Description
These chewy oatmeal cookie bars are a delightful blend of wholesome oats, sweet raisins, and optional nuts, making them a perfect snack or dessert for any time of day. Easy to prepare and irresistibly tasty, they are sure to become a family favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional, walnuts or pecans recommended)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, pour in the vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Fold in the rolled oats, raisins, and chopped nuts (if using) with a spatula.
- Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by lining it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang, and lightly greasing it with cooking spray or butter.
- Pour the cookie dough into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before lifting out using the parchment paper overhang.
- Allow to cool completely on a cutting board before cutting into squares or rectangles.
- Serve warm with a glass of milk or tea, and store leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week.
Notes
- For variations, consider adding chocolate chips or dried cranberries instead of raisins, or sprinkle in some coconut flakes for extra crunch.
- Experiment with spices like nutmeg or ginger for a unique flavor twist.
- These cookie bars are great for meal prep; make a batch at the beginning of the week for easy snacks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes