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Making Friday even sweeter with these Healthier Dark Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Bars. These one-bowl homemade oatmeal cookie bars with dark chocolate chunks and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt are the perfect way to end the week. They’re super easy and made a touch healthier with a mix of whole grain oats, whole wheat flour, coconut or olive oil, and a reduced amount of sugar. But most importantly, everyone LOVES these bars! Plus, they’re pretty difficult to mess up…they always turn out GREAT.
Going back to my childhood roots with these oatmeal cookie bars. For any of you that know anything about my mom, you know that when my brothers and I were growing up, she’d have dessert on the table before dinner was even a thought. Her staples were chocolate chip cookies, special K-bars, chocolate cake, and her famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that she’s been making ever since her friend Lora gave her the recipe (before I was even born).
Oh her cookies. My memories of them are so fond and perfect. We’d always eat them a little warm and gooey right after baking and always with a cold glass of milk. Very classic, right? To this day, these are some of my favorite memories. Baking in the kitchen with mom and zero brothers around.
Fun fact? My purpose in life as a kid was to figure out a way to get mom all to myself without any of my five brothers. It was tricky, but when I made it happen I loved every minute of our one-on-one time.
Anyway, when my mom wasn’t feeling like baking her round chocolate cookies, she’d make oatmeal cookie bars. Her recipe is EASY and it’s the BEST. You simply cannot beat a one bowl, ten-minute prep, and pantry staple cookie bar.
Mom would make her oatmeal cookie bars once a week. And there were definitely many weeks she’d make them twice. When a recipe is as easy and as delicious as her bars, it becomes a staple in the kitchen. But here’s the truth. Over the years I’ve adapted her recipe, making small tweaks here and there to adjust them to be a little bit healthier and maybe even better?
Maybe…
It’s hard to beat an oatmeal cookie bar baked by my mom, but these healthier dark chocolate chunk oatmeal cookie bars come very, very close.
Here are the very simple details.
This recipe requires just one bowl and a spoon…no mixer. It’s completely no-fuss, and takes ten minutes to toss together. You can’t mess these bars up. They are practically foolproof.
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 fo dark chocolate chunks, then press the dough into a baking dish. Bake twenty minutes and sprinkle with flaky sea salt once you remove them from the oven.
Smell the wonderfulness? Do you see the melty chocolate?
I don’t love the word perfect, but these oatmeal cookies are pretty close to it.
A few notes and keys to success…
Normally I’m all for butter, but with this cookie recipe there is no sub…oil is what works best, and is a bit healthier too. Over the years I’ve discovered that you can use melted coconut (which I prefer) or extra virgin olive oil (which is also delicious but adds a little flavor to the cookie).
To make these a heartier cookie, I replaced half of the white flour with whole wheat flour and reduced the sugar by half. And of course, was sure to stir in plenty of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate.
Oh, and you can’t forget a nice dusting of flaky sea salt. You don’t have to, but it sure is good…
One thing I do want to note is that these cookie bars are crumbly. It’s just the way they are, and it’s apart of what makes them delicious. So embrace the crumbly cookie bar. Promise you, it’s so good.
What I love about these cookies is that they’re so easy to make. They require no chilling and truly take just thirty minutes from start to finish. I almost always have these ingredients on hand. So when it’s Friday night and the urge for a delicious yet slightly healthier chocolatey cookie comes on? These cookies are always what I bake. Always.
They’re just perfectly crisp on the edges but soft and gooey in the middle. The best kind of cookie.
Bake these tonight, or sometime this weekend. Then make them again whenever you’re craving something sweet. Perfect for any time of the year bar, and such a great staple recipe. Hope you ENJOY!
Looking for other healthier desserts for the weekend? Some favorites…
Healthy…ish Homemade Samoas Cookies
Fudgy Avocado Brownies with Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Lastly, if you make these healthier dark chocolate chunk oatmeal cookie 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!
