Update (6/2012): This recipe has been around since I started blogging over three years ago. They are simple and fantastically delicious. Over the years, I’ve changed the recipe just slightly (adding an additional egg yolk to help the consistency) but these definitely remain a favorite. They are sweet and chewy and a perfect alternative to scooping out oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I just love cookies in bar form. I really do.
I almost always double this recipe and press the dough into a large 11X17-inch rimmmed sheet pan. They are delicious with any assortment of chocolate chips (butterscotch, mint, etc.).
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup oatmeal (quick oats or rolled oats)
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 12 ounces semi sweet chocolate chunks or chocolate chips
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9X13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Whisk together dry ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. In a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer, beat butter, sugars, egg and vanilla until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the dry ingredients and chocolate chips together. Mix until combined. Press into the prepared pan and bake for 18-20 minutes until light golden brown. Don't overbake! These bars are definitely better underbaked by just a few minutes rather than being overbaked so watch them carefully. Let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing into squares.
Printed from Mel's Kitchen Cafe (www.melskitchencafe.com)
Stacie – next time I make these I’ll have to reserve some to try the next day (they never make it that far). Glad you liked the recipe! Thanks for checking in.
These were so yummy. Even better the second day… not so rich. Thanks!
Melanie,As soon as I saw this on your blog I went directly to the kitchen and made them. My kids had some friends over playing Wii Fit and I made up a batch for them – I am sure any calories they burned playing the Wii Fit were destroyed by these yummy bars!! They are so good and gooey right out of the oven- perfect with an ice cold class of milk. I only had chocolate chips – no chunks so just used those.
I’m Sophie, Key Ingredient’s Chief Blogger. We would like to feature this adapted recipe on our blog. Please email [email protected] if interested. Thanks
Sophiehttp://blog.keyingredient.com/
I made these last week. The only changes were to use only about 1 cup of chocolate chips, 1/2 cup of nuts, and I used King Arthur white whole wheat flour. I use it in almost all of my cookie baking. I think it adds a nice nuttiness, plus I like the idea of not eating procesed white flour. They were delicious! So much so that I just made them again-this time with only 1/2 cup of chips, plus 1/2 cup of orange flavored dried cranberries, some orange zest, and 1 tablespoonful of orange juice. Fabulous!
ah, yes–the bar cookie. it’s almost always my favorite form of cookie to make, since i am a lazy, lazy sloth.
what a bonus when they’re as delicious as their drop cookie cousins.
your a girl after my own heart…gotta love em. I’ll have to try with mint chips..mmmm
Oh, my mouth is watering. I’ve got to try these. And I agree about the recipes – sometimes I’m compulsive about trying out all the recipes in a cookbook just so I know if they are good or not!
Anonymous – this is why I love comments! I love all the ideas you shared about how you changed these up. I use a lot of ground white wheat flour, too, but have never used them in these – now I know they will taste great if I do. And I love the combination of cranberries and orange. Awesome ideas!
I am totally the same way – too many recipes, too little time!!These bars sound delicious, and easy which is always a plus!
I’d have to agree with you. I have so many recipes printed out at home but whenever I find out I have to make something I always go to the internet for something new. I just gave myself a challenge of making something out of each of my cookbooks I own, check it out!
Those look so good! My collection of bookmarked recipes is growing much faster than I can try them.
I made two batches of these for a party yesterday, but I didn’t have any chocolate chunks. The first batch I used one cute up Symphony candy bar along with enough chocolate chips to equal 12 oz. They were good, but I’ve had lots of bars that tated similar. Then I made the second batch with semisweet chocolate chips, 1 T. orange juice and some orange zest, like a visitor suggested in his/her comment. I didn’t add the cranberries since I didn’t have them. That batch was so good and I will make it that way again. It tastes like you’re eating a chocolate orange candy, but softer. Thanks for the recipe.
I made these yesterday after church for a little father’s day snack while my hubby watched the US open. They were a big hit! Thanks!
These are just what my taste buds are craving right now! Thanks Melanie!
Valerie – thanks for letting me know about your changes. They sound delicious. I’m definitely going to have to try it this way next time since it is so popular!
These are SOOOO good! I’m making them for the 3rd time in 3 weeks right now…
Melissa – these are some of my favorites, in fact I am making them tomorrow. So glad you liked them, too!
I linked this recipe on my post today
Thanks Mel!
I just made these today – wow, they are so good!!
[...] also plan on making these babies for dessert. Ugh, must resist all the delicious food blogs and Pinterest if I want to be fit this summer, but [...]
[...] Source: adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe [...]
Can you freeze these once baked? Has anyone noticed a huge difference in quality when you did that?
n82 – I’ve frozen these before and they seem to fare quite well out of the freezer.
Yum! Used Kamut wheat…more buttery yum!
Made these tonight, love them!!!
45 minutes ago, I decided I wanted to make some kind of bar cookie to serve for dessert after dinner. These came together in 5 minutes, cooked in 18 and now half the pan is gone. Seriously? In 45 minutes? My 3 sons and husband don’t mess around when they like something. AMAZING!
These were tasty! My whole family loved them and it was a nice change from making cookies!