Today I am sharing Fudgy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars that I found on Pinterest by Averie Cooks for my 365 easy recipes thing that I’m doing.
These bars were easy to make, and hey, I didn’t change a thing! But I will admit to not measuring exactly the amounts called for. I wing it! Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s just the way I’m wired, I guess. I certainly didn’t get it from my mom. She is a follow-the-recipe by the book kind of person. Not that she can’t whip something up when she wants, but my mom is a read the directions first woman, and she usually gets it done right.
Fudgy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
The bars are soft, chewy, and chock-full of texture. They’re hearty and packed with oats but aren’t overly crumbly or dry. I tweaked my trusty no-mixer, easy blondie base by adding old-fashioned whole-rolled oats. Don’t use instant or quick cook because they’re finer and behave more like flour. The fudgy layer is made with melted chocolate chips and a half can of sweetened condensed milk (see links above in post for recipes that use the other half can). Between the fudgy layer and the chocolate chips on top, the bars will tame your chocolate cravings. It’s smooth, rich, and a perfect contrast to the oats.
Yield: one 8×8 pan, 9 to 12 generous squares
Prep Time: 10 mintues
Cook Time: about 25 minutes
Total Time: about 90+ minutes, for cooking
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
1 large egg
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned whole-rolled oats (not quick cook or instant)
1 cup all-purpose flour
pinch salt, optional and to taste
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, for batter
half of one 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (just eyeball it)
about 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, for sprinkling
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power.
- Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you don’t scramble it. Add the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
- Add the oats, flour, and stir until just combined, don’t overmix.
- Turn three-quarters of the batter out into prepared pan, smoothing it with a spatula to form a crust; reserve remainder and set aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add 1 cup chocolate chips, pour sweetened condensed milk over the top, and heat on high power until the chips melt and mixture can be stirred smooth, about 45 to 60 seconds.
- Evenly pour chocolate mixture over crust, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula. Work somewhat quickly because mixture begins to set up after a couple minutes.
- Evenly crumble the reserved oatmeal mixture over the chocolate layer. I find it easiest to make heaping 1-tablespoon-sized ‘blobs’, and after all the blobs are in the pan, smoosh and smooth them together with a spatula. The entire surface will not be covered and there will be some gaps.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, or until top is set; it should be very pale in color for soft bars; golden colored means bars will be crunchier.
- Evenly sprinkle bars with about 1/3 cup chocolate chips, or as desired. Chips will soften and melt slightly. Avoid jostling the pan because it will cause chips to melt more rather than stay intact. Set pan aside and allow bars to cool in pan for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving. Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
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