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The Best Chewy Oatmeal Bars for Meal Prep

Three chewy oatmeal bars stacked on a white plate, featuring visible oats and chocolate chips.
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Make these chewy oatmeal bars for a wholesome snack or easy breakfast. This recipe uses simple pantry staples to create portable bars that hold their shape well.

Ingredients

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  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup mix-ins (chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, flour, and baking soda. Set this dry mixture aside.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Whisk until smooth.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. Gradually add the dry oat mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
  6. Fold in your chosen mix-ins, like chocolate chips or nuts.
  7. Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  8. If you want a crumble top, mix the remaining one-third of the dough with 1/4 cup extra rolled oats. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the base layer.
  9. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set.
  10. Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment overhang.
  11. Cut into squares. Store your homemade energy bars in an airtight container.

Notes

  • For gluten free oatmeal bars, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend.
  • To make these bars extra chewy, slightly underbake them by about 2 minutes.
  • You can substitute half the butter with applesauce for a lower fat option, but the texture will be softer.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/oatmeal-bars-chewy-easy-recipe/