Double Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

These double chocolate oatmeal bars combine wholesome oats with indulgent chocolate and are a sweet treat that you can enjoy on-the-go! The oatmeal bars feature layers of chocolate chip oatmeal bars sandwiched between a rich chocolate glaze for an easy dessert perfect for chocolate lovers!

While I love these no-bake energy bites as a snack and these chocolate chip oatmeal cookies for dessert, these double chocolate oatmeal bars can be served as either! 

They are just decadent enough with rich chocolate to be considered a dessert but the oats in them make them just healthy enough to be a snack, too. Don’t let the thought of a homemade oatmeal cookie bar stop you from thinking these are anything other than extraordinary! 

The oatmeal bars layers are full of chocolate chips, then layered with a decadent chocolate glaze and topped with more of the sweet crumbly oat mixture. It’s the perfect contrast of taste, texture and oh so good!

Why You Will Love These Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

• Satisfies chocolate cravings: With both chocolate chips in the oatmeal bars and a layer of rich chocolate glaze, these bars are full of chocolate flavor.
• Perfect texture: The smooth chocolate is the perfect contrast to chewy oats.
• Easy to make: These bars come together with just 15 minutes prep and bake in just under 30 minutes! 
• Simple ingredients: All you need is pantry staples including oats, flour, brown sugar, vegetable oil and chocolate chips which makes these chocolate oatmeal bars simple to whip up whenever you need a treat!

Recipe Ingredients

• Old fashioned oats: Old fashioned rolled oats are best to use, not quick oats or instant oats.
• All-purpose flour: Adds structure to the oat bars.
• Light brown sugar: Lightly packed brown sugar adds sweet taste.
• Baking soda and baking powder: Two leavening agents for lift and rise in baked goods.
• Salt: Salt enhances the taste of this chocolate oatmeal bar recipe.
• Vegetable oil: Adds moisture to the bars and helps form the chocolate oat bars. 
• Egg: One large egg is needed for binding.
• Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract adds rich taste.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips: I love semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can use dark chocolate chips if preferred.
• Chocolate glaze: To make the glaze you will need a good quality dark chocolate bar that is chopped, heavy whipping cream with at least 30% fat and butter.

How to Make Double Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Combine oatmeal bar mixture: In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients including oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, oil, egg and vanilla. Beat until the dough is moist and all the ingredients are combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Bake bottom bar layer: Press half of the oatmeal cookie dough mixture evenly into the bottom of the 8×8 parchment paper lined baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.

Make chocolate glaze: In a small bowl over a bain marie, add whipping cream, butter and chopped dark chocolate. Heat over medium heat until the butter has melted and the chocolate mixture is hot. Remove from heat and stir until smooth.

Pour chocolate glaze over oatmeal bar base: Remove the chocolate chip oatmeal bar base from the oven and pour the melted chocolate glaze over them.

Add remaining dough and bake: Crumble on the remaining oatmeal dough. Bake approximately 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden brown. 

Cool and serve: Cool completely then cut the bars into squares and enjoy! 

Variations

• Cocoa powder: To make these extra chocolaty, replace 2 Tablespoons of flour with ¼ cup of cocoa powder. You may need to add more sugar to balance the unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Nuts: Adding nuts to the middle layer of chocolate will make this similar to a chocolate revel bars.
• Dark chocolate chunks: Instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips, try dark chocolate chunks!
• Caramel center: For gooey chocolate oatmeal bars, use caramel sauce in between the layers instead of the chocolate glaze.

Expert Tips

• Salty-sweet oatmeal bars: Add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt after you remove the chocolate oat bars from the oven.
• No bain marie? No problem! Make your chocolate glaze in a water bath. Place glaze ingredients in a metal bowl and set into a skillet with 1” water. Bring water to a simmer, then turn off the heat. The residual heat should melt the chocolate, butter and cream.
• Double the recipe: If you would like to double the recipe, bake these oatmeal cookie bars in a 9×13 inch pan. Baking time should be around the same time.
• Line pan with parchment paper: To prevent sticking and to easily remove your chocolate oat snack bars from the baking pan, lining the baking dish with parchment paper is highly recommended.
• Cool completely before slicing: Otherwise your bars will be too gooey and fall apart!

Storage

Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. 

You can also freeze the chocolate oat bars whole or as individual sized bars. Cool completely, wrap the slices in plastic wrap then store in a freezer safe bag. Thaw at room temperature. 

FAQs

What type of oats are best to use in these chocolate chip oatmeal bars?

You will want to use old fashioned rolled oats for the best chewy texture. Instant oats or quick cooking oats are ground finer and would make the oatmeal chocolate chip bars dry and crumbly.

Can I make vegan double chocolate oatmeal bars?

While I have not tried it, it may work to use a flax egg or chia egg in place of the egg as a binder.

Can I use whole wheat flour?

That should work. I would recommend using ½ all-purpose flour and ½ whole wheat flour to start with when first making the oatmeal bars recipe.

How do I use butter instead of vegetable oil?

For a more buttery oatmeal bar base, substitute butter on a 1:1 ratio. Your butter will need to be melted then cooled before using so it doesn’t melt the chocolate chips! Coconut oil would also work. 

More Bar Recipes to Try

• Nanaimo Bars
• Decadent Nut Bars
• Kinder Bueno Bars
• Pecan Pie Bars