Iced Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Soft and chewy and drizzled to perfection, these iced oatmeal cookie bars are one of a kind and truly satisfying. Brown sugar gives these oatmeal filled bars a caramel-like flavor that you just can’t resist!
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So why is it called a cookie bar?
Cookie bars are actually a bar dessert rather than a cookie. Cookies are shaped or dropped onto a pan in individual serving sizes, while cookie bars are baked in a baking dish as one piece and sliced into individual sized pieces. The flavor outcome is very similar, and I find bar cookies to be even faster and easier than cookies!
Why these are the best iced oatmeal cookie bars
These bars are chewy and soft with just the right amount of oatmeal texture sprinkled throughout. The dark brown sugar gives them a caramel-like flavor that is amplified by the touch of pure vanilla extract and complimented with melty chocolate chips.
These are great for a gift or add them to the dessert menu at your party - they are very aesthetic and cute. Or if you just have a sweet tooth, they complement hot drinks like tea and coffee. Not sure what to bake in the winter? They are the quintessential cozy cookie bar! The possibilities are endless.
Recipe tips for the best Iced Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Use old fashioned oats and a food processor to break them down into finer bits. The resulting texture will be softer and fluffier than using the whole oats, which can result in excessive lumpiness. If you use quick oats, they can soak up moisture too quickly resulting in dry bars.
Do not over bake. You want the edges to be lightly golden brown and the middle to be slightly puffy when you pull them out of the oven. they will deflate slightly, which will result in a gooey soft baked cookie texture once cooled.
Let your bars cool completely before icing them. If the bars are not cooled completely and you add the icing to the top, it will result in a sticky, runny mess. Spare yourself the extra work!
What is the difference between quick oats and old fashioned oats?
Quick oats have been processed down into finer pieces and pre-cooked so that they expand faster and absorb liquid quicker, whereas old fashioned oats have not been processed and thus take a little bit longer to absorb liquid.
Can I use steel cut oats to make iced oatmeal cookie bars?
Yes. If you use steel cut oats, I recommend soaking them in water for a few minutes prior to using them. This will help them cook quicker once mixed in with the dough.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Spatula
8 x 8 inch baking pan
parchment paper
liquid measuring cup
Ingredients
Dough
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
Icing
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
How to Make Iced Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Make the dough
Preheat oven to 350℉. Line an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 baking dish with parchment paper.
Melt the butter and allow it to cool slightly.
In a large bowl add granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, baking soda, and salt and mix until well combined. Mix in the peanut butter and egg. Add flour and mix until well combined.
Fold in the peanuts and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
Pour the mixture into the parchment lined pan and spread it evenly to each corner. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until the edges become golden brown and the middle puffs up slightly.
Let cool and set in the pan for about 1 hour or until completely cooled.
Make the icing
In a liquid measuring cup, mix powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. The icing should be on the thicker side but should run off a spoon slowly. If the icing is too thick, add extra milk, 1 teaspoon at a time. If the icing is too thin, add extra powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.
Once the pan has completely cooled, drizzle icing on straight from the liquid measuring cup, leaving patches of cookie bar peeking through. Let icing cool completely and harden, then slice into bars.
How to Store
Store iced oatmeal cookie bars at room temperature in an air tight container for up to two days, or store in the refrigerator for up to five days. If stored in the refrigerator, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, or pop in the microwave for five to ten seconds to warm to room temperature.
You can also freeze iced oatmeal cookie bars easily. Just place (fully baked and cooled and without icing) in an air tight freezer container and store in the freezer for up to three months. Remove from the freezer and place in the refrigerator 24 hours prior to serving. Drizzle icing on them and serve!
More cookie bars, please!
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Iced Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Line an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Melt the butter and allow it to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl add granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, baking soda, and salt and mix until well combined. Mix in the peanut butter and egg. Add flour and mix until well combined.
- Fold in the peanuts and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Pour the mixture into the parchment lined pan and spread it evenly to each corner. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until the edges become golden brown and the middle puffs up slightly.
- Let cool and set in the pan for about 1 hour or until completely cooled.
- In a liquid measuring cup, mix powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. The icing should be on the thicker side but should run off a spoon slowly. If the icing is too thick, add extra milk, 1 teaspoon at a time. If the icing is too thin, add extra powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Once the pan has completely cooled, drizzle icing on straight from the liquid measuring cup, leaving patches of cookie bar peeking through. Let icing cool completely and harden, then slice into bars.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
179Fat
7 gSat. Fat
4 gCarbs
28 gFiber
1 gNet carbs
27 gSugar
17 gProtein
2 gSodium
66 mgCholesterol
27 mg*Nutrition is auto-calculated by recipes generator.