Healthier Dark Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Servings: 24 bars
Calories Per Serving: 262 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2-3/4 cup light brown sugar, us more for a sweeter cookie (I use only 1/2 cup)
- 1/4-1/2 cup granulated sugar, us more for a sweeter cookie (I use only 1/4 cup)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup melted coconut oil (see notes)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chunks
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or line with parchment paper. 2. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the oatmeal, flour, whole wheat flour brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, coconut oil, 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. 3. Press the dough into the prepared baking dish. It will seem crumbly. Transfer to the oven and bake 18-20 minutes or until the edges are set and the bars are golden. Sprinkle with flaky salt (if desired). Let cool and then cut into bars.
Notes
To Make Gluten Free: Use an equal amount of your favorite gluten free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour. I recommend Cup4Cup gluten free flour.
To Replace Coconut Oil: use an equal amount of olive oil, melted butter, or canola oil.
Storing: these cookies keep well for 3-4 days at room temperature.
Made these last night and they are delicious!! Are they freezable?
Hey Jess,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a go! Yes, you could freeze them. xTieghan
Just made these, and the texture is perfect! I used the minimum amount of sugars and they taste more like a breakfast bar than a cookie. I’d definitely go for them as a dessert but would probably use the higher amount of sugars listed. Thanks for another great recipe that’s versatile too!!
Hey Grace,
I am thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Very good BUT I made it with Gf oats and GF flour it’s soooooooo crumbly ! Definitely not a bar. But so good
Hey Carine,
Thank you so much for trying the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Should have read the comments! I followed the recipe with the lower amounts of sugar suggested and they turned out very, very dry. Went back and re-read, didn’t miss any steps and followed instructions to a T. Not really a cookie-like texture like anticipated at all and they were difficult to slice and package. I like the idea of oatmeal chocolate chip bars but this wasn’t it :-/
Hey there,
So sorry you had issues with the recipe, please let me know if I can help in anyway. I do note that these are a crumbly cookie:) Happy New Year! xTieghan
Carbs ?????
I just made these for an xmas gift and they are absolutely delicious! (Had to do a wee taste test of course). Will definitely be making them on a regular basis due to how easy they are to make with pantry staples. Thank you!
Hey Aynsley,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Can I use quick oats? i dont have old fashioned on hand?
Hey Mary,
Sorry, you will want to use old fashioned oats for these cookies. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I have made these many times and they never disappoint. SO DELCIOUS! I usually eat them for breakfast with my morning coffee – a perfect combination. I love that these are relatively low in sugar (I only use 1/2-3/4 cup between the brown and white sugars), yet are perfectly sweet. My kids also love these as an after school lunch treat. Thank you, Tieghan!
Ooo yum! I am really glad these turned out so well for you, Lauren! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
These are legit ridiculously delicious.
Just don’t do what I did the first time I made them — I scooped in more coconut oil than what might be necessary in a pourable measuring cup…then I forgot to pour off the extra, so mine were not crumbly like the recipe implied (didn’t clue me in yet) and made going #2 very, very easy (finally clued in to my mistake…). I made them again with the correct amount of coconut oil and still damn delicious without the colonic. lol.
I am so happy these turned out so well for you!! Thank you for trying these!! xTieghan
These bars are so easy and so good. Today I made them with chopped up leftover Halloween candy instead of the dark chocolate chunks. Thanks Tie-in.
Thank you Sandie! I am really glad you enjoyed this bars! xTieghan
Love how easy these are whipped up in just one bowl. I’ve already made these three times! Getting us though this pandemic, they are so delicious!!
Thank you Kelly! I am really glad you enjoyed these bars! xTieghan
Howdy. I made this today and swapped out both flours for gluten free ones and the recipe worked out well. Yummo! Great snack or a breaky treat.
Love to hear that! Thank you Bec! xTieghan
Can you sub quick oats for old-fashioned oats?
Hey Ayesha,
Sorry, for this recipe you want to use old fashioned oats. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I just want to start by saying I do not like chocolate. But I am obsessed with these bars. I’ve made them 3 or 4 times now and I send the recipe to everyone as I believe the world needs more of these bars. I still don’t like chocolate… but I can’t get enough of these bars.
Wow that is so great to hear! Thank you for trying this one, Maranda!! xTieghan
I k ow this is lame but could I replace the chocolate chips for blueberries??! I have a one year old and he loves blueberries.
Hey Stef,
Yes blueberries would totally work here! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan