. Cool to room temperature without stirring.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly.
- Firmly press 3-1/2 cups of crumb mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Spread with raisin filling. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
- Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.
Nutrition Facts
1 bar: 179 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 141mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
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These tender bars from Rita Christianson of Glenburn, North Dakota have a sweet raisin filling tucked between a golden oat crust and topping. The old-fashioned treats are perfect for potlucks and cost a mere 20¢ each.
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