Description
Soft, chewy, and packed with warm cinnamon-spiced oats and juicy raisins, these oatmeal raisin cookie bars are the perfect treat for any occasion. Easier to make than traditional cookies, these bars come together in one pan, making them ideal for meal prepping, lunchboxes, or a cozy afternoon snack. Whether you enjoy them warm with a glass of milk or as an on-the-go energy boost, these cookie bars will quickly become a household favorite!
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
Mix-ins:
- 1 cup raisins (soaked in warm water for 10 minutes and drained)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Cream the butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer or a whisk to beat together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
Add eggs and vanilla: Mix in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Mix wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
Fold in oats, raisins, and nuts: Gently stir in the oats, drained raisins, and walnuts (if using), making sure they are evenly distributed.
Spread the dough in the pan: Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Cool and slice: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before slicing into squares or rectangles. This helps them set and prevents crumbling.
Serve and enjoy: Enjoy warm or at room temperature with a cup of coffee, tea, or a cold glass of milk!
Notes
- For extra chewiness, remove the bars from the oven when the center still looks slightly underbaked—they will continue to set as they cool.
- Customize your mix-ins: Swap raisins for dried cranberries, chocolate chips, or shredded coconut for a unique twist.
- Make it gluten-free: Substitute all-purpose flour with oat flour or a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and ensure your oats are certified gluten-free.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 1 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg