Name: Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1¼ cup natural almond butter; 1 cup coconut sugar (packed); 2 eggs; 1 tsp vanilla extract; ¾ cup rolled oats; 1 tsp baking soda; ¼ tsp salt; 1, 3 oz bar milk chocolate (rough chopped (divided))

Soft, chewy, and oh so delicious, these Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars might just become your new favorite. With chewy oats and melty chocolate in every bite, these oatmeal cookie bars are the perfect healthy yet indulgent dessert.

I love how simple this recipe is with only 8 ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. These healthy oatmeal cookie bars are entirely gluten-free and are easily made dairy-free depending on what chocolate you use!

For another oatmeal-based sweet treat, check out these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. It takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish to have these chocolatey, gooey on the inside, crisp edges, and deliciously chewy cookies ready to enjoy!

Overhead shot of seven oatmeal cookie bars on a blue platter. The bars have melty chunks of chocolate on top and oats sprinkled around them. A stainless steel spatula reaches onto the platter for a bar.

Ingredients in Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Almond Butter – Make sure to use natural almond butter with no added sugar or oil. It could change the texture slightly and make these cookie bars sweeter than expected. You could also substitute with another nut butter like peanut or cashew if you prefer!

Coconut Sugar – A refined sugar-free sweetener that gives a slight caramel flavor when baked in desserts.

Eggs – Add structure and texture to these oatmeal cookie bars. I have not tested with any egg substitutes but comment below if you do!

Vanilla Extract – An underrated ingredient that gives such a pop of flavor and aroma to any baked good.

Rolled Oats – The main ingredient for texture in these cookie bars. Make sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats for the nostalgic chewy texture we all know and love.

Baking Soda – Helps the cookie bars rise while baking.

Chocolate – I used a chopped Theo milk chocolate bar, but feel free to use any variety you prefer. Sometimes I crave the creamy milk chocolate and other times I crave the richness of dark chocolate!

How to Make Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars

Line a 8”x8” pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350F.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together almond butter, coconut sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir together until smooth.
Add in rolled oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir together with a wooden spoon until cookie dough ingredients are evenly combined. Dough will be thick!
Add in ½ of the chopped chocolate bar and stir again.
Add cookie dough to the parchment-lined 8″x8″ pan and spread in an even layer with a spatula or your hands. Top with the remaining half of the chopped chocolate bar.
Move to the oven and bake at 350F for 18-22 minutes (mine took 19 minutes) or until golden brown on top and edges have started to pull away from sides. You want to make sure not to over bake these for a gooey texture!
Let cool for at least 1 hour before cutting into 9 slices. Enjoy!

Close-up photograph of fresh baked and sliced oatmeal chocolate chip bars on a blue platter. Each bar has melty chocolate chunks on top.

Why are old-fashioned rolled oats better than instant?

All oats are tasty and good for us but some varieties are better for baking than others. The two most common oat types are old-fashioned and quick/instant. Old-fashioned rolled oats are whole oats that have been rolled over and flattened out. They have a hearty texture and take longer to cook, making them perfect for baking but not ideal for a quick bowl of oatmeal.

On the other hand, quick oats are rolled and broken into bits and pieces to be finer in texture. This makes for a great instant oatmeal kind of meal but isn’t the best for baking. Oftentimes quick oats will almost disintegrate while baking, lacking to provide the chewy oat-y texture.

All oats are good and tasty, just be mindful of what variety you’re looking for!

Sliced oatmeal cookie bars are on a crinkled sheet of parchment paper. There are chunks of melty chocolate atop each bar. An unopened bar of Theo milk chocolate is beside the bars.

Recipe Notes for Oatmeal Cookie Bars

A few notes to be aware of:

These cookie bars are easily made dairy-free depending on the variety of chocolate you choose. Theo Chocolate has great options for both dairy and dairy-free varieties!
If you have a severe gluten allergen (e.g. celiac), make sure to buy certified gluten-free oats. Bob’s Red Mill is my go-to for a high-quality guarantee and offers all the oat varieties in a certified gluten-free package.

A blue platter is filled with fresh sliced oatmeal cookie bars. Melty chocolate chunks garnish the bars.

For more oatmeal cookie bar recipe inspiration, check out these blog favorites!

Soft and chewy Monster Cookie Bars loaded with melty chocolate chips and healthy candies. You can make these vegan cookie bars in one bowl with only 10 ingredients and in less than 30 minutes. Now that’s my kind of dessert!

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars Layered with toasted oats and coconut shreds, peanut butter, and a creamy chocolate date filling. This just may be my all-time favorite combo between the sweet and salty flavors!

If you try this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment and rating in the boxes below! I always love to hear from you, and it also helps other people find this recipe when they search online for the BEST Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars 🙂