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Making Tuesday a little more special and sweet with these Gooey Chocolate Oatmeal Bars. These easy homemade oatmeal cookie bars with chocolate chunks and a warm gooey “caramel” like center are the perfect way to bring something delicious to the average weekday. They’re made with a mix of pantry ingredients…oats, flour, butter, maple, vanilla, and a reduced amount of sugar. Most importantly, everyone LOVES these bars…they’re easy to make, difficult to mess up…and they always turn out GREAT!
So, originally these were going to be last Friday’s dessert, but then at the last minute, I panicked and convinced myself that no-one would care about oatmeal bars. NO ONE. So I switched things up…and I LOVE the caramel cake I created so much. Like so much, it’s one of my favorite cakes. I’m so happy I came up with it.
But the funny thing? I sent the oatmeal bars I had made home for my family to enjoy. The next morning, all I heard about from every last person currently staying at their house was just how delicious they were.
I mean, I knew they were good, but I have to say I was a little shocked. Someone even said that these bars are their new favorite dessert. Sooo, I clearly needed to rethink my stance on these bars. And now? With pretty photos and a very ooey-gooey dessert bar to share…I AM EXCITED.
I think it was all meant to play out this way. We got cake on Friday, which was perfect. And easy, sweet oatmeal bars on Tuesday, which feels very right to me.
The Back Story
My mom would often bake up oatmeal cookies. These bars totally remind me of something she’d bake up on Friday nights. They feel very “old school”, just like Friday’s cake and I’m loving it.
The idea is based on the dessert bars known as Carmelitas…oatmeal bars with chocolate chips and caramel in the center. I don’t love, love caramel. Especially the overly sugary store-bought candies. So instead of using real caramel, I used my trusty maple-based “caramel” sauce. It’s just as good but much less sugary. And to be honest? We think it’s better than real caramel.
So I put my maple-based caramel in the middle of the oatmeal bars and created my own version of Carmelitas.
Not only are these really easy to make, but they’re a true delight. Especially if you have the privilege of enjoying one warm, right out of the oven. DELICIOUS.
Here are the simple details.
This recipe requires just one bowl, a pot, and a couple of spoons. It’s completely no-fuss. Start to finish these will take less than an hour. You can’t mess these bars up. They’re that easy and they always turn out great.
In your mixing bowl combine all of the dry ingredients. Now, add all of the wet ingredients. Mix away until you have a crumbly dough. Stir in plenty of dark chocolate chunks, then press about half the dough into a baking dish. Bake for a bit to help the bottom layer set.
While that layer is baking, make the gooey layer. I use maple for sweetness, butter for creaminess, and a pinch of salt to create a silky, smooth, sweet, and salty sauce. As soon as the bottom layer has finished baking, pour over the gooey sauce, then crumble on the remaining dough.
Now finish the baking…
Smell the wonderfulness? Do you see the melty chocolate?
I know that nothing is perfect, but these bars are pretty close. Every bite is just perfectly sweet, chocolatey, and very gooey. When you eat them a little warm, they’re truly addicting. Fair warning…the salt on top really does keep you going back for seconds and thirds.
What I love about these sweet bars is that they’re so easy to make. They require no chilling and truly take almost no time at all. AND…I usually have these ingredients on hand. So when it’s Friday night and the urge for a deliciously warm chocolatey treat comes on? These bars are easy to mix up and deliciously satisfy the urge.
They’re great for all these cold, cold snowy days many of us have been having! This is very cheesy of me to say, but they’ll really warm you right up!
Looking for other easy winter desserts? Here are some favorites.
Healthier Baked Hot Chocolate Doughnuts
5 Minute Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Mug Cake
Lastly, if you make these Gooey Chocolate Oatmeal Bars be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Gooey Chocolate Oatmeal Bars
Servings: 12 bars
Calories Per Serving: 311 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil or butter
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips
Gooey Caramel
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup real maple syrup
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line an 8×8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper. 2. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Beat until the dough is moist and all the ingredients are combined. The dough will be crumbly. Mix in the chocolate chunks. Press half of the dough evenly into the bottom of a prepared baking dish. Bake 10 minutes.3. Meanwhile, make the "caramel". In a medium pot, melt together the butter, brown sugar, and maple over medium heat. Gently boil, stirring constantly until thickened, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in a pinch of salt. 4. Remove the bars from the oven and pour the caramel over top. Crumble on the remaining oatmeal dough. Bake another 15 to 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let cool completely, then cut into bars…or eat them while warm and gooey with a sprinkle of sea salt on top.
This post was originally published on February 23, 2021
My dough wasn’t crumbly at all. Very sticky. Was 1cup flour enough?
Hey Patty,
Yes, the measurements are correct. Was there anything you may have adjusted in the recipe? How did they taste? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Just made these – I only had dark brown sugar on hand, so maybe a tad too sweet (is that even possible?), but nothing an accompanying glass of milk didn’t help with! I think I over boiled my caramel as it was a little grainy vs. smooth and gooey, but still tastes amazing!
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. Will definitely be making again.
Hey Courtney,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that the recipe was enjoyed! Have a fantastic weekend! xTieghan
Hi love your recipe they always work and deliver on flavour. But these are way too moreish they didn’t last very long sad face all round. Tomorrow will have to make double batch to keep the house happy.. Thanks for the the fantastic recipe . Be safe and sane in the strange time
Thanks for trying the recipe Adrian! xTieghan
Made it one night my grandkids loved them. A few days later made again but cut chocolate down and added coconut! In love!!! Thanks
Hey Anna,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that the recipe was enjoyed! Have a fantastic weekend! xTieghan
Is there a substitute for the maple?
Hey Amanda,
You could use honey in place of the maple syrup. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These remind me of the Dream Bars they sell at Potbelly’s, which I’ve always loved. My caramel also came out crystalized, but I did boil it longer than directed because I was worried about it being too liquid and running down the edges of the bottom layer.
Hey Matt,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Sorry about the caramel, I definitely think it crystalized because it boiled for too long. Happy Friday! xTieghan
what an incredible recipe
Thanks so much Julia! xTieghan
Hi there! Do you use gluten free old fashion oats or regular old fashion oats?
Hey there,
I use regular old fashioned oats. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Very easy and very good. The caramel is very good but will say that the video differs in quantities than the actual recipe….no way that was 1/4 cup of maple syrup but still delicious. Led to a thicker caramel that crystallized more when it cooled but did not affect the delicious factor at all. VERY GOOD!
Hey Paul,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Happy Friday! xTieghan
these are amazing!! Will become a go-to recipe from now on!
Hey Lucy,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Happy Friday! xTieghan
Ade today with my 5yo granddaughter. They were fabulous! We put ours in the freezer as we like our bars on the firmer side. 10/10 for sure!
Hey Patti,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Happy Friday! xTieghan
Hi! I did a 9×9 but still felt like I needed to double the dough to get it to fit. Mine also seemed less crumbly than described so I’m trying to figure out if I did something wrong. Regardless, it still tasted great!
Hey Brooke,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try! Was there anything you adjusted? Did you split the dough and do the caramel in the middle? Did you use the coconut oil? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
These were amazing!!! Love the chocolate, caramel combo, and they were so easy to whip up. One of my favorite cookie bars ever!
Hey Avery,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Happy Friday! xTieghan
These are amazing! So easy to make and so delicious.
Will be baking these again and again.
Thanks!.
Hey Cheryl,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Happy Friday! xTieghan
Would you recommend grinding oats into oat flour (instead of regular flour) in order to make this recipe gluten free?
Hey Emma,
I would not recommend doing that, I would use an equal amount of GF flour, I like Cup4cup. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan