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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.
I made these and they were wonderful! I used a smaller dish and they were thicker and less crumbly than described. I think they will be gone quickly. Thank you for this yummy recipe! I will definitely be making them again.
Hey Christine,
Happy Wednesday!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xxTieghan
Super easy! I store mine frozen and eat the crumbles straight from the freezer; it tastes similar to chocolate chip cookie dough. Delicious!
Hey Amber,
Awesome! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
How many chocolate bars are needed for 1 1/2 cups? Do you just break them in squares or smaller? Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Hey Jeni,
I just break them into smaller squares, sorry I do not know the number of bars as all chocolate bars differ in size. I hope the recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
can i use spelt flour ? or what is the alternative for the recommended flour, thx
Hey Marion,
I would not recommend spelt flour, you could use an equal amount of GF flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can i use just plain flour and no whole wheat flour? If so what would the measurement be then?
Hey Tammy,
You can use an equal amount of whole wheat flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
So yummy! I had to kick my boyfriend out of the kitchen before he ate the whole pan.
Question: I used the least amount of sugar options which was great, but I found they broke apart easily. Maybe I didn’t leave them to cool long enough before cutting them up? Would more sugar make them stick better? Let me know as I LOVED them and would like to take them hiking without risk of falling apart. Thanks!
Hey Julia,
Happy Friday! I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! These are meant to be and definitely are a crumbly cookie bar:) xTieghan
Made these for the second time today. I recommend using more dark chocolate and pressing some into the top after they have baked or for the last few minutes, to get that chocolatey look on top.
Thanks again for the recipe.
Will keep baking these with modifications to make Perfect for me.
Hey Danelle,
So so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try!! xxTieghan
Baked these bars today to freeze and have for when I go into labour! Bonus all the oats for milk production!
They are amazing, perfect amount of moist and chocolatey. Slightly crumbly, but that was noted in the recipe and is normal 🙂 I did the lower amounts of sugar, and baked for 18 minutes.
Hey Emma Lee,
Fantastic!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! Have a great Sunday:) xxTieghan
Has anyone done these gluten free? Tips?
Hey Mia,
I would recommend using an equal amount of GF flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hey! I just made these using extra virgin olive oil. The olive oil has a very distinct taste. I would recommend using coconut oil or olive oil instead. Overall i love this recipe + its all in one bowl Thanks Heaps
Thanks again!
Hey! I just made these using extra virgin olive oil. The olive oil has a very distinct taste. I would recommend using coconut oil or olive oil instead. Overall i love this recipe + its all in one bowl! Thanks Heaps
Hey Danelle,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! xxTieghan
Our family loves these bars! Great recipe. Thank you!
Hey Shelley,
Wonderful!! I am so so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
I love this recipe! Had tried to reproduce my favorite bars from a local bakery and this is it. Thank you so much ☺️
Hey Sarah,
So so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Happy Sunday:) xTieghan
My only regret is not adding more chocolate chunks to the top. Asher would be disappointed. Lol. These are awesome!
Hey Shantel,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Are these an acceptable breakfast food item? Bc thats what ive been doing… with a cup of black coffee. SO good Tieghan!
BTW, ive never commented but your website is my go to for recipes. ESP the sheet pan stuff
Hey Allie,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan